Lunapads Blog

Name: Lara
Age: 42
I’m a college teacher and professional bellydancer.

How did you hear about Lunapads?
Internet search for non-toxic menstrual products.

Please describe your monthly needs:
Approximately 3-4 days & 2 nights average flow, 2-3 days & 3 nights light flow.

What reusable menstrual products do you currently use?
The DivaCup for days/overnight + Lunapads some days

Why did you make the switch?
After being treated for stage3 cervical cells, I looked for all-cotton, non-toxic menstrual products. But I was still concerned about the extra cost, hard-to-find products and amount of garbage every month.  I found Lunapads on the internet, started with pads/pantyliners and loved them! A friend recommended The DivaCup and I love it. I’ve never looked back!

Advice for others?
Your body & the environment will thank you -do it!

Are you ready for a Period Makeover? To apply, simply fill out an application, telling us about your monthly needs. Selected applicants will receive a Lunapads.com gift certificate!

Some of you may have noticed all the hullabaloo about the shortage of o.b. tampons in drugstores across North America. It seems that in addition to discontinuing their highest absorbency tampon, the applicator-less brand is undergoing a mysterious “manufacturing update”, meaning that the entire line of o.b. tampons is out of stock until an undetermined date in 2011. I guess o.b. forgot that people who have periods tend to have them once a month!

Before I became a devout DivaCup and cloth pad user, o.b. was my tampon of choice and I know I would have been seriously bummed if I couldn’t get a hold of any.  Ladies are so desperate that o.b.s are being sold on Ebay for upwards of $100 a box! Sheesh, and people complain that reusables are too expensive?!?

There has been a distinct lack of explanation from Johnson & Johnson, the makers of o.b. tampons. As usual, whenever a company fails to tell their story themselves, folks are left to do their own research to figure out what’s going on. A number of wild theories are being thrown around about the reason for the tampon shortage, including possible manufacturing contamination or FDA complaints regarding the safety of the products.

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For many of our customers, Pantyliners are their first introduction to cloth pads.  Uncomplicated, inexpensive, and easy to use — Lunapads Pantyliners are just the thing for everyday use, light flow, or backup protection with a menstrual cup or tampon.

Because they lack the nylon lining, ric-rac bands and liner-on-top functionality of our Pads (helpful features for those with heavier flow), Pantyliners are our thinnest, most breathable option. tl;dr?  Click here for a video snippet of Madeleine explaining the difference between Pads and Pantyliners.

Ready to make the switch, but need help finding the right fit?
We can help! Chat with us while you shop, or give us a call at 1.888.590.2299.

Still not sure? Take a gander at the glowing customer reviews below.
Plus! all 7 Day Pantyliner Kits include 1 Bonus Pantyliner this month.

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What we call the “ewww” factor is a fact of life here at Lunapads (although most of the feedback we receive is overwhelmingly supportive, when it does come up it can kind of wreck your day.) Recently however there have been some interesting examples that have given me pause for thought about how we respond to it.

In the past, my reaction to icked-outedness has been to cite the billions of chemical-soaked pads and tampons festering in landfills, or to invite the ickee (as it were) to recall the discomfort of removing a tampon towards the end of one’s menses, as examples of ick as I see it. The new Stayfree “date” videos are also standout ick contenders, but I digress.

And yet I certainly didn’t start my journey of consciousness around menstruation where I am today. In fact, I’m sure that once upon a time, had you asked me what I thought of the idea of washable menstrual pads I might well have been totally icked. Apparently, what is and is not gross/disgusting etc to us today is not necessarily true for tomorrow.

What’s interesting to me about it is that the folks who are able to be, oh – a bit more patient or self-conscious around it seem to end up in some interesting places, whereas those who can’t get past it just stay grossed out. Some examples, forthwith!

I was recently asked about how men, generally speaking, react to our products and was happy to report that for the most part they are very supportive and pragmatic, along the lines of: “You’ll save money and have less to throw away – why not give it a try, hon?”

That said, one man’s discomfort with the idea of Lunapads and menstrual cups recently led to a very unusual and enlightened conclusion. In a guest post for industrial design blog Core77, consumer behaviour researcher Steve Portigal tells his story. Steve takes his initial reaction of deep discomfort upon seeing a Lunapads ad for the first time and creatively uses it as a jumping off point for a key realization: that change and progress are often accompanied by discomfort.

Further to my observation about men’s reactions, I pointed out that it’s often women who have the strongest negative reactions. In a recent case, I was reading a post about our new “ditch the disposables” video on one of my favorite blogs, The Girlie Girl Army, and was struck by the first comment: “That is disgusting…really.” Several dozen readers were quick to jump in with more positive sentiments, but it made me want to take some time to look at the whys and whats of these kinds of “uncomfortable” reactions to our products.

Given all the negative, shame-based messages that women receive around our bodies and menstruation, is it any wonder that some of us have issues with menstruation and menstrual products in the first place?

Prenatal coach Crystal Di Domizio paints a beautifully honest picture of her transformation in a recent blog post about her experience with switching to our products: “The ewww factor always came up for me even though menstruation doesn’t make me squeamish. What I thought was going to be a huge hassle (but worth the extra work) actually ended up being easier and more enjoyable.“

It’s not easy to be Green blogger Ailanna further makes the excellent point in her recent “Getting over the squeamishness” post that our collective freakout about bodily fluids is essentially the engine that drives our unsustainable disposable culture: “The problem with our squeamishness is that it’s kind of killing the planet. Not singlehandedly, but in our plastic-loving disposable attitude, our conviction that we are somehow above having to deal with the messes we make as biological beings – surely enough.”

While I have no wish to argue with icked-out prospective customers, it does make me wonder what can be said to help to get them to come down the tree, as it were. What I wish I could ask the grossed-out folk among us is about the origin of their discomfort: is it the notion of getting any closer to their menses than absolutely necessary, touching themselves intimately, the products or the hassle of cleaning them? Is there a gentle, creative way to support someone in whatever place they find themselves that doesn’t necessarily imply that they are wrong? What do you guys think?

Last Friday, we were delighted to see the Huffington Post write a story called “How to Green Your Period” describing the many ways to green your period.  (Check out slide number 4 which talks about reusable cloth pads, including Lunapads.)   You can even “vote” for your favorite period product: menstrual cups and cloth pads are ranked #1 and #2 respectively!

Despite the Huffington Post having a progressive following, not long after the post went up, a lot of readers posted comments indicating they were put off by the topic, men and women included.  Many expressed their disgust that the Huffington Post would write about such a “vulgar” topic and why nothing was sacred anymore.  Well, thanks to fans of the DivaCup and Lunapads, there is now a bit more balance in the over 200 comments posted to date.  I particularly like what “kudzumaster” had to say about the negative feedback:

“Would it be better to go back to the days in which women were ashamed about their normal processes, and thus kept ignorant and uninformed? I know they were good times, when teenaged girls got their first period and hid in the bathroom, thinking they were bleeding to death because no one was comfortable enough to discuss menstruation with them, but I think we’re ready to move past that now, aren’t we. Women bleed once a month during their childbearing years. It’s a fact, and nothing to be embarrassed about.”

I can appreciate that people have hang ups about certain topics, but I can never understand why they go on to publicly express those hang ups.  Posting those kinds of comments only shines a light on their degree of ignorance about a topic they can’t seem get their head around.   It’s refreshing to see others chiming in to show a more eco-positive perspective about periods.  Thank you, and if you haven’t commented yet, please do so!

While surfing around the Huffington Post website, I came across a story by writer Deanna Neal called “Make her Vagina Green” packed with interesting projections about the number of bleeding women in the world and how much garbage is produced by disposable feminine hygiene products.  As compelling as those numbers are, Deanna isn’t ready or willing to try reusable products herself, but at least does a good job informing the more ‘mainstream’ reader why she should think about healthier options for her period.  Deanna, if you’re reading this, we’d love to send you some Lunapads and Lunapanties to try out!  Never say never; we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Anyone else out there want to try and convince Deanna to make the switch?

DivaCup month

has come and gone (to judge by our sales, many of you fence sitters are well on your way to Divadom; let us know how it goes!), but have no fear… we are kicking off June with a silicone cup giveaway nevertheless. In this case, they’re awesome food storage containers for kids that are good for everything from freezers to microwaves, and free of nasty BPAs, phthalates and lead. They’re soft, cute, and would be a handy addition to your kitchen!

They’ve been donated by local Mompreneur Sue Sinclair, founder of Raspberry Kids, a hand-picked collection of “fresh, healthy and fun” things for kids – think top quality toys, clothing, books and accessories. I love Sue’s story of how and why she started the business – it’s amazing how often necessity becomes the proverbial “Mother of Invention” in the case of entrepreneurs I know. Want to stock up on stuff for your kids, or gifts for design-savvy pals? Use  promo code “lunapads15″ at the Raspberry Kids site during checkout to receive 15% off orders. Valid on all items except electronic gift cards, sale items and the Vapur bundle.

We’ve noticed that many of our customers “make the switch” to Lunapads and the DivaCup when they have kids, which brings me to how you can have a chance to win this wonderful product. Moms, how did having a baby precipitate greener lifestyle changes for you? What changes do you feel made the biggest difference? The winner will be announced in our July newsletter – good luck!

Oh – and one more thing: for those of you on Facebook, Sue is co-hosting (along with New & Green Diaper‘s Karen Randall) an awesome event this Thursday June 3rd from 6:30 to 8:30pm PST. Check out the “Must Haves for New Moms” event for great conversation, tips and prizes (we’re feeling generous too, hint) – see you there, we hope!

We’ve had a great time celebrating Women’s Month with some awesome theme giveaways for Girls and Teens, Pregnant Gals, and Fence-sitters. It’s not too late to enter any of these, so for any of you who fall into these categories, read the posts and add your comment for a chance to win some Lunapads goodies!

Our final giveaway for the month was partially inspired by the recent discussion about the whole rationale for choosing natural menstrual products. Is it really “worth it”, and if so what did it mean to you?

For this final giveaway post we are looking for women who have recently switched to our products (post fence-sitters, if you will!) to talk about this very thing. In other words, what making the switch was like, how it may have surprised you or differed from your expectations, or what kind of a difference it has made for you.

New Lunagals, tell us your stories!

Post your comment below for a chance to win 1 of 3 $25 Lunapads.com Gift Certificates. Winners will be announced in our April newsletter, so stay tuned!

Name: Millie
Home: Ontario, Canada
Age: 25
Lifestyle: I’m always on the go and I love the outdoors. I am obsessed with canoeing and go every chance I get! I love to travel and have been all over the world.

Flow
My period is usually 4 days of heavy flow and 1-3 days light flow.

Before
I used disposable pads for my period. Blech! It was always a messy horror-show. I had to make sure I was sitting “just-so” and when sleeping, I couldn’t move for fear of leakage. I wore 2 pads end-to-end at night and always needed it. I tried tampons, but, they made me feel worse.

What products do you use now?
Disposable pantyliners throughout the entire month, and as back up with The DivaCup. I also use The DivaWash, the Peri Bottle & the Cycle Chart.

Why did you switch?
My sister told me about the DivaCup. She knew I hated my period. Having to plan activities around my period, sudden “surges”, always worrying about leakage, buying yet another $5 pack of pads (having an emergency pad on hand at-all-times!), it was awful! Now it’s great! I have a clean feeling, freedom of movement; I save money & the environment!

Also, I go on canoe trips into the backcountry & having my period while using pads was a nightmare! “Pack in, pack out” is the motto in the backcountry, need I say more? Last summer, I worked as a canoe guide and became the biggest advocate for the DivaCup! I think I convinced a lot of women to check-out the DivaCup on those trips!

In my travel bag, instead of counting out how many bulky pads I’ll need (sometimes it was up to 20!) all I have to pack now is my DivaCup, my Peri Bottle, & a travel size bottle of DivaWash.. hey, you should market that! Now, my main goal during my period (or someone else’s) is to spread the word about the DivaCup!

The Lunapads.com Rx
Millie’s clearly on the right track with The DivaCup, but what about those disposable pantyliners? Why waste valuable space in your pack on throwaways? With Lunapanties, you’ve always got a built-in no-fuss alternative to disposables.

Our all-in-one padded period panties make fantastic everyday underwear (for daily discharge, unpredictable cycles, or just plain comfort), and really shine as back-up/overflow protection with The DivaCup.  Soft, breathable, great for those who are active – and if you have any concerns about your pad feeling bulky, bunching or shifting, you can lay those fears to rest.

How they work: An absorbent fleece panel is built right into the gusset of these underwear, and a 5% lycra content means they’ll fit snugly and really stay put. For heavier-duty jobs, Lunapanties also feature soft cotton bands to hold liners, allowing you to customize absorbency by layering up (or down). This also means you can remove/replace liners as needed, keeping  you comfortably dry throughout the day.

Are you ready for a Period Makeover? To apply, simply fill out an application, telling us about your monthly needs. Selected applicants will receive a $15 Lunapads.com gift certificate!

Here’s a whole new take on the classic women’s magazine standby, makeovers. Ever wondered what products others used before switching to reusables, and how and why they chose their Lunapads, Lunapanties or DivaCup? Or maybe you’re still thinking it over and could use some suggestions about which products to try? Period Makeovers to the rescue!

Are you ready for a Period Makeover? To apply, simply fill out an application, telling us about your monthly needs. Selected applicants will receive a $15 Lunapads.com gift certificate! Now it’s time to meet our first candidate…

Name: Lana D.
Home: West Vancouver, Canada
Age: 37
Lifestyle: Business owner, Mom of 2 school-aged kids

Before: “As I started to get older, post children, my period lasts longer.  A full 7 days. Gone are the days where it was all wrapped up in a quick 4 days. Day 1 – light, Day 2 – getting heavy, Days 3 to 5 – heavy, Day 6 & 7 – lingering.”

Which products did you use?
“I used Always Long pads, also either Tampax or Playtex for tampons. I have tried several times to use the compact OB tampons, but could never insert them properly. As time passed, my body started to reject tampons – they literally started falling out.”

Why did you switch?
“Since I started my period, I would read the inserts from the tampon box, talking about toxic shock syndrome.  This was a real fear for me, but as a teenager and young woman, it is mortifying to think that “someone” might know you are menstruating.  After the frustration with the “slipping tampons”, I decided I would switch entirely to pads. A friend told me about Lunapads and the concept of natural, reusable pads. I admit at first I felt like it would be too much work, and I did not trust that fabric pads could hold my flow.  I visited the Lunapads website, and the phrase of “being self sufficient” struck me deeply. I wanted to try the product.”

The Lunapads.com Rx…
the DivaCup
“I decided to try a Diva cup, wow, it’s so comfortable and beats a tampon any day.  I use it when I am out and about and want to forget I have my period. Dancing with my DivaCup is one of my favorite uses.”

Lunapads Heavy Pad & Wing Liner, Long Pad & Liner Insert
“I use the Heavy or Long Pad on my 3rd day and at night.  They are amazingly comfortable and don’t bunch up in the middle like disposable pads do.”

Hipster Lunapanties
“This is a brilliant design. I love them so much, I wear them even when I don’t have my period.”

Lunapads Mini Pad & Liner Insert
“The mini pad works brilliantly on days 6 and 7 when my period lingers on.”

After!
“My concerns of high maintenance and reliability are gone, it’s simple yet satisfying. I feel more connected with myself and proud of the shift I’ve made.”

Our friends at Babeland (formerly Toys in Babeland) are celebrating Earth Day with style and fun at their Brooklyn location.  It’s free, it will be a blast, and the first 50 participants will receive a gift bag including goodies from Lunapads and Babeland – what’s not to love?  There will be product demos including green sex toys and lubes, plus an informative presentation about Lunapads and the DivaCup by Jayne Freeman, aka Mamarama (be sure to check out her blog & amazing videos).

The deets:
Eco-Sexy Earth Day
Wednesday, April 22 at 7pm
462 Bergen Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217 map
Phone: 718.638.3820

Have fun, and happy Earth Day!