Review: Woman-Kind Reusable Cloth Pads



As part of our series on reusable, eco-friendly menstrual products, the lovely Faithful to Nature kindly sent us some cloth Woman-Kind pads in sizes Large and Small to review! These aren't the only sustainable multi-use pads in stock; as the largest online wellness retailer in South Africa they offer a wide range of alternatives to suit almost everyone. As always, our reviews are unbiased and fair, but I was pretty keen to try this product. Reusable pads are not only kind to the planet, they are a wonderful investment for anyone looking to save money on sanitaryware. It's an unfortunate reality that, for many in our country, menstruation is a massive hindrance to living one's life. Without access to sanitary products, these people are obliged to miss school and compromise their education due to the fact that they can't afford to regularly buy disposable tampons or pads. The Woman-Kind pads offered by Faithful to Nature provide a long-lasting solution to a very real problem, and we were lucky to have the chance to check them out.

The pads themselves look pretty funky, made from what appears to be black towelling with patterned cotton fabric on the reverse, stuffed with a thicker cotton absorbent core. They fasten onto your underwear by means of a single press stud and are pretty simple in design. Mine are quite friendly-looking with their eighties-style patterns that make me think of the spandex ski-pants I had as a child. What's particularly cool is that no two pads will ever really be alike as the manufacturers try to be as eco-friendly as possible; matching complementary colours but trying to reduce waste wherever they are able to do so. Despite this, I'm quite happy that I did get a darker colour combination. Although I am not particularly squeamish when it comes to my own body, it is nice to disguise the inevitable staining that happens over time. However, I wouldn't advise investing in the all-black variation also available, for reasons I'll discuss later.

As expected, the pads are pretty easy to use -- just snap on the press-studs, arrange the pad so that it sits comfortably in your undies, and you're good to go. If you haven't worn pads in a while, it might take a bit of getting used to. I switched to tampons very soon after beginning my period, and have used a Mooncup since 2009 so the bulk of the cotton pad was very pronounced at first. The middle area meant to collect the majority of menstrual fluid is noticeably thicker than the wings, but not uncomfortably so. If you enjoy wearing thin leggings or tights instead of pants, you might need to engage in some wardrobe-facilitated distraction techniques to disguise the shape of the pad through your clothes, but a regular pair of denim jeans will probably conceal the bulge just fine.

In use, the pads work remarkably well. The smaller size lasted a full day without any leaks despite being moderately active on my lighter starting flow, while the larger one gave me 24 hours of use near the tail-end of my period. While the large size is okay during what counts as heavy flow for me, it was at saturation point by the end of that day. Those who want to use cloth pads exclusively need to have a few on hand to switch out for evenings, although naturally those who use birth control that reduces menstrual volume might find a single pad gets them through the heaviest day of their cycle just fine. It's all up to you knowing your body.

But when should you change your pad? As I mentioned earlier, I wouldn't recommend getting all-black reusable pads, and my reasoning is purely because it's hard to tell when they are full. The cotton is so absorbent that I didn't immediately feel any noticeable dampness when trying to check saturation status. You can always wait to change them when you start seeing spots in your underwear, but that's not quite the point, is it? Eventually I realised that checking the patterned underside for stains would allow you to see when the pad is close to soaking through, which obviously is impossible when the pad itself is all black despite how chic you might feel.

As for clean-up, it's important to soak the pad in cold water as soon as possible after removal to help prevent staining. I made sure that I would be home most of the time I tested these pads, because I didn't want to shove a bloodsoaked cottony mass into a ziplock baggie in some unfortunate public bathroom only to have to deal with the dried fabric scab when I got home. So while I don't know how well the pads react to being left for a few hours, I can tell you that a swift soak will get rid of pretty much everything. After soaking for a few hours, a good hand-wash is good enough to prep them for their next use (after drying, of course). After my cycle was done, I chucked my pre-washed pads into a protective delicates bag for a round of deep-cleaning in the washing machine, just to make sure. However, I'm fairly certain that soaking and washing by hand is fine so this is up to personal preference.

So, are there any cons to using the Woman-Kind reusable cotton pads? Well, naturally, but it's important to remember that  in terms of functionality and ethics they are a clear winner over generic disposable pads. The cotton is gentle on sensitive skin that might react to the fabric or adhesive of single-use pads, and once you get past the added bulk they really are very comfortable. I did find that my usual choice of period panties (read: overstretched and faded underwear that are good for nothing except bleeding in) betrayed me in this instance, as they didn't provide much support for the large pad to stay close to my body. One particular day had me walking about 3kms with a pad that constantly tried to shift forward in my underwear, until I could get home and solve the problem with a pair of stockings that kept it snugly in place. Making sure you wear sturdy undies that will keep a slow-filling pad in check will really improve your experience of this product. Also, those new to the eco-friendly pad scene might initially get frustrated with the washing schedule necessary to keep your pads in rotation, but a little forethought and a good sunny window to pin your pads up in are your friends.

Also, some people really worry about the potential smell associated with periods and wearing pads. If this is a concern of yours, I'd advise you try adding some tea-tree or lavender oil to your soaking/washing water. Both these oils have anti-bacterial qualities and will imbue your pads with a subtle scent that should help you feel more confident.

Overall, I actually really liked this product and would recommend them to anyone looking for a ethical, sustainable alternative to generic sanitaryware. Buy them through Faithful to Nature at the link below! And be sure to say hi to them on social media.

Website ♡ Facebook ♡ Twitter ♡ Instagram ♡ Pinterest ♡ Hello Peter

 

 

The Gap in Body-Positivity

This week, we have a really personal post from Minerva. She's hoping to discuss what she feels is a blind spot in the body-positive community in case there are other people that feel the same way. While neither of us have the answers to these problems, we don't want anyone to feel alone.

This post has content warnings for weight, body image, and self esteem.

For a while I’ve been focusing a lot on the body-positive side of life. I’ve always harboured a mild (and sometimes not so mild) hatred for my body. I have very much of that fabled junk in my trunk, and it's been so since I was eleven years old. For many reasons, I started cutting out unhealthier media: diets, magazines, the pin-up models littering my timelines and Instagram pages. I even sacrificed a few of my favourite tattoo channels because of the pressure they placed on being different -- but in all the societally-accepted ways. They were all still airbrushed, thin, perfectly-cinched models all pushing their bosoms up at the camera, and it made me feel pretty shit about myself to look at what is considered ‘beautiful’ and come to terms with the idea that that is not me.

After much toil and a LOT of self-affirmation in front of mirrors and canvasses, I have finally learned to love my body for what it is and not for what it could be. I have learned to be happy in my lifestyle and look in the mirror and think "damn girl;" no matter what I’m doing.

I consider myself very lucky for that.

However, something else has been on my mind lately. I recently re-entered the open society in a job that takes me to work every day, instead of working from home on my own. And while I love it, it has opened up a huge can of proverbial worms. It has highlighted how removed from other people I have become. In my desperate search to be okay with myself in my solitude, it feels like I have forgotten how to connect with other people.

On a more personal level, I have been single for four years now, and counting. It’s been very hard, but I was never in a place to move on until the last year or so. And now I realise that that time it took to heal myself (even though I still don’t consider myself quite healed just yet), I have forgotten how to connect with people on that level either. In learning to love myself, I have forgotten how to trust someone else to love me too. I have zero ability to flirt, connect, or even just be interested in other people. Or, if I am, I have the immediate urge to quash it because of the seemingly-inevitable rejection that will follow -- and the hurt that comes with it. It's difficult to cope with the idea that one person could have the power to undo everything I have worked so hard for.

This got me thinking about a whole section of body positivity that I feel the community has ignored, or insists isn’t there because it bases itself on external validation, which is not what bopo is meant to be about. I was watching a TV show and one of the characters mentioned how the main character’s husband looked at her, and how they wished someone would look at them the same way. And I was struck by the sudden crushing realisation that I honestly, completely believe that nobody will ever (read: could ever) look at me like that. I was suddenly faced with the realisation that while I look at myself and have learned to love myself, I still cannot for the life of me imagine anyone else capable of loving me. I find myself preparing for immediate rejection, no matter where the possible interest comes from. And I find myself being rejected over and over again.

The thing with body positivity is that it leaves no room for the permanently single folk. It preaches satisfaction with oneself, and the bopo celebs shower positivity and jiggles and sunshine down upon you right before they dedicate posts to their significant others for being the rock in their lives. There’s very little about bopo-ness without that rock. About going it alone. About how to love yourself and be satisfied when you’ve experienced nothing but rejection in all things vaguely romantic. When it feels like the world is screaming at you over and over that you are not worthy of another’s romantic affections, it's hard to identify with a community that thrives on self-love. Roz the Diva occasionally speaks about this gap between feeling worthy and feeling loved, but she seems to be the only one.
 

HOW TO : FIX A BROKEN HEART 1) Have a dude tell you how wonderful you are, then ghost you. Unfortunately, repeat this process X 3. 2) Text Coach @geekgirlstrong that you have zero fucks left and you wanna lift a baby walrus worth of weight. Challange is accepted cause, like you, she's got zero fucks for men who can't use their words to communicate. 3) SET A NEW PERSONAL RECORD LIKE A BOSS and, in the key Bone Crusher, tell these morherfuckers you ain't neva scuuuurrrrd. *BONUS* repeat steps 2-3 with Formation on repeat

A post shared by Roz The Diva (@rozthediva) on Jun 12, 2017 at 5:36pm PDT

I have no doubts about my charms or ability to make friends with people. I am charismatic, I am beautiful in my own way, I am talented and interesting, and I reckon I’m even hilarious. But I can’t even conceive of a world where a guy (being a hetero, cis woman) looks at me and thinks "damn girl," like I do. I can’t even imagine a scenario where a guy actually would like to be with me. I get so nervous introducing a guy I like to friends because I know that he will like them more than he could ever like me. I steel myself every time I start to gain feelings, and shut them down as quickly as I can because I know he could never feel the same way as I do. Because who could, and why would they?

And that depresses me. All of this hard work and time spent telling myself I am worth it comes crashing down as I realise that I am still alone. My hard-won self-acceptance threatens to undo itself as I realise that I don’t believe this will ever change. I don't believe that what’s good enough for me is good enough for anyone else. Did I truly learn to love myself? Or did I just lower the bar until I fit?

And how on earth do I even begin to fix it?
 

Review: Woman-Kind Menstrual Sponges

When I first heard about menstrual sponges, I was a bit mystified. Sponges? Like, from the sea? Turns out that's exactly right! Menstrual sponges are a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to tampons, and they're better for your body as well. Generic tampons are made from bleached cotton and rayon fibres that retain traces of the chemicals used to make them so perfectly white and sterile-looking. Over time, these chemicals could leak into your body through your sensitive mucous membranes, which from a layman's perspective seems like a bad move. You could pay extra for the organic, pesticide-free ones, but these are still single-use and take months to biodegrade -- the cottony bit, that is. The plastic wrapper and other packaging would take even longer to disintegrate, spend more time in a landfill, and contribute to the pollution of our planet. And considering how many tampons you might go through in a lifetime of menstruation, it really isn't a sustainable way to shed your uterine lining while continuing a normal life.

This is where eco-friendly menstrual care comes in. We approached the online wellness retailer Faithful to Nature about helping us do a series of reviews of various reusable sanitary products one could use instead of mainstream tampons and pads. Faithful to Nature is arguably the largest and most varied stockist of ethical, healthy, and eco-friendly products and foods in South Africa; and they deliver straight to your door. I've used them before and have always found their services impeccable, plus they always include little product samples along with your order so you get extra presents to look forward to. They sponsored our giveaway and provided us with really awesome earth-friendly menstrual products to try out for this project, and what I was most excited for were the sponges -- mainly because it was such an unconventional alternative for me. We received a pack of Woman-Kind menstrual sponges in small and medium to test out in exchange for an unbiased review, and spoiler alert: they are awesome.

As a bit of a disclaimer, sea sponges are technically animals but because they lack a central nervous system, the general consensus is that they don't feel pain. It depends on your own personal ethical stance, but despite my vegan beliefs I was okay with using this product. To be honest, I'm not sure if it's just because they don't look like animals and therefore it is easier for me to achieve cognitive dissonance. Better vegans than I might have seminal, well-reasoned arguments about the issue, but for the purposes of this review I was happy to focus on the environmental benefits.

Firstly, you need to prep your sponges for use by rinsing thoroughly in warm water, just to rid them of any tenacious bits of ocean that might still be clinging on, then pop in some warm water and vinegar for ten minutes to banish bacterial nasties. Some sources recommend apple cider vinegar, but I think regular white vinegar should be fine. After the recommended soaking time, you obviously rinse and squeeze the sponge again, smush it up nice and small, then insert it as you would a tampon. I would recommend not pushing it too far up because removal can be tricky, but more on this in a bit.

Once prepped, the sponges get all soft and fluffy-feeling, making insertion a breeze. I was sort of expecting a scraping sensation, but it was actually really comfortable. During use, you can't feel the smaller one at all, and that's what I used on the first day of my cycle when my flow is pretty light. It lasted a good four hours before I became aware of a weird feeling of heaviness that was quite uncomfortable. I realised it must be the sponge getting full so nipped off to the loo for a quick rinse. That's when I discovered the importance of not pushing it up too high -- it was a tense few moments where I wondered if I'd be able to reach it, but fortunately all was well. The sponge does leak a bit during removal, probably because you have to pinch it slightly to actually get a grip, so have some toilet paper at the ready. The second, slightly lower insertion was much better and easier to retrieve, so avoid tense moments in public restrooms and learn from my mistakes. It's easier with the medium-sized sponge due to the size making it naturally sit a bit lower. I used the medium size in the stage of my cycle that is normally the heaviest (although for some reason I had a lighter period than usual), and it managed to last overnight without leaks. Impressive!

When your period is over, just repeat the whole cleaning process along with the water/vinegar soak, allow your sponges to dry, and you're ready for the next time! However, each sponge can only be used for about six cycles before they start deteriorating to the point where it might shed little spongy bits during insertion and removal, which is not fun. Additionally, the sponges are not sterile and therefore long-term use could lead to an overgrowth of bacteria and perhaps even the Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) that is also associated with improper tampon wear. So set yourself a six month cut-off date, inspect your sponge with every rinse for loose bits, and maintain your vaginal health in an eco-friendly way.

Other intriguing uses to which you can put your sponge is as an absorbent buffer during penetrative period sex. Yep, the internet claims that a recently-inserted menstrual sponge can't be felt by either party during penetrative intimacy, and it prevents each of you ending up looking like extras from a horror film. I haven't tried it but if you're curious, you can read this informative little comic by the cartoonist Dwam. Seems legit! But I'm unsure of how easy retrieval would be afterwards, so keep that in mind.

I really enjoyed using menstrual sponges and think they're wonderful alternatives to tampons. Because they're unrefined and biodegradable, you can literally toss them in the compost and not have to worry about harming the planet. Also, two sponges are just about the same cost as a pack of tampons that would have seen me through about two cycles -- and the sponges last up to three times longer! Seems like a pretty sweet deal. But what are the downsides?

Well, for a start, squeezing out a blood-soaked sponge at the basin in a public restroom is unpleasant (and frightening for potential onlookers). You could use a handicapped bathroom for the convenience of having a private sink, but that has its own ethical ramifications and I can't recommend this course of action. I've experimented with squeezing out the medium-sized sponge between layers of toilet-paper to avoid the rinsing issue -- which works in a pinch, but it's not ideal. Also, the removal process is messy, especially with the larger sponges. It can get downright grisly in public, and I can't stress the importance of the swift application of toilet paper. But why would you want to spray your bacteria all over some poor restaurant's bathroom, even if you clean up the visible evidence afterwards? I've seen CSI; I know blood sticks around. You just can't do that to the other people that use the place afterwards.

Despite the cons, I thoroughly recommend using the Woman-Kind menstrual sponges over regular tampons, especially if you're concerned about menstrual care that's body- and environment-friendly. Get yours from Faithful to Nature! Your body (and the planet!) will thank you for it.

Website ♡ Facebook ♡ Twitter ♡ Instagram ♡ Pinterest ♡ Hello Peter