By: Sarah Hofstedt, CSUN Public Health Intern

Our lives are full of decisions in this day and age:

• What will I make for dinner? Which movie should I see? Where should I go for spring break?
• We have more choices today than previous generations ever did, and menstrual health is no exception. Pads? Tampons? Menstrual cups?! Oh my!
• Menstrual hygiene is the matter of absorbing and discarding menstrual fluid in a clean and safe way. It can be tough to decide which menstrual hygiene method is best for you, so here’s a breakdown of options to help make the choice easier.

Pads:

• Are placed in the underwear to absorb menstrual fluid
• Simple to use
• Can be reusable or disposable
• Come in different thicknesses and lengths
• Can be used in combination with other menstrual hygiene methods
• Ideal for…
  • Teens who are new to menstruation
  • Those who do not like insertive methods
• Not ideal for…
  • Very active lifestyles
  • Those who are in water regularly (lifeguards, divers, etc.)
  • Those who wear tight or “revealing” clothing regularly (dancers, models, etc.)

Tampons:

• Are inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual fluid
• Disposable
• Have different levels of absorbency
• Require changing every 6 hours
• Virtually mess-free and leak-proof
• Has a long string attached for easy removal
• Ideal for…
  • Active lifestyles
  • Those who are in water regularly
  • Those who wear clothing that is difficult to wash (silk, wool, etc.)
• Not ideal for…
  • Those who get few breaks throughout the day
  • Those that struggle with insertive methods
  • Small budgets

Menstrual cups:

• Are inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual fluid
• Reusable
• Environmentally friendly
• Can be left in for up to 12 hours (depending on flow)
• Can be re-used for up to 5 years
• Saves money in the long run
• Require cleaning
• Ideal for…
  • Active lifestyles
  • Those who wear tight clothing regularly
  • Small budgets
  • Those who do not get many breaks throughout the day
• Not ideal for…
  • Those that do not like insertive methods
  • Those who are forgetful (you need to remember to bring it with you!)
  • Those without regular access to running water to empty the cup

Menstrual discs: 

• A soft disc inserted into the vagina that collects menstrual flow
• Disposable
• Can be used for up to 12 hours
• Must be inserted deeper than tampons and menstrual cups
• Can be used during sex unlike other insertive methods
• Ideal for…
  • Active lifestyles
  • Those who do not get many breaks throughout the day
  • Those who wear tight clothing regularly
  • Those with heavy flow
• Not ideal for…
  • Those who do not like insertive methods
  • Small budgets
  • Those without regular access to running water to empty the disc

Period panties:

• Reusable underwear made to absorb menstrual fluid
• Leak-proof
• Can be used an entire day before needing a change
• Saves money in the long run
• Do not shift or move like pads can
• Ideal for…
  • Those who do not like insertive methods
  • Those who do not get many breaks throughout the day
• Not ideal for…
  • Those who cannot wash the panties regularly
  • Those who cannot invest $20 to $100 in period panties up front
  • Very heavy flows
  • Individuals who wear larger than to size 3XL

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list. There are other methods like free-bleeding (not absorbing or collecting menstrual fluid) and suppression (medically stopping menstruation entirely) that may suit some unique situations. Whatever your needs are, there is a menstrual hygiene method out there for you, and hopefully this list helps narrow down the choices.