As I got up out of my warm bath this morning that I took to soothe my period cramps since my Shark week start was brutal, I started to ponder the evolution we have seen in the feminine hygiene market lately. Are we finally evolving to using better products since the 80’s and 90’s tampons and pads solutions? You’re damn right we are.

It is no secret that there is a rise in the feminist movement especially considering the changes taking place in our country. With that rise of feminism, I have noticed a shift in the conversations about women’s issues. In particular, our periods.

We have started to have conversations about our periods freely. No shame!

We run races while on our periods

We talk openly about the effects of our periods

We joke about our periods

And now we innovate our period products.

The rise of feminism and women in STEM has brought on some amazing innovations in the period realm that were a long time coming. We are no longer shoving wads of chemical laden cotton into our vaginas ( I call them vajays), leaking out onto soaked pads and having mistakes happen on our underwear that are damn near impossible to hid.

Let’s celebrate and visit some of those changes!

The Diva Cup

This is not a tiny weird shot glass but a reusable  silicone menstrual cup that you put in to catch all the blood during the day and empty it out at night.Made by Fempreneurs Francinne and Carinne Chambers in 2001, this baby Holds for 12 hours and only requires emptying and washing twice a day . While the menstrual cup has been around a while, it has seen a resurgence as the female audience is looking to alternative period products.

Benefits:

• Reusable- don’t need to create a stockpile of bio-hazard in your trash
• Odorless -Silicone is odor free. it could take on the odor of scented soaps though (not recommended to use).
• Easy storage- doesn’t take up a lot of space and when done you have a cute baggy to keep it in
• No leakage- I have worn this thing all day. Not a problem.

Thinx

Ah the famous period underwear, keeps you dry and leak free . These thick swimwear-like underwear are put together with extra padding that include patented technology to absorb different amounts of blood. Created by Antonia Saint Dunbar, Miki Agrawal and Radha Agrawa in 2011,the underwear is anti-microbial, moisture-wicking, absorbent and leak resistant. This underwear can either be a complete replacement to pads/tampons etc or can be supplementary

Benefits :

• You don’t have to shove anything up your Vajay
• Moisture-wicking and antimicrobial so no feeling of wearing a mushy diaper
• No smell during
• washable and reusable

Flex 

FLEX is a disposable, single use menstrual product that can be worn safely for up to 12 hours. Plus side: You can have sex while using this thing! This was created by Femprenaur Lauren Schulte.

Benefits :

• Molds to your shape and creates a seal
• You have HAVE SEX while using it
• No Leakage
• Is disposable (if the idea of something reusable freaks you out).

Each one of the items listed above is a not only a great innovation for the Feminine Hygiene industry, but it’s also our challenge to the ” industry standard” . We now have more cost-effective and chemically conscious products made by actual WOMEN who understand their own bodies and the industry. This can only get better from here!

So what products are out there that you recommend?

The post Rising Red Tide of Change : 3 Progressive period products making waves appeared first on The Singing Tech.