Every month, many women are in need of sanitary products to help them get through their period. Lately, due largely to a shortage of cotton, tampons have been hard to come by. What can a woman do so that this shortage does not affect her everyday life?
- Do not use tampons for longer than you are supposed to. Using tampons for longer than they are designed to be used can lead to serious infections and other complications.
- Switch to pads. Pads are also disposable and can help.
- Period underwear. Many companies sell underwear that is specifically for your period. This underwear is made to collect your discharge and be washable and reusable. It may be a big one-time expense, but it will save you money in the long run.
- Period cups. You insert them in a similar way to how you insert tampons, but they last a lot longer, they collect your discharge in a cup, and they are cleanable and reusable. Again, it may be a big one-time expense; I have seen them at the store in the neighborhood of $20 apiece, but they will save you money in the long run.
- Reusable pads. They are similar to disposable pads, but they can be cleaned and reused. They are found in natural health stores. Like the last two options, there will be a big one-time expense, but it will save you money long term.
- Menstrual discs. They are in many ways similar to period cups, but they are often disposable. They can be safely worn longer than tampons, however, so you’ll go through fewer of them in a cycle.
It can be frustrating not to be able to find your preferred feminine hygiene product on the store shelves, but other options exist, including many that will save you money in the long term. These are just a few suggestions of how to make it through a tampon shortage.
By Bethanie Ryan
