To wonder why more people don't use cloth sanitary pads?

[Bex107]

They have changed my life, and I'm so sad I didn't discover them sooner! When my periods came waltzing back just three months after DS arrived I couldn't bear the thought of tampons or plasticky towels, but I couldn't find anyone I knew who'd used cloth. They are bloody (!) wonderful, if you're considering it give them a go - I wish I'd had someone to tell me that!

I am cringing reading this. Why do you all put up with it? I used continuous oral contraception to do away with my periods entirely. Saved a fortune and made life so much simpler. Ladies, periods are optional

Lucky you - I used continuous oral contraception for years without major side effects, but my periods still came every month, regular as clockwork (and decidedly not optional!)

I had years of bleeding during the weeks I was actually taking the pill, as well as the "off" week. So periods definitely not optional for me. So stop your cringing.

Hope that the folk who have decided to try cloth pads or moon cups come back and report on their experience

Thank you for the answers. I've ordered a pack of six, which should arrive at the same time as my period :o

Soubriquet "I must say, I'm a little disturbed by how grossed out many people are about their own bodily function."

Maybe it's because menstrual blood and womb lining is not, as some might like to believe, some magical, sacred essence issuing from the Holy Uterus at the bequest of the Divine Moon Goddess and is, in fact, like just like all other bodily waste products: organic material subject to the same breakdown and decay process as mucus, saliva, urine and faeces. This especially after sitting for several hours in the warm, moist, perfect bacterial breeding ground confines of one's underwear and therefore a potential source of contamination. Or would you not wash your hands after changing your sanitary protection as you would after peeing or shitting?

I don't get it either OP. Blood is blood, and I hate binning any more than is necessary. My periods are way lighter than they used to be, and I find them very easy and absorbent. After using cloth nappies with the kids these were a no brainer.

I am only guessing but I think a natural aversion to blood is perhaps part of our human nature and maybe developed to keep us safe...afteral blood is a transmitter of many diseases.

Why is it considered superior and judge to think that we should all try to reduce our waste and energy consumption and that you should try something before saying you don't like it

Because only 3% of our waste is from consumers. Businesses should take a look at reducing their waste, as they make 97% of it. As someone else said, I see no reason to guilt trip women.

If people find washable pads nicer and easier to use, that's a good enough reason to use them.

As someone else said, I see no reason to guilt trip women.

I totally agree with this.

Hope that the folk who have decided to try cloth pads or moon cups come back and report on their experience

I have ordered my moon cup today!!!! and trust me if I like it I shall convert everyone else I know (within reason)

Thanks jedi, much appreciated.

Started using my mooncup about a year ago (in place of tampons) and it's been a revelation - more comfortable, you don't have to change it so often, environmentally so much better, cheaper, safer, and you can leave the house without having to remember to take tampons with you. I tried it for environmental reasons and wasn't expecting all the other benefits. I am going to make sure my daughter considers it as one of the options when the time comes, and I wonder if it's presented as an option at schools when kids are taught about periods???

Dyson need to create the hand held womb vacuum

Vacwomb.

(I'll be wanting royalties...)

You're a genius!

I mean it deals with everything at source- no cups to catch it or pads to soak through, just have a good old vacuum round the old uterus once a month

I would never go back to tampons after moving to a mooncup 5 years ago- it took a couple of months to get used to the Ick factor but tbh it was no worse than changing the super plus tampons when I was on a heavy flow state!! And since I started using a mooncup my periods have become more predictable- althoigh it could be my age 😊😊x not sure about the reusable pads though 🤔🤔🤔

Inspired! I've ordered 4 to try. They're so much prettier than Always. Never knew they existed!

Pretty?

Not an attribute I need when it comes to sanpro.

Not neccessary, but nice. They feel all soft and sort of snuggly and comforting, which is where I think they have the edge on disposables. If I have horrible period pains and plan on spending the day huddled up with a hot water bottle, a trashy novel and lots of chocolate, I will ditch the mooncup for pads, because it feels like have having a cuddle from my pants. Which I am slightly embarrassed to have actually written. but it's true, anyway. They are the ultimate in comfort sanpro.

Right ok, I've had my say already on this thread and it keeps popping (pun intended) up. I was very, very negative.

These cloth towels.....

What stops my huge amounts of blood seeping through my knickers and down the side of my trousers (oh and, sorry for too much info, onto the train seat on my often 3 hour commute home?), where is the liquid proof part?

Do they come with "bags" into which I can deposit my horrendously blood soaked towels into, and can I get back to my desk at work (ahem), without any of my female colleagues knowing I've gone to change my (towel etc). Because If you take your handbag to the loo at work, it means you're on "the rag" - oh, pun intended. Do I need to carry said bag back to my desk and then discreetly deposit it in my handbag?

maddie often there's a PUL liner in the middle (a type of plastic) so you're not going to seep through your knickers.

Yes, you can get bags to put the blood soaked towels in. How do you get your replacement tampons / towels into the loo currently? You'd do that, in reverse.

There's a waterproof layer at the bottom - normally pul, which is breathable and waterproof without being crinkly, wonderful stuff. They're also genuinely much more absorbent than disposables.

When I worked in an office I kept mine in a (pul lined!) wetbag the size of a pencil case that had a dirty section and a clean section. I think I just used to say I was going to get a coffee from the canteen and take my whole bag.

What I mean is, I can "smuggle" a tampon/pad easily to the loo (down my top normally 😉), but coming back to my desk with something is different.

Maddie - I got a starter pack from Honour your flow. It came with a pouch for taking a clean then used pad. Also a drawstring wash bag which I keep in the linen basket.

Ice posted several times here to say my periods were horrendous, soaked through a super tamper and pad in an hour, then got tsswso the tampons were no longer an option. I can sometimes......tmi........ Green it glugging out of me. The big pads from Honour your flow are great, I can wear one overnight and not leak.

There is a layer to stop leaks, they don't just soak through. And they absorb everything! So they won't be wet and dripping.