Menstruation gives rhythm to a woman's life as much as the seasons accompany the Living. From adolescence to menopause, many signs invite women to reconnect with their cyclical nature and the different sensations that accompany it. Living your period naturally means reconnecting to your cycles. Living your period naturally also means choosing protection that respects your health and well-being. Here are the different natural protections available to replace traditional pads and tampons filled with chemicals.
 

Les serviettes hygiéniques jetables pour une hygiène naturelle

The Natracare brand offers disposable sanitary napkins made of organic cotton.  An anti-leakage film made of corn starch and wood cellulose allow to absorb efficiently the flow. 

Conventional cotton farming requires huge amounts of water and chemical treatments with chlorine to bleach the fiber. Switching to natural organic cotton sanitary napkins limits your ecological impact while taking care of your health. 

Natural disposable sanitary pads do not contain plastic or other synthetic materials. They are still very absorbent while trapping odors. 

Les serviettes hygiéniques lavables, une alternative 0 déchet

For zero waste enthusiasts, there is an alternative to natural disposable sanitary pads: washable pads. Sewn by you or bought ready to use, they offer the same comfort as disposables. They clip on under the underwear with snaps and are machine washable after a pre-soak or hand wash.

They come in all sizes and colors, depending on your flow, brands and tastes!

To avoid being unprepared, it's best to set aside a starting budget to invest in enough washable pads. Then, you will have enough for several months or years depending on the frequency and abundance of your flow.

The disadvantage is to provide a waterproof bag if you are on the move...

Les tampons en coton bio pour celles qui misent sur la discrétion

Much has been written about tampons. Septic shock with the risk of death or amputation is very real. Whether they are organic tampons or not, they must be changed regularly and not beyond 6 hours. 

Traditional tampons found in supermarkets have been bleached with chlorine (like sanitary napkins) and contain many additives that can be harmful to the vaginal flora and to health in general. Indeed, the mucosa is sensitive and richly vascularized. Everything that comes into contact with it ends up in the bloodstream.

"Natracar " Regular (Normal)" tampons are made from 100% certified organic cotton, without perfume or chlorine bleach.

Natracare tampons were developed and created in direct response to health and environmental issues such as dioxin pollution from chlorine bleaching, the extensive use of pesticides that are sprayed on conventional cotton crops, and the use of rayon and synthetics in the tampon. " (1)

Organic cotton tampons offer you comfort and security. 

Les culottes menstruelles, une alternative en plein boom dans l'hygiène féminine au naturel 

The menstrual panties are in full rise. Their practicality seduces many women including many young teenagers for whom the question of intimate protection is delicate. 

The principle of menstrual lingerie is to have a "towel" integrated into the underwear. The part exposed to the bleeding is doubled by an absorbing fabric which retains the flow and the odor. This makes it possible to protect well against moisture within the limit of the good use of the menstrual panties obviously. 

It is relatively expensive to buy but as for all washable solutions, it is an investment to be seen in the long term. There are all shapes, all colors, for all morphologies: high waist, normal waist, with or without lace, simple or delicate, low cut or wrap, etc... You can also find swimsuits for menstruation!

The disadvantage is the purchase price and the maintenance that requires hand washing before machine washing. 

La cup ou la coupe menstruelle pour celles qui sont à l'aise avec leur anatomie

The cup or menstrual cup was one of the first natural zero waste alternatives. No more tampons, no more sanitary napkins. The blood of the menstrual flow is directly recovered by the cup once inserted in the vagina. 

Did you know that? Menstrual cups have been found dating back to 1867. Obviously, those that we use now are much better conceived, ergonomic and easily sterilizable thanks to the silicone which composes it. Their size varies from 40 to 60 millimeters depending on your flow and the tone of your perineum. A nulliparous woman will not wear the same model as a woman who has already had one or more children.
 

The advantage of the cup is mainly on the economy that it allows to realize. Indeed, it is an investment to the purchase which allows to hold several years (between 5 and 10 years for some). It is not cumbersome and allows to limit your impact on the environment. It stays in place for about 6 hours (or depending on your flow) and can be sterilized with boiling water between uses. 

The disadvantage is that you have to have a water point within reach of the toilet when you need to change... and that is not always practical...

Source: 

(1) : https://www.santi-shop.eu/shop/na003-tampon-normal-regular-300?category=855#attr=