Are you concerned about the health or environmental impact of disposable menstrual products?

I am concerned and I do plan on buying a menstrual cup here soon. It will even be much better financially as they can usually be used for around 10 years.

I use the Diva cup now because I didn't realize most sanitary napkins and tampons have chlorine in them.

I want to switch to a cup.

I have purchased the diva cup though I haven't tried it yet. I also purchased reusable pads, which are actually quite a bit more comfortable, off etsy.com.

I'm not concerned and I'll explain why.

I was watching a Discovery program called Life After Humans and I learned a lot about what they theorize is going to happen based on the findings of sites in Chernobyl after the bomb. The animals are thriving, the materials and buildings are breaking down and new flora and fauna are inhabiting the area and it has become a safe haven for one of the rarest species of deer; the Red Deer. In this program, they explained that after several thousands of years without human beings around, the Earth will return to a state it was in before humans.

I'm sure you're thinking, "but, Stormy that's AFTER people." You're correct, it is after people are no longer around to cause destruction to the planet.

However, I believe that the Earth is completely capable of dealing with the damage we do it to. I'm not completely sold on issues like global warming being a man-made problem, I think it might have more to do with that supervolcano hanging out in Yosemite and other parts of the world (it's rising, by the way).

All of the materials we use have a natural origin, in time the Earth will do what it does and take care of it. Our landfills might become the next La Brea tar pits.

It might be a stupidly naive and uneducated point of view and I don't go out of my way to create refuse beyond the normal household scope; I recycle and try to do my part but it's not going to make me run out and buy a silicone cup that irritates my vaginal walls to the point I can't have sex for two weeks afterwards.

I feel the same way Stormy does. I care about the environment, don't litter, and all that stuff. I won't go as far as buying a cup or reusable pads. I don't see anything wrong with it at all it's just not for me.

Long live the Diva Cup
funny Diva Cup add sang by a guy

I'm not worried. If you don't dispose of them properly, animals will eat them for the blood. I don't know if this hurts them or not, but it doesn't seem to do so.

I don't think of it.

I've read all about the Diva cups and such and would love to make the switch but I just haven't done it yet because of the initial cost.

I use a mooncup because it makes me feel better---I get way less cramps and my period is way shorter then it used to be

I agree with Stormy. I love shows like that. So interesting!

I am somewhat concerned. Though as Stormy said the Earth will do it's thing and when we're gone, will take over as if we weren't even here. But we are here now and I am a bit concerned about my own waste pilling up. And frankly the cost as well for period supplies. I need to use tampons and pads at the same time because of leakage and I would love to try menstrual cups but I can't afford to (*hint hint* to Eden on the Eden Should Carry thread... people asking for mentrual cups! LELO makes one I hear ).

I switched over mainly for cost reasons - I was frustrated having to buy disposable stuff every month, particularly if my period came during a tight week. That and I'd just recovered from a yeast infection and wasn't keen on using a dry, itchy tampon right after that but I didn't trust pads overnight. Rush orders, ahoy!

Now, though, I happily advocate the health benefits of cups. Especially since I've learned just how many unfriendly chemicals you can find in your average disposable product (and if I ever need to use a tampon again, it will be without an applicator!), though it seems a lot of women refuse to believe that something reusable could possibly be healthy. You'd think menstrual blood was highly toxic and required use of a hazmat suit or something with the reactions cups get.

As for the environment, anything that reduces waste is groovy, I say. It's not something I think about a lot, but I like to know that something I'm doing is keeping the pile smaller. Earth will eventually take back, but it's still a good idea to keep things clean while we're here.

not at all

I have never even thought about it. That could be because I don't get mines since I am on the Depo shot.

No The earth will adapt to what we do.

there are a lot worse things going into our sewers and landfills.

I'm not worried at this point

I've tried the Diva cup, doesn't work for me.

I'm concerned about it for the environment, but not really my health. I've been considering switching to a menstrual cup, but not for those reasons, so I answered that I'm concerned, but not enough to research alternatives. I only think about it occasionally.

I don't care.

Sort of casually concerned, but not enough yet to give up the convenience and sanitary-ness of tampons.

I'm more concerned for the environment than my health as far as disposable feminine products are concerned, but I don't really get a period anymore thanks to my IUD, so it really isn't a concern for me. In the year and a half since I had it put in, I may have used a single box of tampons for maybe four light, short periods. My bigger concern was finding light flow tampons, which I've noticed are hard to find. I used to have to use the super heavy ones.