Tampons, Pads, and "Blood Money," Oh My!: Reusable Period Products

The average woman has about 456 periods over the course of her life. Which, yeah, 456 periods. This adds up to over 9000 tampons are 11,000 pads. Wow. Yeah. And this all contributes to an industry in the US that is worth about $6 billion doesn't generally go to women for the record. Yeah. At the same time, millions of women in the world, and even in the US don't have access to these pads or tampons. They're expensive at an average cost of $7 for a box of just 36 tampons. This is out of the reach for many women and girls who are in experiencing poverty. It's that's highway robbery, honestly, obviously, not having access to menstrual products is a serious health concern. And some efforts have been made in the United States to take away the tampon tax. But that doesn't mean they made them free. You know, they're not available on every street corner. Right. Now, another issue is tampons and disposable pads. also raise health concerns you've probably read about toxic shock syndrome. It's caused by a bacterial infection that can happen when a woman uses a super absorbent tampon or leaves it in too long. There's all kinds of reasons for that, but it's, it's bacterial, and it can cause flu like symptoms and death. You could also maybe get cancer from the pesticides used when they grow conventional cotton that is passed on to pads and tampons. What and also bleached. tampons and pads contain dioxin, which can cause poor pelvic inflammatory disease, hormone dysfunction endometriosis, and again, cancer. What? Yep, and you're not safe just by using pads. Because you leave a damp pad on too long. It can also cause bacterial, fungal or even yeast infections. So these things are gnarly. But disposable period products clearly have an environmental impact. about 12 billion pads and 7 billion tampons are discarded in the US every year. So most of those end up in landfills, but women also flush them down the toilet, which clogged sewers look up fat Berg if you want to be disgusted, and this ultimately leads to even more plastic in our waterways and oceans. Plastic tampon applicators can take up to 20 years to break down. And the cardboard ones are much better. Okay, so even with all of that waste, the biggest ecological impact is caused by producing these disposable period products. Plastics especially make a huge impact and their use in applicators. Pads are mostly plastic with a cotton or middle and then of course, the wrappers that everything comes in. Conventional cotton also uses seriously dangerous pesticides and can take up a huge amount of water to be produced. So no matter what, there's no sustainable way to create disposable period product. Okay, so enter the menstrual cup and the period panty, reusable products that are marketed as sustainable and can save you money in the long run. But is that all just green hooey? Or is it for real? All right, so I said last week that we were talking about Halloween, and this week is terrifying blood because we're talking about periods. And I just want to say we're grossed out by our periods because of puritanical views on the female menstrual cycle that are still like steeped in misogyny have no purpose in modern life. And if you want to save the world and your health from your tampon habit, you're going to have to get over it. So that's how I'm going to start this episode. Get over it. Okay, it's aren't gross. They're natural. 51% of the population experiences them at some point in their life. And we've got to quit this puritanical thing about periods of growth, so we just need to throw them away because it is destroying the planet and our health. Hmm. Sounds like it. Yeah. Anyway, I am going to get a little bit gory in this episode. About periods. So if you're squeamish about them, turn it off, but I think maybe go read The Vagina Monologues and get over it and come back over it again. Get over it again. And if you're a man, this might interest you too. Because I think we've seen Have you seen those episodes of like on Instagram where somebody asked me in basic period, very basic period questions and they have no idea how it works. Yes. Okay. 51% of the population experiences this, you should probably know about it. Right? Let's just learn. Let's just get over it. Everybody poops. A lot of people have periods, bliss, you know, let's just talk about it because it's really important. So I first wanted to say one of the things we do on this podcast, which by the way is greening up my act? Welcome. Yes. Welcome. I'm Kat and this is Tiffany, we are co hosts of this wonderful podcast where we review systems, products and services that claim to be sustainable and green or could be sustainable and green. And we as marketing writers, look through the marketing fluff and try to do research to really determine if, number one, they are sustainable, or green. Number two, if they're effective, and do the job that the regular nonsustainable product might do. And also if three if they are cost effective, or it's just not worth the money. And then we read it all on a scale of one to five granolas. Five being crunchy, which is the best one being soggy, which is the worst. And we do all this research. So you don't have to and let me tell you, I did a lot of research tonight. Yeah, it sounds like it. I'm really excited. Yeah. And the other thing is that I am not just a Hair Club for Men. President I am also a member. So that was kind of a gross analogy, maybe but I drank the Kool Aid in my 20s. And I have been using reusable period products for many, many years and can tell you all about them. So Oh, that's awesome. I used to use a diva cup. And I actually have no idea why I stopped. Oh, well, maybe I can convince you to go back. I think you probably can. Yeah. First of all, I have been using the keeper, which is a it's made from rubber, which is a sample product. So you know that as a reusable menstrual cup. It's been around since 1987. Not my specific one. But the product, they recently came out with the moon cup in the 2000s, which is a silicone grade version, which I'll get into the sustainability of using silicone for these things medical grade silicone. Those are mostly for people who are allergic to latex rubber, which is an important thing to know if you're going to be sticking it in sensitive places. Right? And then I've used three types of period panties thinks Nix and GA. I'm going to discuss them and a couple other products that I haven't used. And I think I might change which products I use after doing this research just so you know, so Okay, yeah, cuz I know thinks has all this. Yes. Chit Chat about pee fast litigation, in fact, okay. Now just chit chat. Yeah, okay. Yeah, I'm i i much I probably could have gotten some of that money, but I didn't apply in time. Oh, shucks, okay. Yeah. Anyway, so I have a billion sources here. So, Duquesne University put out the ultimate guide to feminine hygiene, which is a really good resource Pandia health has the true cost of your period, the Mayo Clinic on toxic shock syndrome. The Hindustan Times can sanitary pads cause cancer all the way from Romania Yeah, that's a big deal in India because a lot of women don't have access to period products that make sense and some are obviously afraid to adopt these western methods to so it's a really interesting article helpline a lot of articles from helpline but how often should you change your pad also our menstrual cups dangerous and how to clean and store your menstrual cup those are all from Health Line. All Matters has an environmental reasons to switch to a menstrual cup. NPR on their article thinks settled a lawsuit over chemicals in his period underwear. Buzzfeed News has what to know about period products and PFAs Stanford magazine had planet friendly periods which is also a great resource. The Business Standard also out of India had menstrual cups reduce plastic waste generation by 99% which I thought was a really great statistic to just start your whole article with Wowza Yeah, CNN had a menstrual cups are a safe environmentally friendly option for people with periods and few know about it. The period Dotco which is period panty company has their FAQs had a lot of really interesting things but this one is about period underwear and then sustainable jungle which is the one I think everyone should visit after listening to this it's nine sustainable period underwear for a more eco friendly flow they did a lot of research on what what period panties to use if you're gonna go that route. Very cool. Yeah, I they're probably who I'm going to refer to when I go shopping the next time. As we said earlier, we we rate these products based on three things and the first thing is is it easy to do? Yes. And I listed it in three steps but step one is Get over your squeamishness. Okay, that's step one. But step 1.2 is order the product of your choice. And there are so many choices the market is just flooded with these Again, I said I use the keeper menstrual cup. It's made of natural rubber, which biodegrades. It also comes in two sizes, which are meant for pre and post childbirths. Based on basically yeah, the size of your vaginal wall. But I'm kind of wondering if that it's interesting to me because as I get older, I think I might need the larger size to just because you know, muscles slide on and changes. Yeah. But anyway, this is my OG go to, and I recommend it to everyone. In fact, when I was 24, and I discovered these, I bought all of my menstruating family members and girlfriends, of a keeper menstrual cup for Christmas. And last night, they probably hated me forever, because it might be the most intimate gift I've ever given. But it was it meant that much to me. The mooncup I also have one of these now, it's the same as the keeper, but it's made of medical grade silicone, which is technically a plastic. Okay. However, silicone doesn't break down into microplastics. Over time, it stays in one piece. They also claim it can be recycled. Which I don't know any programs that are currently accepting use menstrual cups. But I'm going to call Redwall tomorrow. So that's yeah, I mean, it's not like it's bloody. No, I mean, if you just wash it, right, yeah. So I I'm so curious about silicone. That's really interesting. Yeah. So I feel like it's kind of a new thing. Yeah, it is this young. I think the keeper started the mooncup. Brand in like 2017. I mean, it's very recent for them. Yeah, I think I didn't even come to silicone. The microplastics thing? That's pretty good. Yeah. I mean, it feels better to know that because that's one of the big issues with plastics, obviously. My issue with the mooncup is that this is the one that maybe has convinced me that it I might need a larger size. That's probably not true. But I found it's slippery. Or it doesn't seal as well. So I leak a leak on it. Yeah, I think that's what used to happen with me and the Diva Cup. And that's yeah, it was like, so maybe I'm annoyed, try to keep her because I didn't have that problem with a keeper. Okay, then I also I started using things period panties seven or eight years ago. Hmm. Because I still need a panty liner. When I use it doesn't matter if I use a tampon or a menstrual cup, I need a panty liner. So I started using things period panties. They come in a variety of sizes, depending on your flow. So they have like boy shorts, or even have like athletic shorts and like overnight sleep where they claim they can hold up to five tampons worth of blood, which I haven't necessarily found to be true unless my period is just so heavy. But again, we'll go into some of the issues around things. And Nick's, which is the other brand that I use. I like NYX better. I feel like they have more fun styles and colors and the material feels less like a diaper. Okay. But I haven't tried things in a long time. So they may have changed how they design things. Again, it's not natural cotton underwear, either. So right, that could be an issue for sustainability. But again, you know, pick your battles. Having having this material is probably better for the environment than 11,000 pads. You know? Yeah. So anyway, who knows, per year or per person per lifetime per year? In the US? Oh, no, no, that's per lifetime per lifetime perversion. Yeah, yeah. Well, I didn't get the numbers on per year. That would be a good question. No, I did. It was seven 12 billion pads and 7 billion tampons every year. Oh, yeah. So I wonder why so few, so many fewer tampons? I, again, will use them maybe? Yeah, I think there's some stigma around it. I'd be interested to know also, I think young girls maybe aren't comfortable inserting tampons. Right. And you know, there's all kinds of lies out there. People like oh, if you wear a tampon, you're not a virgin anymore. virginity is a myth guys. It doesn't exist for the writer. But anyway. I also use Giorgio but I didn't like how thick they were. They felt very diverse to me. And I'm not sure if they've I haven't. I used them once and you know, I still have them and I use them on like my ugly ugly days. So I use my I have a day I have one thinks left. And then I have like four Joy ages and then like three or four. Nick's This is my collection. And I have I have thrown out my my original things from six or seven years ago. So those are gone. Because they got they get old. Okay. I was just it was a PVS thing. Yeah, I mean, underwear wears out. Yeah. And it wasn't I mean, six years ago is that's a long time. Yes. 678 might have been eight years. That's it. way longer than most doctors recommend you keep them for the record. Okay? But Okay, so step two, obviously step one, order a piece of cake. Step two, use it. Now, this is probably the barrier to entry. Again, menstrual cups can be somewhat tricky to get used to. Also, you got to get all up in your business to put them in. You can't be squeamish about touching yourself. And it's not like you're touching yourself, you're not like, you know, right and a good time. It's you, you just have to be willing to get a little bit of blood on your fingers. And yeah, and it can be kind of painful until you figure it out. Yes, it takes trial and error, and you have to figure out where to do it. You know, like, how to fold it. Yes. How to. Okay, so yeah, I'm gonna go into step by step. But yeah, like, you know, do you put a foot up? Do you, you know, there's all kinds of things. squatting, I found is very useful for the record. But I wanted to read this really great quote from Stanford magazine. It's from Miranda stringer. She's a master's student in sociology and former employee at Ruby Cup, which is a Berlin based social enterprise that sells menstrual cups and donates them to women in Kenya, who are unable to afford sanitary products. So she said, our wasteful habits around our periods are intricately tied to misogynistic narratives around the female body. And its functions. Yeah. Which is what I said, but more eloquent. So I really appreciated that. So this is thing get over it. Your periods, your period, you're going to have it for what 40 years of your life, 30 years of your life. Sounds a lot. Yeah. We're grossed out by our periods because of puritanical views and a female menstrual cycle. And if you want to say the environment, you're gonna have to get over, you need to use a clean menstrual cup, which I'll get into later, you fold it in half, you hold it in your fingers, and you stick it inside of your vagina, you push it up to a comfortable level, and then you let go with your fingers and let it open. So that the cup is facing up to collect. And then you kind of turn it maybe a quarter of a turn so that it creates suction. You might have to move it around or spin it right. It doesn't have to go too far. But it will feel uncomfortable if it's too low, kind of like a low hanging tampon, which is one of the worst feelings in the world. So it's a similar feeling. It may mine makes me feel like I have to pee also. A little bit, it might press on your bladder a little bit, right? Yeah, I can see that. Yeah, you can leave it in for up to 12 hours or until it feels full. And then to remove it, you stick those three fingers back up there. And you break the seal. So you squish on it. You're gonna want to do this probably over a toilet for the record. Don't do it. Yeah. All the living room. Please. I've, you know, common sense might say that, but you know, Yeah, who knows? And they do come with a little tab usually to pull on. But I found that that can hurt a little bit. Because yeah, it's got sections. So you want to break the suction by squeezing it and breaking the seal and then pull it out. And then you dump it in the toilet. And if you can you get up and you wash it with hot, soapy water. Or you can wipe it out with toilet paper if you're in a public restroom. Yeah, that's what I was gonna ask what did you do with public places? I always found that awkward. I don't do it in public. Yeah. I found because you can wear it for 12 hours, right? I mean, yeah, if you're traveling, okay. I would bring like a wet paper towel into the bathroom was me. Okay, that's smart. Yeah. And then just throw that in the bin where you would normally put your tampons, and then you reinsert it. Okay, so you can wear them longer than a tampon without getting TSS because they don't expand in your vagina. You don't need to empty them as often. Right? They're not absorbing anything. They're just collecting it. Yeah. And if you're not introducing new bacteria, they're, you know, again, but you have to keep them clean, which I'll go into. To use period panties. You just wear I'm like you would normal panties or a pad. And then you change them when they get full. I use the menstrual cup on my heavy days with period panties as a backup. Like I said, okay, and then I switch to period panties when my flow is lighter or overnight. Sometimes, I often take the menstrual cup out in the shower. Oh, yeah, I used to do that too. Yeah. Because then you can wash it with your soap, let it dry off a little and reinsert it. Sometimes I'll just sleep in period panties some nights if my clothes onto heavy, and again, if they feel full, you just change them, and I usually rent them, or you rinse mine in the sink. But you know, that's just to get some of the blood out. But you can just throw them in the washing machine. The period panties, you can throw Yeah. Okay. So step three is caring for them. This may be another barrier to entry again, because we're grossed out by our periods. And we would like to just throw things in the trash and never think about it again. But if you think about it, it's actually grosser to have something sitting in the trash. Yeah, it is. Like, then like rinsing it out then going down the toilet. Yeah, yeah. So yeah, with with, with a period panty, you know, you maybe rinse it and then just throw it in the washing machine or, you know, store it before wash day and then, you know, it doesn't sit in a trash can, it might sit in your laundry basket, but, you know, it's not the dog doesn't come after it in the trash can, you know. So you really have to be good about cleaning your menstrual cup though. So wash it with hot water and soap after you take it out and before you reinsert it. Okay, don't use oil based soaps, scented soaps, antibacterial soaps, baking soda, bleach dishwashing, liquid hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or vinegar. And all of these are out of the question either because they can damage the cup, or they can wreak havoc on your home when you reinsert them. So especially with the natural rubber, it's it can be kind of porous. I don't want to have fragrances or bleach, or oil bleach there is a bit extreme. Yeah, I wouldn't bleach after you're done for the month, you know, for that week. And you're you don't need to reinsert your menstrual cup, boil it for a few minutes on the you know, on the stove, or there are some that they make now apparently that you can put in the microwave, fill them with water and put them in the microwave for three or four minutes and they'll sterilize them that way. Hmm. But either way, boiling it for three or four minutes or sitting in the microwave for three or four minutes with water. disinfects that's that's sterilizing it. Okay, I never sterilized mine ever. shmini. Okay. It's like I didn't know I was supposed I am going to start after doing this. It's I think it's really important for your health, but I've never had a problem. Yeah, yeah. I mean, that's mostly just luck, right? There's so much. vaginas are a floral Wonderland. And they are full of so many different bacteria and things. It is such a delicate balance that like yeah, you know, I don't know the type of detergent you use can affect your right, your vaginal flora. So, but I'm, I'm going to be more careful about it. Then let it dry completely and store it in a printable pouch. Okay, so the keeper and the moon couples come with a little cotton bag. Yeah, that's just the Diva Cup came with. Yeah. Also great for traveling with it and stuff. Period. panties, on the other hand are more delicate. Now. Most of them want you to hand wash them, which I am watching. Oh god, it's like the bane of my existence. Yeah. And they want you to air dry him, which I'm also like, okay, I can do that. But yeah, but the one thing about thinks underwear, especially then I started to notice was if I air dried them, they didn't smell they smell bad. Oh, so I mentioned that. But yeah, I actually throw them in the dryer on high heat just to deserialize them. You could try some bleaching. I could, although most of them are black. So then I just have like, I mean, what, who cares what your period undies look like? Yeah, I don't think they would actually bleach the color out. But yeah, over time it would but yeah, I mean, like, again. Usually your period panties are relegated to the bottom of the basket. Or yeah, so it's not like you're using your good dainty undies. Although thinks for instance, has lace period panties. I have a pair of lace period panties that I like to show off to them and I'm dating. That's interesting. Yeah. So you can still do and they also for like, for instance, for lighter days. They have like a song. So huh? Yeah. How does that work? Well, I mean, I get how that for just spotting. Yeah. Fascinating. Yeah. I mean, and this has been how I've been doing things for I mean, I first bought my first menstrual cup when I was 24. And I'm 41 now so. Yeah. What's that? 17 years something? No, no? Yeah. 17 years? No, no, yes. Wait, yeah, no, yeah, no, that's tough math. As we've all established, we're never good at math. I mean, nobody's gonna do the math themselves. So we could say 45 years and 45 years of my life, in terms of menstruating. But yeah, when I found it out when I was in college, okay, well, and maybe I'll tell you that story later, but I was just like, blown away. I was like, What do you mean, I don't want to spend seven bucks on tampons. It is it's so expensive. Yeah. The only issue is if you get your period surprise when you're traveling or something and you didn't bring it can be a little bit more difficult to to pack for traveling. Like yeah, to throw my menstrual cup in there. But it's like to I want to bring my period panties or my other panties, you know? And so sometimes, like if I don't know if my period is going to come over a weekend or something, I'll pack like, I'll have to pack extra underwear just in case my period comes, if that makes sense. Right? Well, and also, I don't know if you're traveling and you did unexpected and you didn't get your menstrual cup you can just buy tampons. I have I have like, I actually bought a box of tampons five years ago. Yeah, because of that issue or and some Pat actually bought pads four or five years ago because I got my period. Surprise. Oh well I was in India actually I have Indian panty liners. Nice cabinet. I still have them though, because they expire. No, I was wondering about tampons. I guess it's just cotton. Right? Yeah, it's dry cotton. If it was scented, which never use scented any known people ever. So that's one that's like the big thing we've learned is just don't grunt scented. Anything perfume? Yeah, and you're probably way better off for it. Yeah, but definitely don't stick it in your vagina. Yeah. That is a one way ticket to some kind of horrible infection. Yep, yeast or otherwise. So anyway, okay. Is it cost effective? Yes. If you can afford the initial investment, this is the other barrier to entry. Reusable menstrual cups cost about $35 Each the good ones? Okay. You can get them cheaper. Diva Cup I think is cheaper. There's a it is the market is saturated. I just looked today and there were like, 45 different. It's interesting, because, you know, when I first got it, I had never heard of it. And it was, you know, one company was making it and it was some it was like, you know, they also sold reusable sea sponge tampons and things which I didn't research because I've never used them. But there could be another option anyway. They're $35 That feels like the ultimate crunchy sponges and crunchy, not in a granola rating way. Yeah. Like just like, so. Hippie dippie you've got to be willing to dig for it, too. Yeah, I don't know. And I don't know, I haven't. Somebody. If you've used reusable sea sponges, let me know. I haven't seen them advertised recently. So I don't know if that's even a thing anymore. So I'm wondering. Anyway, so $35 for reusable menstrual cup. Now the thing is, they can last up to 10 years. Right? So that's 350 a year. If you think about that, I mean, I had my first menstrual cup for at least 10 years, compared to what like say seven bucks a month, seven bucks a month. $126 on tampons in a year, give or take. So you're saving a shitload of money? Yeah. Wow. period panties are a bit more expensive. Because you probably want at least three pairs, at least in five to 10 is probably ideal. Okay. And that if you just have three, that's you have to be really diligent about washing them or have like the period of a saint. I guess I when I had an IUD, I had a hormonal IUD. I definitely only had a period for a day, a month, right. And so I didn't even use my menstrual cup during that time. I just hadn't period panties. And it'd be like, yeah, nice, right, except for the searing pain was not worth it. But anyway, so yeah, well, you know, give or take. Anyway, I don't know if it's worth it. But oh, we had some graffiti I saw once said, Do you like him? Or do you IUD like him? Oh, my God. Is he worth the sacrifice? Thinks has some starting at $17 each, and NYX has them starting at $28 each. Okay, you're gonna be more expensive for you know, quality materials used in attractiveness. So the less they feel like a diaper, the more experience expensive they're probably going to be okay. And these you're supposed to replace more often than menstrual cups again, because it's absorbing the fluids. So after a while, it's like, yeah, it's fabric and it's gonna wear out. So one advice I read said, you probably want to replace him every six months to two years. Now again, a lot. I know. And I replaced mine every probably five or six years. So yeah, that's what I would do. Yeah. Now, here's a pro tip. If you have an FSA or an HSA, a health savings account, or a What does an FSA stand for? I can't remember. But if it's part of your insurance plan, where you have a savings account, you can use those to buy period panties and menstrual products. Yeah, I actually just did that. Yeah, I got some things. So I'm like really curious. Oh, what do you think? Yeah, I know. I know. I know. Okay. Well, I think some of the issues that they had have been resolved, so you might, but if you're lucky enough to have one of those use that use those pre tax buckaroos to buy them. Alright, now let's talk about sustainability. Okay, is Is it actually more sustainable with a menstrual cup? Fuck yes. Yeah. According to CNN, women can also reduce plastic waste by using a menstrual cup one cup produces an estimated point, point 4% of the plastic waste that single use pads build up, or 6% of that created by tampons in the span of 10 years. Wow. According to Business Standard, which was another Indian newspaper, menstrual cups reduce the generation of non bio biodegradable waste by 99% compared to the waste produced by disposable sanitary pads. Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of the World Health Organization said 99% So even if you're using a silicone copier replacing the need for 25 to 45, tampons a cycle with one cup for up to 120 cycles, right? Wow. Also, so again, we said silicone cups do not break down into microplastics and they can be recycled. Again, I'm going to call Redwall and see when they're going to start collecting medical grade silicone menstrual cups, but don't hold your breath. Anyway. If somebody knows where to recycle medical grade silicone, let me know because I think that's even a problem with hospitals. I can see that. Yeah. Okay. Now with period panties, it depends on what you use. Again, you're reducing your plastic landfill waste or recycling waste period. You can't recycle pads or tampons clearly. Yeah, but according to sustainable jungle a person who switches to reusable period products can reduce their carbon footprint by seven kilograms of co2. And they didn't say that I guess that's per year and they didn't say the timeline for that. Okay. Now again, brands like NYX and thinks which are the two of us have been on the hook for using P FAS. So P FOSS others forever chemicals? Yes, that we talked about are kind of in everything. They also have been nicked for using unsustainable cotton and other products in their manufacture. So think settled a lawsuit in January of this year 2023 over the presence of P Foss and their attorneys and Knicks requested to dismiss a similar lawsuit. Both of them has said any use of P FOSS was unintentional and that they have worked to they've taken measures to make sure P FOSS aren't introduced into their manufacturing. But the dust hasn't settled on that. One of the things Nick said on their website was that because P FOSS are everywhere, it's impossible. I heard about that. Yeah, it's impossible to keep them out of the manufacture of anything anymore, which is depressing. And I don't know, like is that true? I could see it. I mean, it's what it's forever. Chemicals are everywhere. They're in our water they're in you know, see, I thought that was just like a marketing like stunt. Yeah. But yeah, I think they're playing it down a lot for sure. Yeah. But again, I mean, that's what they're, they're definitely in your plastic pad. Yeah. So as I say, Aren't there companies that say, Oh, we definitely don't, or they're just lying, or like, we definitely don't have PFAs. And I don't know how to test. I don't know if there's a test for it. I don't have to right because yeah, I don't know if they're lying, or they're just kind of ignorance is bliss, like as far as we know, you know, but they put themselves up for lawsuits if there's found to be p FOSS. I mean, right? This Yeah, that's interesting, sustainable jungle again, had a great list of period panties. And they went through every aspect of the Sustainable question, like, what materials they're used labor practices, and even inclusivity in size and like, styles, things like that. Because, you know, some people who mentioned eight are men, transgender men, so they went whole hog on figuring all of that out, and it's a really good list. So they included the period company, Modi bowtie, Tomboy X assault with two A's Korra waka Wu ke body with two O's so I guess booty Bo dy ILAI SL en region or regioni. So those were the ones those are the nine. Yeah, and I will definitely pose that link. I'm definitely gonna look into those the next time I need period panties. Yeah, and those are only period panties. Yes, not the cups. Okay. Yes. For the menstrual cup. Again, I recommend the keeper. Or the moon cup. If you're allergic to latex. I definitely recommend the rubber though. Yeah, I think that's the best one. Cool. Okay, other stuff to consider. If you can't get over yourself and you need to use something disposable, we're not going to shun you forever and such a personal decision. I get it. But try to use applicator free tampons like OB. Okay, again, try to find sustainable cotton and unbleached that's hard because there's again, it's the Wild West. But the fewer chemicals you can shove in you who are the better I I think OB is good, but I think they might bleach their cotton. So I used OB before I started using a menstrual cup, okay 20 years ago. So another thing, and this cannot emphasize this enough do not flush menstrual products. Yeah, ever, I don't care if it says flushable it's not. Again, go look up what a fat burger is a fat burger, excuse me, it's all of the wastes in our sewers, that isn't toilet paper or human waste, and you will just be disgusted. And it's a real problem. But it's also waste products in our waterways, literally. So it's not just ruining your sewer system, or the one of the old bars on the street you like to go to, it's also ruining our drinking water, and the turtles and the oceans. Just stop there now. flushable Yeah, a friend of mine uses flex cups, which are another option they can cut down on your use. They're like, kind of like female condoms are bigger. They're not cotton, they're plastic. So we're gonna plastic product that you can wear them for up to 12 hours. They are disposable. Oh, interesting, but you can wear them and have sex. Hmm. They're kind of like a barrier between it's still collects the blood. But it also kind of acts like a suction cup barrier between you know, it goes. It's more flexible than a menstrual cup. It might be easier to use. And again, you can have sex while you're in it, but it's plastic and disposable. And I think cost wise it's not as effective. But you know, if you change your tampon every two hours when you during your really heavy flow, you know. And so that's like, six tampons, you know, then you have one flex cup, it's still probably a better option. Yeah, especially if you have those plastic applicators and things. Okay, so now, granola rating. Again, we rate on a scale of one to five granolas one being soggy, which is bad. And we also had one zero in the past which was plastic recycling, which was what saw waterlogged, waterlogged. Yeah, gross. So, but then we have five, which is break your tooth off. I'm gonna give this halfway between a crunchy which is a four and a break of two's off, which is a five, so 4.5 out of five. Okay, they're definitely both of these options are definitely better for the environment in the long run. Even if you're tossing out period panties, every six months, it's better than 20 to 40 pads or tampons that you're using during your period. Yeah, that's the period. I docked a half a point. So I was wondering, yes, they're expensive. Okay, which I mean, because that initial cost is so it's your pennies for sure. Yeah, the menstrual cup $35. I mean, if you can't afford a $7 tampon once a month, it's gonna take you six months, five months to be able to afford, you know, you can't go without. So if you if you can't budget for three, yeah, if you can't budget for$7, you definitely can't budget for 35. That's true. Now, again, a lot of these companies have charitable, like we just said that that company called Ruby, a lot of them use their funds to create menstrual products to deliver to underserved populations, mostly in Africa or India, etc. I don't know of any that are directly contributing to American women and girls who need these products. Also, education wise. It's not like our public schools are telling girls to use menstrual, you know, menstrual cups. They're not giving them out health class, you know. And so it's like, if your mom didn't use one, it's hard to learn about, you know, right. I mean, yeah, for me, even my mom didn't use tampons, and that was like a big deal. Because she was like, I don't know how to help you here. Yeah. Yeah, I would hope that they would start because I when I was in sixth grade, I had like a, maybe everybody does this, I don't know, but had like a class where they sat all the girls down. And we talked about periods. We talked about all this stuff. And they definitely explained tampons and pads. So I would hope they would start I didn't have them. Really? Yeah, you're a few years younger than me. But I you know, it depends on where your teachers are. Teachers. Were really passionate about it. Yeah, yeah. I think I may have had a health class like that my sophomore year of high school. Okay, so you're already like, I got it. Like, why are we? Well, yeah, I've been using periods for six years now. Thanks for Yeah, exactly. I mean, it's like, why is it a surprise every month? Like, oh, man, it's been 28 days. I mean, my period is Clockwork usually, but like, oh, I bled through my period panties. Right? How do I not know? But yeah, as for the record, as you get closer to menopause, your period changes. So it's basically a surprise like it was every day and when I was 13 It's the same thing. You just you're just doing the whole thing in reverse. But yeah, I mean, it's also we live again in a puritanical society. So we're not going to tell women to stick their fingers up their vaginas. No, no one in the public schools is going to be allowed to tell them to do that. So like tampons are kind of similar. Well, you have an applicator right? You don't really it's external and it goes in stupid. But yeah, we don't we're not going to teach little girls to reach up inside of themselves. Or to be okay with it. There's no, I can't think of a single congressman who has come out and said, you know, hey. I mean, you know, the most embarrassing things congressmen have said are things like, Oh, she should have held it in. You know, that they think that periods are something we can control is mind blowing. And you're allowed to make laws about women's bodies? Yep. Shocking. Shocking. We're not out in the street armed because we're not using menstrual cups. Because we're too busy changing our pads. But the minute women get a hold of menstrual cups tell you what revolution is coming. I love it. We're also gonna have all the money you know? No, truly. Yeah, cuz Isn't it like period products are taxed but then like, other things are not Yeah, like, I mean, groceries aren't? I don't know. Yeah, it's like health. Like your medicine isn't right. Yeah. I think it's state by state. But yeah, my Trazodone to put me to sleep at night. Two bucks. $7 for tampons, though. And I definitely need those. Everyone's Yeah, we're not anymore because I'm, I'm free. All right, well, I'm gonna go order one of those keepers. Yeah, do it. So the other thing that i Doctor point for is the question of how period panties are made with sustainable materials? Yeah, that is a question. So if so, doctor, half point there. But really, if there's one thing you want to do to help the environment as a woman, other than quitting your fast fashion habit, or I should say, as a menstruating woman, because not all women Minster, other than quitting your fast fashion habit, put down that wish.com order, get a reusable menstrual cup. And I will preach this until the day I die. I still buy it for Christmas for all my girlfriends. Yeah, I think it's so good. Yeah, you've inspired me for sure. I'm glad. Because I've been like, I could do this. But just you know, I mean, it's laziness or something really easy to use a tampon right? Pads leso. I hate the noise they make when you pull them off your panties. And it's like, I know, you cannot be discreet, or like, you stick them the wrong direction the first time and you have to restrict it and then it loses all its stickiness, right? You're just walking around. Yeah. Or like, you know, just weeks, just, there's just blood everywhere. And you you know, you can't or you feel like you can't wear tight clothes. And I don't know minstrel cups. Or if you can get over yourself and be willing to stick three fingers inside of your vagina. And they can hurt a little bit again, you can't be uncomfortable. You have to get over some discomfort, but really worth it. And after a while you get good at it. Oh, yeah, I'm a pro. Again. I just started taking it out in the shower very recently. Yeah, no, that's really smart. I also like I have a bad day. And I will vent it out on the day. Oh, yeah. That's a little risky. I feel like I get worried. I know. I just get ready to just wipe the toilet down when I'm done. Like, I used to joke with someone about like, why should a man put the toilet seat down? I'm like, you know, sometimes he could not put the toilet seat down and I can sometimes just forget to wipe the blood from the underside of the toilet seat. And then we have a compromise. You know, what do you want? Like, yeah, it's fit tampons are just the worst for that hurting anyway. Yeah, boys. I'm sorry. It's gross. Funny. It's not easy. And we find it's an amazing thing that more men don't know that we are bleeding to death and in serious pain. Right? Like, truly. That's like 10 for like a 20% of our lives. Yeah, a quarter of a month, usually 25% of our lives. I mean, when we're menstruating, but, you know, it's not our whole Yes, it starts when you're about well, now. 10 years old. Apparently, I started I got my first period when I was about 12. And then, you know, you'll have through your 50s Probably. Yeah. Wow. Unless you have pregnancy and miss a few there. But yeah, yeah. So Well, I hope this has inspired some people and again, I did talk about blood for Halloween. Hooray. Yeah, so gory. Ready. Cougars got nothing on me though. Or the real horror is the amount of plastic waste that goes into big tampon. So truly, if please don't buy plastic applicators. Yeah, don't don't Give all the men your menstrual money. Give it to the keeper. And these women own companies. Yes. I love to serve your period money, your blood money. My blood. Okay, well, on that note, yeah. All right. So do you know what we're doing next week? I will in one second as soon as I look it up. Okay. I will uh, while you're looking at up, I will thank everyone for listening through this gory Halloween episode. I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you, again, to our loyal listeners who have spread the word about us. We are so thrilled. You know, my sister, shared it with a friend and she shared it on Facebook and I don't know this woman and she's listening to my podcast. I want to shout out and say hi, hello. Yeah, I love it. It means so much. Yeah, it's like building a family. I'm really, I'm really glad. And I hope it brings you answers to questions that you had. And it's eye opening for me, so Oh, totally. Yeah, I feel like I am so much more aware of stuff than I used to be. Oh my god. Yeah. Oh, I'm excited about this one. Okay. No, I'm talking about toothpaste tabs and organic floss. Oh, boy. Okay, dental hygiene next week. Yeah, that's something I need to know about. I am so excited. And I have so many feelings because I've tried these before. And boy, boy, did it go. Array. All right. Okay. Can I can I make a special request? Yeah. So anything for sensitive teeth? I don't know. I'll find out. Okay. Well, I've been using Sensodyne for Yeah, apparently only supposed to use it for like two weeks at a time. I've been using it for like really? Oh my god. I think that's what Joe uses all the time. Yeah, I'll look into why but anyway, I can't wait. That's gonna be good news. Okay, yeah, well, like and subscribe. Yeah. Give us five stars if you want. Share it with your friends. Appreciate it. Also, if you haven't noticed, if any, we probably won't have these products aren't available on Amazon. But if you have listened to our podcasts in the past and found any products that you wanted to try that we're off Amazon, we're affiliate link there so you can feel good clicking on it and buying it and knowing that we'll get like, two cents or something. Yeah, we became affiliates. It was actually one of our listeners was like, why don't you do this for like, yeah, no, thanks. I hope you bought the wool dryer balls. I hadn't reached out to him since then, and told him that he could he probably already bought them. But anyway. Yeah. But yeah, we appreciate it. And let us know if you have any feedback. We're on Instagram. Yeah. You can also email us at greening up my act@gmail.com. Yes, we hope to hear from you. Have a happy Halloween. Yes. Thank you, Kat. Yep. Thanks, Steph. Bye bye.