Feminine Hygiene Products

Love yourself and take care of your intimate area. Maintaining feminine hygiene is important to your overall health because in addition to preventing odors, itching, and discomfort, practicing feminine hygiene can also prevent bacterial infections from occurring.

NOTE: The overall general description of the feminine hygiene products are given below. If any kind of discomfort or irritation occurs after using these products stop using those and consult with your doctor.

Also read:-  Basic Feminine Hygiene Guidelines 

Feminine Hygiene Products:

1. Menstrual hygiene products

Disposable:

·     Disposable  Pantyliner

·     Disposable Sanitary napkin

·     Tampon

Reusable:

·     Reusable cloth pantyliners

·     Menstrual cup

·     Cloth menstrual pad

·     Period panties

·     Menstrual sponge

2.Cleansing products

·     Douche

·     Feminine Wipes

Disposable  Pantyliner

·     A pantyliner (also pantiliner, panty liner or panty shield, vaginal cover) is an absorbent piece of material used for feminine hygiene. It is worn in the gusset of a woman's panties. It is used to absorb  daily vaginal discharge, light menstrual flow, post-intercourse discharge, and urinary incontinence and as a backup, of tampon and menstrual cup .

·     A pantyliner is similar to a pad or sanitary napkin, but a little lighter, thinner and not used to soak up too much of your menstruation or period blood. Never use just a panty liner during period ( medium to heavy flow day).

·     Pantyliners are found in different sizes, shapes depending on heavy vaginal discharge and light days (light menstrual flow).

·     Disposable pantyliners are made with a sticky adhesive on the back of the pad to hold them in place in the panties, and some styles have 'wings' which wrap around the panties, providing additional stability.

Disposable  Sanitary Napkin

·   Sanitary pad, which is also known as sanitary napkin or menstrual pad, is a thin pad made of absorbent material that absorbs the menstrual fluid during menstruation. Some sanitary pads are disposable and are meant for single use only.

·   Although producers are generally reluctant to reveal the exact composition of their products, the main materials will usually be bleached rayon (cellulose made from wood pulp), cotton and plastics. In addition, fragrance and antibacterial agents can be included.

·   There are several different types of disposable menstrual pads depending on size(regular, ultra thin, maxi, overnight, maternity) and shape. The shape, absorbency and lengths may vary depending on manufacturer.

Tampon 

·   A tampon is a feminine hygiene product designed to absorb the menstrual flow by insertion into the vagina during menstruation. Once inserted correctly a tampon is held in place by the vagina and expands as it soaks up menstrual blood. The majority of tampons sold are made of rayon, or a blend of rayon and cotton.

·   Tampons are little plugs made of cotton that fit inside your vagina and soak up menstrual blood. Some tampons come with an applicator that helps you put in the tampon. Tampons have a string attached to the end, so you can easily pull them out.

Reusable Cloth Pantyliners

·   Reusable cloth pantyliners come in a variety of sizes, materials, patterns, colors, and absorbencies, and are usually secured to the underwear by wrap-around wings that snap together at the ends. These are made of cotton (often organic) and can be washed and reused for years.

Menstrual Cup

·   A menstrual cup is a feminine hygiene product that is inserted into the vagina during menstruation. They are made of rubber, silicone, or soft plastic. You wear the cup inside your vagina, and it collects menstrual blood.

·   Menstrual cups are shaped like little bells or bowls with a stem.The stem is used for insertion and removal. The bell-shaped cup seals against the vaginal wall just below the cervix. 

·   Most cups are reusable. Every 4–12 hours (depending on the amount of flow), the cup is removed, emptied, rinsed, and reinserted. After each period, the cup should be boiled for at least 5 minutes and stored for use the next month. Other cups are disposable — you throw it away after one use or one period cycle.

·   Menstrual cups are also promoted as more practical and eco-friendly than pads and tampons as there is no daily waste and the amount of discarded packaging decreases as well.

·   One cup is reusable for up to five years or more. This makes their long-term cost lower than that of disposable tampons or pads.

Reusable Cloth Menstrual Pad

·   Cloth menstrual pads are washable cloth pads worn in the underwear to prevent menstrual fluid from leaking onto clothes.

·   These are also worn during post-birth bleeding or any other situation where it is necessary to absorb the flow of blood from the vagina, or to protect underwear from regular discharge of vaginal fluids. After use, they are washed, dried and then reused.[4]

·   These are made from a number of types of fabric—most often cotton flannel, or hemp (which is highly absorbent and not as bulky as cotton).Ddifferent kinds of cloth pads depending on size ,style( winged, without winged) are available in he market.

·   Cloth Pads are good for your body because they are allergen- and perfume-free, and can be more comfortable for people who suffer from irritations from using disposable pads(can contain plastics, artificial fragrances and chemical gels).

·   Cloth pads are good for the planet. Washable menstrual pads do not need to be disposed of after use and these are environment friendly.

·   Cloth pads are good for your budget. Washable cloth pads are much more pocket friendly when compared to the cost of disposable products over your lifetime.

Period panties

·   Period panties have many other names – such as period underwear, menstrual underwear, reusable period pants and leak-proof underpants – but they are all essentially the same thing.

·   It can be worn during menstruation as a substitute or a supplement to traditional feminine hygiene products.

·   Most period underwear functions in the same way: the gusset of the underwear (the panel of fabric between your legs) has a layer combination of special fabric designed to pull liquid away from the body and trap it inside the underwear, keeping it from leaking out onto your clothing. While regular underwear will have one to two layers in the gusset, period underwear features multiple layers to keep menstrual blood, bladder leaks or other liquid in.

Menstrual Sponges

·   The Menstrual Sponges (also called “Sea SpongeTampons” or “Period Sponge”) is a natural, renewable resource that's been used in personal care for ages, including for use as menstrual tampons.

·   The sponges are inserted into the vagina in much the same way a tampon is, but when full are removed, cleaned, and reused, rather than discarded.

·   The advantages of a reusable tampon alternative include cost-effectiveness and waste reduction. (Since sponges are biodegradable, even when a menstrual sponge's absorbent life is over it can be composted.) Some women are also concerned by the health risks associated with traditional tampons and feel it is healthier to use a natural material.

Douche

·   A douche is a device used to introduce a jet of water to the inside of a part of the body(for medical or hygienic reasons) so that it can be washed.

·   By spraying into the vagina with water, known as douching, we may think that we’re eradicating bad odour or bodily fluids, such as menstrual blood or semen, but in actual fact, we’re affecting the vagina’s natural pH balance.

·   Douching is washing or cleaning out the vagina with water or other mixtures of fluids. Women sometimes choose to mix the water with other fluids, such as vinegar, or to buy douching products that may contain ingredients, such as baking soda, iodine, antiseptics, or fragrance.

·   The vaginal flora is the bacteria in the vagina. This keeps the vagina healthy and prevents infection. A woman's vagina is 'self-cleaning' and can maintain the correct pH balance without interference.

·   Douching can remove good bacteria from the vagina. Using a douche can change its pH balance, allow bad bacteria to multiply, and infections, irritations, raw skin, and more severe complications to occur.

·   Doctors recommend that you do not douche. Douching can lead to many health problems, including problems getting pregnant. Douching is also linked to vaginal infections and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Feminine wipes

·   Feminine wipes are pre-moistened cleansing cloths or towelettes meant to hydrate and clean your skin and surface genital area that is easily susceptible to infection

·   They can be used during menstruation or for everyday use to protect from infection, to help you feel clean, fresh and confident throughout the day.

·   They claim to help reduce odors and balance the pH of your vaginal area, which is part of your body's defense against bacteria that enter the body through your genital area.