In our society periods have become something of a taboo subject and as a result many of us separate ourselves from our period and thus fail to research into the subject choosing to hide it away like it is something terrible and awful.

I was brought up in a very 'prudish' family that would never dicuss such matters. My mother has yet to even mention the word period to me, and my father cringes at tampax adverts on tv saying that they shouldn't be allowed. Had my friend Claire not told me what a period was I would have been completly in the darkness about the subject.

I didn't tell anyone when I started, because no-one had told me anything about it, I thought that it was a bad thing, to be kept a secret. I had only turned 11(quite literally it started on my 11th birthday) and I almost passed out in Tescos trying to buy some pads

However as I got older, I became less bothered by it. I began to think, why is it such a bad thing? It is only natural? I still kept it to myself but my fear to buy products and people finding out passed. If you think about it, it is an incredibly powerful force, it all allows us to bring life into this world if we choose to do so. So therefore, shouldn't we celebrate it instead of pretending that it does not exist? It effects our entire health system, and believe it or not the environment.

Alot of the feminine hygiene corporations fail to tell us the truth behind using their products. Tampon companies vaguely skim over the subject of TSS (or Toxic Shock Syndrome). It is a terrible, awful and sometimes fatal disease. Is using tampons worth risking a deadly illness? Then there are pads, you can’t catch anything off of them surely? Well nothing deadly no, but they sure help thrush. Quite often also, the special chemicals they use for ‘odour control’ and ‘no unsightly leaks’ can have their own problems causing allergic reactions and symptoms similar to baby nappy rash.

All tampons contain Rayon, a direct result from the chlorine that they use to bleach the products whiter than white, (to which I might add there is no point). This process causes Dioxin (a by-product) to be released into our rivers and waterworks. Scientific studies show that there is a link between rayon fibres and serious medical conditions like endometrioses, cervical cancer and TSS. Studies have also shown that using higher absorbency tampons dries out the vaginal cavity and actually promotes more bleeding.

It is not only the health issues we need to face it is the environmental costs. We are burning holes in our pockets at not only our expense but at the environments. An average women will go through approx 10,000 tampons or pads in her lifetime. 10,000! Imagine all that money spent and all the waste created!

Tampons, pads and their packaging take up more space in our landfills, and on our beaches than disposable nappies. Each tampon takes 6 months to biodegrade, but pads never do. There is a solution to all of this, a greener and healthier way to deal with our periods. Alternative Protection.

For those of us who like the freedom of tampons, there is the Keeper. You only need one and it can last up to ten years. The Keeper is a small cup which is worn internally and collects the blood. Once full it is just emptied, cleaned and re-inserted. It can be worn for up to 12 hours before needing emptied.

There are also washable pads, often made from cotton. You can either buy these or make them yourself as they are relatively simple to sew. They come in various sizes, and have ‘inserts’ to deal with varying flows. You can often use up to three inserts at a time. Once used you just soak them in cold water for two hours, to avoid staining, then wash them along with your laundry and dry ready for use again.

These Alternative methods are not only better for our bodies, and for the environment, but also they are considerablly cheaper in the long run paticularly if you sew your own pads. It is also a benifit to our emotional health to become more connected with our bodies. To learn to celebrate them, instead of cursing them. I am glad that I have.

Madisyn Raine

8th February 2004