A woman's life is not always simple, especially during her period. Everyday life is often disrupted by the menstrual cycle and its different phases, but this is especially so during the menstrual phase.
Using sanitary protection is an integral part of a woman's life, and we believe it should never be an unpleasant or risky thing to do.
However, although the purpose of this protection is to provide comfort, it can also be the cause of a lot of inconvenience. For starters, some women may experience discomfort from wearing sanitary protection.
Tampons and sanitary towels are the most commonly-worn types of protection. However, for some women, they can also be the cause of irritation. This then begs the questions of where this irritation is coming from, what are the risks of wearing sanitary pads and are there any alternatives?
Today, Sisters Republic is taking a deep dive into the problem of irritation caused by wearing sanitary pads.
What are sanitary pads?
Sanitary pads are an external form of intimate protection to help absorb blood flow from your period. There are two types of pads: washable ones and disposable ones. Both come in various styles and with different thicknesses. For example, if your menstrual flow is heavy, you can opt for thicker pads.
Sanitary pads are placed directly in your underwear. The two tabs on the sides fold under the gusset to keep the pad in place. Pads are handy and can be used after vaginal or cervical surgery. A sanitary pad is also useful after childbirth to take care of the resulting discharge.
For or against wearing a pad?
Wearing a pad does have its practical side. But v, the negatives stack up very quickly. First of all, sanitary pads are known to be very polluting because they are made with chemicals that are harmful to the environment.
The related health risks are not negligible either. There are no standards governing the composition of sanitary products in Europe. As a result, some components of sanitary towels can be hazardous to your health. The risk is increased because they are generally worn throughout the day and in direct contact with the vulva, a sensitive area, which can unbalance the vaginal flora and lead to complications.
Finally, from an economic point of view, the use of sanitary pads has no advantage. You have to buy new ones very frequently and it quickly becomes very expensive.
Thanks to Sisters Republic period underwear, you can have a safe and irritation-free period
The causes
"Sanitary pads, so irritating!". Many of us have said or thought these words because it really does happen to many of us. The primary cause of itching is the direct contact with the skin.
First of all, wearing a sanitary pad all day is unpleasant.
Irritations, such as itching or burning of the pubic area, are caused by the pad rubbing against your skin throughout the day. The more you move, the more itchy the pad can be.
Wearing tight clothes like skinny jeans only makes the situation worse. This is because you sweat more and this increases the discomfort.
The second cause of possible intimate irritation are allergies. Yes, some women have allergic reactions to wearing a sanitary pad!
Allergies caused by sanitary pads
Wearing a sanitary pad can cause various complications. Here are the different allergy symptoms caused by sanitary pads:
- Discomfort
- Itching
- Irritation
- Redness
- Swelling
- Skin rash
- Burning of the vulva
Allergies are often caused by perfumes containing chemical products and by the composition of sanitary pads themselves. This can lead to various conditions, such as:
-
Thrush or vaginal mycosis. This is an infection of the genitals. It is produced by a microscopic fungus called candida albicans. The symptoms are: strong itching at the level of the vulva and the vagina, thick and whitish discharge, odours, pain during sexual intercourse and pain during urination.
-
Scleratrophic lichen. This is a skin disease. It results in a chronic irritation of the genitals.
-
Toxic shock syndrome. This is an infectious disease caused by toxins released by common strains of bacteria, specifically staphylococcus aureus.
Allergies are harmless as long as you treat them quickly, but if you don't, they can lead to considerable aggravation that can be dangerous later on.
Treatments and solutions
The best solution to reduce any risk of itching or allergies from sanitary pads is to opt for alternative protection.
Period underwear is an environmentally friendly, comfortable and effective alternative. They can be bought in sets of 3 and will soon help save you money. The fact that they are washable means you are not constantly buying new protection.
Period underwear are an investment at the outset to save you money in the long term= you can keep on wearing them for up to 5 years! We recommend you purchase at least 2 pairs so that you always have a spare.
In addition, period underwear is made of organic cotton and does not contain any chemical substances. That means no health risks for you and no negative impact on the environment.
Simple to use and available in various shapes and sizes to fit all bodies and flows, you are sure to find the right pair for you.
Tips and tricks
Finally, in addition to using period underwear, here are some extra tips to ensure you remain protected from allergies or irritations:
- Use special soothing cream for intimate parts.
- Good hygiene. During your period, it is recommended that you bathe at least once a day. Remember to clean any residual blood to avoid any risk of infection.
- Choose hypoallergenic soap. This will help avoid bacteria growth and minimize your risks of an allergy
