Time for Female Travelers to Ditch Tampons

Being a female traveler has its own obstacles, one of which is dealing with the menstrual cycle. Whether it's a twenty-hour bus ride through South America or a stay in a hotel in Melbourne when the flow hits you, no lady enjoys the thought of her favorite khaki trousers being ruined by the crimson wave.

I have fought with the horrible feeling of tampons and pads while traveling, and it's not exactly making you feel beautiful or the most fantastic sensation in the world when it's over 100 degrees out, and you're already sweating. In this day and age, you would think that there would be more advanced menstruation products considering how many women are in the world. It's not like menstruation is a choice or is sometimes of issue that popped up within the last 50 years. Yet, this industry's advancements haven't changed since "The Kotex Age" of the 1930s and 1940s.

Now don't misunderstand; I completely understand that pads and tampons have improved quite a bit since then. They are becoming thinner, more absorbent, and even scented. They have even gotten rid of those dreadful sanitary belts, but no actual development from their original designs for pads and tampons way back when have happened. Despite the invention of the menstrual cup in the 1950s and the sanitary panties in 1978, pads and tampons remain the mainstream option in period products despite the "pink tax," how expensive they continue to be, and how bad they are for the environment.

If you looked back to when you first started and do the math to today, the amount of money you would have wasted(pun intended) is crazy. In a year, the average cost of pads or tampons use (assuming each piece is $0.60) is already $144. In a span of 33 years, a woman would have spent about $4,752. The worst part is, you can't choose to buy pads or tampons if you want to still function normally in daily life. Not only that but when traveling, find the product that you like might not even be an option in the country you are residing.

We have all gone through that awkward phase at the beginning of not only finding the right product for you but the brand that feels the most comfortable for you. So when you're in a country away from home and learn that it's not an option, you have to compromise and, in my case, deal with feeling uncomfortable and sometimes getting a yeast infection due to the 'new' product.

Well, I was tired of it and luckily found the most outstanding solution after speaking to quite a few fellow female travelers. Finally picking up in popularity despite having around for a while, menstrual cups and period panties are the way to go!

The healthier and convenient alternative to tampons and pads, which also saves you money; there are a few options out there when it comes to your menstrual cups. I am a fan of Mooncups myself, offering an end to the waste, discomfort, expense of disposable sanitary protection and made with soft medical-grade silicone. Did I mention environmentally friendly? Latex-free, hypoallergenic, and Mooncups contain no dyes, perfumes, BPA, phthalates, plastic, bleaches, or toxins. Plus, Mooncup Ltd supports numerous charities worldwide that provide women and girls education, female health projects, environment conservation, and even poverty. How could I not go with a company so dedicated to women's health and the world? For more information about this company and its products, check out the video below and visit their website.

Paired with my Mooncup is my Thinx period panties to make me feel comfortable and covered. Feeling just like regular skivvies, Thinx are washable, reusable underwear designed to replace pads and tampons. You can also choose to wear them with tampons and cups for extra protection. They even offer Thinx BTWNs undies for tweens and teens, say goodbye to being embarrassed when your period first arrives, and Speax, which are designed for women who have issues with bladder leaks. Having organic cotton and classic choices, there are multiple styles to choose from for all their products—a little something for everyone. Thinx also has several charities to give better access to puberty education, amplify grassroots activism, and donate their undies to homeless women and those in need.

Safer, greener, and ultimately cheaper, I can't figure out why more women haven't made the switch in the long run. It doesn't matter if I am sleeping in a hut or hotel, If I am backpacking and taking a bus or taking a long train ride, no more ruined shorts, jeans, skirts, or dresses for me. I never have to worry about my period during my travels again.