Managing Aunty Flow – The Weird & The Wonderful

By BR Kellie

Some of my earliest memories of my mother are of her holding my foot in the middle of the night (yes, for some weird reason that soothed me and now I hate people touching my feet) after I’d rushed into her bed after a nightmare. During those early hours of the morning she’d tell me in an age-appropriate manner about growing up, becoming a big girl, a woman, the birds and the bees and of course what to expect when you get your period. 

These chats meant that at the ripe old age of 14 when Aunt Flow chose to make her first visit I wasn’t freaked out or just plain out traumatised. Instead I reached for a pad and went on my merry way after announcing to my family (aka bellowing down the hall) that I had my period. It wasn’t long after that moment that I decided pads were gross. I could smell myself (I KNOW, EWWW!), they felt like wet pillows between my legs and I’d rather use a tampon. Mum showed me how and that was that, I was a Tampax girl for life. Yes, I’ve strayed once or twice, but the ease of applicator and the familiar and comforting dark blue box always kept me coming back.

Over the years I’ve had other options presented to me and recently a few new innovations have left me scratching my head and thinking ‘are you for real?’. But you never know what you could be missing out on, so in the interest of being informed I’ve delved into the world of sometimes squeamish TOTM devices – all of which also happen to be reusable. 

Imagine a device that you could insert at that time of the month, then take out at regular intervals, dispense of your menses, wash, then reinsert, month after month after month, year after year after year. The menstrual cup is one such device. Made of medical grade silicone, it is a product designed to catch your lady-liquid. Once inserted they are meant to sit comfortably in your treasure box and only need emptying and washing once ever four to six hours, with some cups on the market offering up to 12 hour protection. Divacup and Mooncup (the latter has an average 5/5 rating right here on BR) are two of the most well known. With products retailing for around the $50 to $60 mark, they do seem a little expensive up front, but as they’re made to last for at least a decade they end up being a great option for both the environmental and budget conscious.

Speaking of environmentally conscious … another option to consider are reusable pads. I must admit I had to wonder if they looked like those bulk reusable nappies you can buy for little ones…but it turns out they’re actually super cute and not huge at all! They basically look like a normal pad, except they come in funky patterns, while doing the same job as a boring normal looking one. They’re also really well designed, with snaps holding them in place. They come in a range of materials as well as thickness and size options to suit whichever way your flow rolls. Much like menstrual cups, there is an initial expense, but one that is easily recouped after you’ve had a few periods. Check out some of the cool New Zealand-made options from Moontime Aotearoa.

Another period-spilling-preventer, which I honestly can’t get my head around although would love to know if anyone’s tried it and loved it, are menstrual sponges. Basically they’re sea sponges, which have been well cleaned so as to remove any remnants of the sea. They’re used very similarly to a tampon in that you insert them, they soak up the crimson wave, you remove, rinse until the water runs clear and then reinsert. Enviro Natural’s New Zealand sells them for less than $13. While they don’t have the lifespan of a menstrual cup, they are expected to last for at least six months, but must be replaced if torn.

Lastly let’s look at… period panties. (Not to be confused with these rather rad undies.)Another rather fascinating invention, where underwear takes the place of pads and tampons. THINX has released a line of such underwear and it’s fair to say it’s taken off with shipments nearly selling out before they even reach the company. I expected the underwear to be nanna-licious, but instead it’s super stylish, looks great on (the model) and come in a range of sizes – from ‘Hiphugger’ for those heavy days, to ‘Cheeky’ for those average days and there’s even a ‘Thong’ option for light days. Depending on the knickers you choose they can hold up to two tampons worth of the red flood. They’re made to whisk away all wetness, so you don’t feel a thing, they’re leak-proof and cleaning them is as easy as rinsing them out, washing in cold water then hanging them up to dry. 

I never thought I’d say this, but I actually think I like the knickers option best – if I had to choose. However, I think for the time being I’ll be sticking with my old blue box of Tampax. Have you considered alternative methods of period control? If you had to choose one, which would it be? Or are you already riding the red wave on a reusable method? Chat away!