Ok, I decided to check this section (ladies section) out out of curiosity, but I think i'll go back to the regular section now.

 

I don't want to be here, but the only way to make this sub-section of a forum look like its read is to open the topic and close it. Yarrrrr

You girls have fun in here, I'll be outside ;

 

You were warned.

And that is the reason I never posted it before....

 

i'm with scarcher

 

Poor boys! LOL Seriously, I've been using homemade pads for the last 8 months, and LOVE the freedom, low cost, and environmental benefit. I just fold a washcloth into thirds, secure it with safety pins, and live my life.

 

???



Sounds like a BIB lol sorry

 

what about "wings" ? isn't that like a critical design feature?

 

I thought about keeping this to myself, but since you asked politely, I'll answer:

Personally, I find wings more trouble than feature. They just carry stuff around to the other side, where it there presses against and stains your clothing.

I hate it when stores are out of anything sizeable, except what has wings. Arg!

...

Noticed your custom title...took me 2 reads to get it. "Aquaholic," LOL! Personally, I'm a chocoholic. Just proves not all holics are bad holics!

 

Nope... wings aren't as critical as the marketing people want you to think. And you can always wrap the washcloth around anyway.

P. S. if you click "quick links" on the top of the forum, the drop-down box will give you a "mark all forums read" option.

 

these are also viable alernatives...

http://www.divacup.com/

http://www.keeper.com/

 

I've looked into those, but I have to admit, in a time where running water was unavailable, I'd be worried about TSS with them. I am however, very curious abt the sea sponge tampon.

 

I think the ice-cream bucket and any water would nullify that problem. Pouring water = running water. Just soak them first.

 

Just a word of warning about the "cups".

They look good. And some women never have a problem with them.

BUT... All of us are anatomically different to some degree - yeah, we are all girls (except those of us who are boys!) - and those slight differences can cause problems. The rate of urinary tract infections that come from the use of the cups is pretty high.

Granted - those that are able to use them use them fine with no problems and I say Hallelujah.

But in some women the urethra is located in such a place that the manipulation it takes to insert and remove the cup will cause irritation that will lead to UTI's.

Just a bit of a caution - not to discourage anyone...

 

Wasn't the "Rely" tampon made with sponges? I believe that those were yanked from the market because they supposedly caused TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome). Are the seas sponges any different? Would they be recyclable? Not to gross anyone out, but I'm big into recycling.

 

I think it's great, post crunch I will have more women alliances than men! Thank you! now maybe the ladies will be more comfortable!

 

That would be of concern for me. I haven't yet found any connection to sea sponge tampons and TSS, but then, they aren't as widely used as the Rely was.

But then, in the grand scheme of things, ANY tampon - if left in place for more than 8 hours - poses a risk of TSS.

With that said - I would think that the sea sponge, if washed thoroughly and left to air dry - especially in the sun - would be as safe as any.

 

From www.wisegeek.com
One of the most interesting recent (and more than likely ancient) applications of sea sponges is as natural tampons. Several lines of natural bodycare products now offer sea sponge tampons, which are nothing more than sea sponges of a particular size. The sea sponge is soaked in water, squeezed as dry as possible, and then inserted into the vagina, where it absorbs the menstrual flow. If it is uncomfortable, the user can simply trim away some of the sponge to get a more comfortable 'fit'. The sponge can be removed and rinsed and reinserted every few hours until the user's cycle has ceased. It can then be cleaned with vinegar, or peroxide and air dried before being stored for future use. When cleaned properly, a sea sponge used as a tampon can last six months or more, and is much more earth-friendly than disposable tampons. They also do not carry the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome that regular tampons pose.

from http://www.goddess-within.com/786035000429.html
Sea Pearls Natural Sea Sponge, Tampon 2 oz
Sea Pearls are natural, reusable Atlantic sea sponge tampons. They are a safe, efficient, dioxin- and rayon-free alternative to the ordinary single-use tampons. There is no string attached to the sea sponge.

Sea Pearls are natural sea sponges. Sponges are plant-like creatures growing in colonies on the ocean floor. There are over forty-five hundred varieties, the softest of which are the Atlantic and Mediterranean Silks. As sponges are harvested, millions of egg and sperm cells are released into the surrounding water, making the sponge a renewable resource that provides an ecologically sound product for menstrual use.

1. For your Health: Our Sea Pearls Natural Sea Sponge tampons do not contain any Dioxin or synthetic fibers. Research has determined that there are health risks associated with conventional tampon usage. These risks are related to the use of Dioxin, a by-product of the tampon fibers bleaching process. Risk associated diseases related to Dioxin exposure and synthetic fibers are: endometriosis, ovarian, cervical, and breast cancers, and more!

2. To Save $$ Compare the cost of tampons with our Sea Pearls.

3. For the Earth The average woman uses nearly 600 pounds of paper and cotton throughout her lifetime menstrual cycle. In North America alone, an estimated 20 billion bleached pads and tampons end up in our sewage systems each year. Sponge tampons are reusable for 6 months or more.

4. For your Comfort and Convenience Sponge tampons are very comfortable, soft and textured like the vaginal wall. Many women report they do not even feel their sponge. Sponges are naturally very absorbent.

Sea Pearls are convenient - no more running to the store for emergency tampons. Sea Pearls are very practical when camping, swimming or trekking. All you need is water to clean them. You will never again need to worry about polluting the environment with used sanitary products.

Sea sponges, like tampons, are not sterile. Therefore, great personal care should be exercised in their use.

Rinsing and Storage Don't use harsh soap on your sponge. It leaves a film that upsets the natural pH balance of your vagina. You may however, use a mild natural soap to wash your sponge.

You may boil your sponge for about 2 minutes if you wish, however, we do not recommend it because it shrinks and toughens your sponge, and also shortens its useful lifetime. We have no scientific evidence, but it is a fact that microwaving changes the molecular structure of matter, so we would not recommend it. Between cycles, there are several ways to disinfect Sea Pearls. You may soak them in any of these mixtures - all work well:

1. a solution of 1 tbsp. baking soda in 1 cup of warm water 2. a solution of 1 tbsp. cider vinegar in 1 cup of water 3. a solution of 1/2 hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 water 4. a solution of 1 or 2 drops of tea tree oil and 1 cup warm water (tea tree oil has been shown to inhibit 60 strains of bacteria, including s. aureus) 5. a solution of 1 tsp. Colloidal Silver to 1 cup warm water. There is not a pathogenic organism known that is not killed by Colloidal Silver in six minutes or less. Its use is also of benefit to women who suffer from recurrent Candida (yeast) infections.

Air drying between cycles (preferably in natural sunlight) is sufficient. Keep your Sea Pearls in their little muslin bag in a dry cool place when not in use.

Keep in mind that your sponges may last up to 1 year, but should probably be replaced every 6 months or so. Remember to always keep an extra sponge on hand during your cycle in case rinsing isn't convenient!

I have not yet tried them myslef, but may just decide to be a guinea pig this month

 

Just a thought on the home made sanitary napkins ... I was wondering about breakthrough spotting on outer garments, and had an idea. Do you know those table cloths that have soft, flannel on one side and a plastic layer on the other? What do you think about using that, with the plastic side down, as the bottom piece of the pad insert? That would keep the plastic side away from your body, but put a barrier between the pad and your clothes. I have used one of those to cover stuff when we do road shows, and they seem to last forever. Just my two pennies rubbing together ... thoughts ...??

 

Honestly, I've had a lot less breakthrough from Cloth than from the disposable pads that are more common. I had to use some disposables (was away from home when I started this month) and they are IMHO, uncomfortable, slow to absorb, and chafey compared to the terry cloth I've gotten used to. That and they don't breathe at ALL, and left me constantly feeling damp, which the cloth doesn't. That said, if you have heavy bleeding or are concerned abt breakthrough because of beng use to the plastic disposables, then I imagine the flannel backed table cloths would work as a bottom layer. My only concern in using them would be the lack of breathing caused by them...generally if I know it's early in my cycle (and likely to be a heavy bleeding day) I just fold two washcloths together for extra absorbancy.
I have an average flow cycle, and can wear, under normal activity levels, a single cloth pad for abt 6 hours...only once have I bled into the lower layer of cloth, and never into my clothing, on the other hand, with disposables, I have to change even the "heavy flow" pads every 4 hours or so, especially on days 1-3 of my cycle, and frequently have bleed through when I stand up, even using the pads with wings.
If I am travelling and know I am likely to start my cycle, but not be in a place where I can wash cloth pads, I prefer to use natracare (www.natracare.com)'s line of organic cotton pads, which are over 95% biodegradable, and are very similar to cloth pads in both function and texture, but are disposable single use pads.
A box of 14 regular flow natracare pads runs me $3.99 at the local health food co-op and lasts me roughly 2 cycles...comparable to a single pack of Always in price and duration, but I need to use fewer pads, plus I am not exposing my genital tissues to petrochemicals and the risks inherent in their use.

 

Wow, lots of useful information! Thanks!



Thanks so much!

 

Another use for these sanitary napkins, if modified, would by a pressure bandaid.

I heard the kotex came about because they were a modified bandade for injuries in the war hospitals.. It might be a good idea to have a few modified for leg or arm wounds.

 

Cattail fluff...according to Native American studies

 

I always used tampons in my medical gear...yeah, I'm a guy, but those things work very well for bullet wounds. The key though it to not get scented as that would crystallize in the wound and cause for major problems. I use what works and do not care if I'm using female hygiene products, though you should see the looks on cashiers faces when a guy is buying them ROFL...priceless!

 

It's probably a look of 'Wish MY man would buy me these stupid things' LOL Wonder if he's married or just dating.... And can I change that situation *snort* LOL

 

I was asked once if I needed my glasses checked LOL. She thought for sure I had a wrong package ROFL

 

It takes a real man to buy these for a woman. Unfortunately, I have yet to meet one in my lifetime.............

 

reminder to self read what sub forum the thread is posted in before opening it.
cause there not talk'n bout no wet naps for yer hands here.

 

YEP!! That's right!

 

I just bought the keeper (one of those cups). I just wanted to see if I like it. If I don't then I guess I'll be making my own pads with washcloths and safety pins.

 

I have used the sea sponge and they work wonderfully in situations where one cannot use a pad.

 

I'm so glad someone brought this up, it's not like just because the SHTF that we suddenly won't be women anymore and won't have monthly "issues". I've read too many survival books that never cover this part of life.
For me, I use sea sponges and the homemade pads for extra protection. If you really want to look at some history though, they use to let the women go off to another place for this time..."bleeding rooms" I think they were called.
Sounds like a great vacation for me! No guys, no household chores!

 

Yep... I've always wondered if maybe PMS is an evolutionary thing - developed to warn men off so we could have that 4 or 5 days of "vacation" every month!

 

This is great, and for the guys that get grossed out by all of this, what are you gonna do when the shtf? It's a fact of life. So if you have a significant other, or daughter, this id good stuff to know about.