Most women are beginning to notice the rise in women owning their blood. Some find it over the top, gross, something that should continue to be private and toned down.
Others, me included, find the power in knowing how my cycle influences me throughout the month. And more so how my way of living influences my cycle. It is our feedback system if we dare to listen. It tells a lot. And whether you feel like claiming it publicly or not, I can only recommend beginning to explore your cycle.
This is not only the bleeding time, but the full cycle from pre ovulation all the way around to the days you bleed.
Tuning into emotions, mood, physical sensation, energy. In this post I share a little more on tracking your cycle. Take a read…
For this post I wanted to bring attention to the less-waste approaches I’ve made when it comes to my cycle.
It is very simple actually, I stopped buying pads, tampons (only used those when I was a teen) and have invested in 6 fabric pads and a luna cup. That is all I use.
It is easy. I have a little wet bag for used pads. Wash them with towels etc. No smell or a bloody mess… haha.
But the thing that brings me true joy is what it saves me money wise and Earth wise.
The Numbers
Meet Jaluna Red ;) . She’s 50 and just had her last period. She had her first when she was 12. She has 2 children and with both kids her cycle began again 10 months after giving birth.
The past 2 years her cycle has been a little irregular. So taking all of this into calculation, she has had around 408 bleeds in her life time.
Jaluna used to bleed 5 days on average and used 4-5 pads or tampons a day. (You can do your own calculation. I have 3 girls so I will experience fewer.)
Jaluna has used a whopping 8160 pads/tampons in those years!! That’s a lot going down the drain or in the trash!
She used a common brand, non organic etc. 1 pad cost her around 20cents.* So in her life time she spends roughly 1600USD on pads/tampons alone.
It’s a lot really.