Menstruation is a topic that affects at least half of the world’s population. It is so multifaceted that it is not surprising that there is endless information about it on the Internet and in books. For girls and women in Germany, one of the most important issues is choosing the right hygiene products. When you get your menstruation for the first time, this choice is mostly influenced by your own mother or sister. However, tampons and pads are by far the most commonly used solution to protect oneself during menstruation. They are inexpensive, easy to use and available almost everywhere. In addition, they have been around for a long time and their use is uncomplicated, as you simply dispose of them in a sanitary bag in a toilet waste garbage can after use.
Menstrual cups: a sustainable alternative to pads and tampons
Menstrual Cups look like a small egg cup, are simply folded and inserted into the body similar to a tampon. For some time now, however, there have been sustainable alternatives to pads and tampons in the area of menstrual hygiene. On the one hand, there are these products made from fair trade and ecological cotton, and on the other, there are so-called menstrual cups (also called menstrual cups or menstrual caps). One example is Ruby Cup. Ruby Cup is reusable, unlike disposable products. Menstrual cups were invented in the early 20th century, but at that time they were made of rubber, to which some women are allergic. Nowadays, there is no risk of allergy, as the material and design have evolved. Made of 100% medical grade silicone, Menstrual Cups offer the environmentally and health conscious woman the opportunity to protect herself for up to 10 years during her period with just one product. Menstrual Cups look like a small egg cup, are simply folded and inserted into the body much like a tampon. After 6-12 hours, they are simply deflated, briefly rinsed or wiped out, and reinserted. Menstrual fluid is collected in the cup instead of being absorbed. You can learn more about how to use them here. Similar to tampons and pads, menstrual cups come in different sizes, small and medium. So you can change depending on the strength of the bleeding. Gynecologists recommend e.g. patients with recurrent bacterial infections (vaginal mycosis and vaginosis) to use Menstrual Cups. The fact that tampons absorb not only menstrual blood but also sweat or moisture increases the risk of such infections, especially during activities such as sauna and swimming. It is estimated that a woman uses up to 12,000 pads or tampons on average in her lifetime. Added to this is the packaging of the products and, as in the U.S., plastic applicators designed to make insertion easier. This means that menstruation is a big environmental factor when you look at it globally. However, it is not only the environmental factor that should be considered. Studies have shown that many tampons and pads contain ingredients that are hazardous to health, such as bleach (which is why the products look so white), as well as fragrances and plastic fibers that pass from the wrapping into the product. All of this enters the body through the mucous membranes. Menstrual Cups, on the other hand, are hypoallergenic and free of phthalates and fragrances thanks to the medical grade silicone. You can read more about the medical benefits of Menstrual Cups here. The question arises as to why this alternative has not yet caught on. The answer to this is relatively simple once you think about it. For retailers, pads and tampons, or disposable items in general, are more profitable than, for example, a menstrual cup. In the U.S., however, we can already see that as demand increases, more and more stores are offering Menstrual Cups, increasing the visibility of this alternative.
The lack of menstrual hygiene as a global problem
Not mentioned so far is the issue of menstruation as a problem in emerging countries. In many parts of the world, girls and women do not have access to menstrual hygiene products. Either pads and tampons are too expensive, or simply not available. As a result, in Kenya, for example, girls do not go to school during their periods simply because they are afraid of bleeding through and embarrassing themselves. Since menstruation is a taboo, this topic receives too little publicity or there is a lack of education.For example, many girls believe they are sick and do not know that menstruation is a natural process. Fortunately, in recent years, a network of activists, organizations and companies has emerged to work on this problem and ensure the availability of menstrual hygiene. Just one Ruby Cup is enough to see a girl through her entire school years without having to worry about her period. For every Ruby Cup purchased online, Ruby Cup gives one to a Kenyan schoolgirl. The shared mission is to improve menstrual hygiene worldwide and educate and provide girls and women with a sustainable and healthy alternative to pads and tampons. Since 2014, there has also been an International Day, International Menstrual Hygiene Day. As a consumer, you can help. With every Ruby Cup (a menstrual cup) you purchase, you donate one to Kenya. Based in Berlin, Ruby Cup works with partner organizations in Kenya to provide as many girls and women as possible with a product and educate them about menstruation. You can read more about the social mission here.
