Lunapads Blog

Name: Alice

Age: 21

How did you hear about reusable menstrual products?
I saw them in store and I was curious.

Please describe your monthly needs:
My period almost always comes at night.  It is an average flow and I experience continuous cramping for the first three days.

If you are currently using disposable products, which ones do you use, and for what needs?
Regular pads and Pantyliners.  I used to use tampons but I found them uncomfortable and itchy.

If you are currently using reusable products, which ones do you use, and for what needs?
No, but I’m dying to try!

Why do you want to switch to reusable menstrual products?
I want to lessen my impact on earth. I also get rashes from that synthetic material.  I don’t know, it’s like plastic or something, and the sticky things rub my skin.  It’s just not a comfortable time of the month.  I am very active and with that stuff rubbing my skin I would rather not move. Luna pads sound soft and wearable; maybe I won’t even notice them.

Anything else you would like to share about yourself?
I do yoga and frequently exercise.

Based on your own experience, what message do you have for other women who might be thinking about reusable menstrual products?
Think about your vagina!

Our recommendations for this active, young woman who has had enough with disposables!

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To say that we were blown away by the response to our LunaRevolution Video Festival & Contest is a seismic understatement – it was literally one “WOW” after another at yesterday’s staff viewing. Thank you so much to all of you who participated; we are deeply honored by your efforts.

The overall experience has been more complex than “WOW” suggests, however, and I want to address that it was not as easy as sitting down with a bowl of popcorn and basking in the Luna-love. I cannot go any further without first acknowledging the efforts of Nancee, our Video Intern (here for her second summer, woot!) and our IT wonder Lisa. Nancee is a fabulous tech-geek workaholic super-smart/nice person who is constantly seeking more ways to be helpful (if you can’t think of them, she will!) and then executing them with dizzying speed and efficiency. With equal dedication the perennially brilliant Lisa waded through the maze of technical issues with her consistently calm and sensible demeanor.

Clever Lunagals and all, were there flaws? Oh yeah! We have not had a video contest in years, and naturally technology has advanced a notch or two. We decided to go with a Facebook application called Wildfire, which involved a bit of a learning curve and proved to have its shortcomings. Thank you to all of you who were smart enough to point out the not-totally-clear bits and have been patient enough to bear with us while we worked it out.

We received 21 (TWENTY ONE!!!) submissions, which we considered to be totally amazing. Twenty-one Lunagals felt inspired enough to take the time to tell us how our products have changed your lives: how incredible is that?!?

It was a massive challenge to choose the top picks, and if we have any regrets it’s that we didn’t create more categories and/or Honorable Mention spots in the first place (it would have looked pretty silly if we had created a dozen categories and only had three submissions, for example). Finally, we didn’t all agree about, for example, what made a video particularly “creative”, and so I want to highlight what we felt was uniquely awesome about the videos that may not have fit into a particular category.

Our 5 Honorable Mention Prizes:
another drum roll, please…

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Name: Laura

Age: 28

How did you hear about reusable menstrual products?
Eco Friendly Website

Please describe your monthly needs:
2 days and nights light flow, 2 days and nights heavy flow and 1 day and night spotting.

What reusable menstrual products do you currently use?
Lunapads- long pads, liners, and panty liner.

Why do you want to switch to reusable menstrual products?
I switched because I didn’t like the number of pads I was using. I calculated over 4,000 pads by the time I am 35!!!

Anything else you would like to share about yourself?
I love to cook, I love to sing and going green!

Based on your own experience, what message do you have for other women who might be thinking about reusable menstrual products?
It’s much more comfortable then wearing plastic!!!

Our recommendations for this musical cook!

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Name: Melissa

Age: 20

How did you hear about reusable menstrual products?
Searching the web.

Please describe your monthly needs:
4 days heavy flow, 3 days medium flow, 3 days light flow.

If you are currently using disposable products, which ones do you use, and for what needs?
Super tampons for 4 days, regular tampons 3 days, light tampons 2 days, pantyliners for backup.

Why do you want to switch to reusable menstrual products?
I want to switch because I hate using both disposable tampons and pads. The tampons hurt me and the pads always smell. Because of this I always hate it when I get my period and its so expensive to keep re-buying, and now that I have a baby I need to find a way to save money, and I feel that the tampons and pads are to much of a waste.

Anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
Im a full time mom with 1 baby, love arts&crafts

Based on your own experience, what message do you have for other women who might be thinking about reusable menstrual products?
I support them all the way!

Recommendations for this crafty mom!

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Name: Jen

How did you hear about reusable menstrual products?

Twitter, actually. @Greenzebra604

Please describe your monthly needs:

3 days light flow, light daily discharge throughout the month.

If you are currently using disposable products, which ones do you use, and for what needs?

Thin pads overnight for three days and pantyliners throughout the rest of the month (such a fuss and always had to make sure no leakage over the sides)!!

What reusable menstrual products do you currently use?
Maxi or long pads for overnights.

Why do you want to switch to reusable menstrual products?

I want to switch because considering that there are four women in my family and we all get our cycles intermixed or what not (everyone gets it about at the same time) we use a lot!! The amount of money we spend on pads is ridiculous and reusable products would save a lot of money and less grumpy moments (stressful time of the month after all!)

Based on your own experience, what message do you have for other women who might be thinking about reusable menstrual products?

Definitely more convenient and easy to use!!

Our recommendations for this interested newbie!

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Now that I’ve noticed a change in comfort and attitude from switching to Lunapads, I figured I’d share some deets about wearing Lunapads, Liner Inserts and Lunapanties:

1. I was a little nervous to take my Lunapad to the public washroom for the first time – how do you carry them discretely? I couldn’t lug my entire schoolbag. Then I realized that my purple little moon pad bag looked just like a makeup bag!
2. To put the pad on, you just snap the wings together around your underwear and slip the liner under the ribbon (called ric rac bands) at the top and bottom. Out of habit with other tags, I put the tag at the back, even though the pads are symmetrical. They are much easier to put on than disposables: no paper to peel off, no sticky stuff, no wings getting caught along the sides.
3. I found I could adjust how far forward or back the pad was by simply tugging it, not unpeeling and re-attaching the whole thing.
4. As a newbie, I found it a little easier to snap the pad to my underwear first, then put on my underwear when I was getting dressed.
5. I had the maxi pads, which, by my unofficial estimation, are about an inch longer than the “regular” sized disposable pads.

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Ever since I started working at Lunapads, I had actually been looking forward to that time of the month. Too bad it was the cramps that first let me know I was on my period. Yes, unfortunately, I am one of those women who get cramps. So I can’t say that I heart my period. I heart my Advil. And my heating pad.

After reading some inspiring testimonials from other Lunagals that switching from disposable pads to Lunapads changed their attitudes, I was hopeful.  I was not disappointed.

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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!

Name: Nancee
Home: Vancouver BC
Age: 20
Lifestyle: Full time university student, UBC housekeeper, Lunapads marketing intern.
Flow: 1-2 days heavy, 1 day average, 1 day light, 1 night heavy, 1 night light. My period usually lasts a total of 3 days.

What products are you using?
Usually pads, because using tampons still freak me out (what if I forget to take it out?) The materials that are used to make tampons also make me choose not to use them, unless I absolutely want to wear a tight pair of jeans, or go swimming.

I use a wide assortment of pads, from heavy to super light pantyliners. When I get my period, I normally use the large pads for the first day (even if the flow’s not too heavy, just to make sure I won’t have leaks during the day), medium pads for the second day, and light pantyliners for the last day. When its night time I don’t take chances; I always wear heavier pads no matter which day it is.

I don’t change my pads super frequently during the day (after day 1), but I guess that’s because my period isn’t that heavy after the first day. Still, that doesn’t really make me a fan of pads since they feel like oversized diapers to me.

Why do you want to switch?
To be honest I’m interested in switching because I am flat out curious to see what other options I have as a woman when dealing with my period. Working as an intern for this company puts me in an atmosphere where I’m watching women change their minds about what they can do about their period, and how they should feel towards their period and their bodies. It makes me excited about being a woman, having fun, and trying new things!

Our recommendations after the jump!

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Name: Val
Home: California, USA
Age: 20
Lifestyle: Full time college student, mommy, and blogger.

Flow
2-3 Days Heavy, 2 Days average, 1-2 Days light, 3-4 Nights Heavy, 1-2 Nights Light.

What products are you using?
Regular tampons for 3-4 days, changing VERY often. Overnight pads for 6 nights, Overnight pads during the day 2-3 days. I usually have to change everything every 3-4 hours.  I have to get up at night to change my overnight pad, too.

Why do you want to switch?
I want to do what is best for my body and my earth. I love being green and sharing tips about going green with others — this is the next step!

Lunapads Rx
Thanks for writing, Val. We think you’re a great candidate for The DivaCup. It holds one full ounce of menstrual fluid, which may not sound like much, but consider this: the Mayo Clinic says that an entire heavy menstrual cycle is typically about 80ml, or 2.5 ounces (compared to the “average” cycle, which is 1 to 2 ounces). Remember, we’re talking about the accumulated flow over an entire period here.

Added bonus: The DivaCup is great for those looking to get a  good night’s sleep during their period. It can be worn for 12 hours at a time, so there’s no need to get up mid-slumber to change your pad or check your sheets – and no racing to the bathroom first thing in the morning, either.

For pad users, our Deluxe Heavy Flow Kit has really got you covered. It includes 3 Maxi Pads, 3 Long Pads and 1 Heavy Pad. Each Pad comes with a Wing and Basic Liner to match, so you’ll receive 14 Liners in total.

As seasoned Lunagals know, our Liner Inserts are really the ticket to extending the wear-time of your Lunapads. Just switch the Liners out before soaking through, and you can continue to use the same Pad for the rest of the day.  Those with heavy flow can easily layer liners to maximize absorbency and minimize leaks — and the thin, breathable nylon lining built right into the base of the pad provides additional security when you need it. Unlike other washable pads, Lunapads are made with super-soft and absorbent 100% cotton fleece, not just multiple layers of flannel.

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!