Lunapads Blog

Name: Fatin
Home: Hackensack, NJ
Age: 31
Lifestyle: I’m an ESL teacher who loves to travel.

Flow
My flow lasts 5-6 days and is very heavy in the beginning (~2 days), 2 days heavy-average and 2-3 days of light flow. Light discharge throughout the month, especially when ovulating.

What products do you use?
I currently use Always Overnight with Wings, and Playtex Super tampons when I am working out or swimming. The Always are bulky and uncomfortable and they never seem to stay in place, especially at night, resulting in regular leaks. With tampons, I can’t seem to find the right absorbency; they’re either too absorbent or not absorbent enough. I’ve also considered using something for daily discharge, but I usually go without since the Always aren’t quite right for this and I don’t want to spend the money.

Why do you want to switch?
I want to create less waste with my menstrual products. I’d also like to support a woman-owned and operated company like Lunapads. I’d like to get more in touch with my body and make my period a joyful time that I don’t just take for granted. And Lunapads are way cuter than Always!

Lunapads Rx

The DivaCup
For active gals like Fatin, we tend to recommend that trusty tampon alternative, The DivaCup. It’s ideal for heavy flow (will hold up to 1 full ounce before needing to be emptied) and great for active sports. Plus, with The DivaCup, there’s no need to worry about finding the perfect absorbency. Unlike tampons, a menstrual cup doesn’t absorb (or dry you out, for that matter), but instead collects your menstrual flow. Check out our DivaCup 101 video for more info.

Long Pad & Liner
Now, onto your pad upgrade! In Luna-land, a Long Pad is most comparable to a disposable Overnight Pad with Wings. Our Long Pads are 12″ (30.5cm) in length, providing ample coverage & security for most women with average-heavy flow. Additionally, our Wing Liners (see right) provide lateral protection and help to prevent side leakage and stained sheets. Tip: you’ll save 10% off the regular price of our Pads when you buy a 3-Pack.

Lunapanties
If you’re looking for a $ saving, super-functional product for everyday discharge (and those 2-3 light flow days, using liners), this is it. You’re already wearing underwear every day – why not trade up for something that actually performs? Lunapanties are 95% organic cotton, 5% lycra and 100% awesome. Watch our video to learn more about their super-magical hidden powers.

Pantyliners
Another option for everyday: Our 7 Day Pantyliner Kits are value-priced at $70. That’s $10 per Pantyliner, rather than $10.99 individually priced, which means you’ll save $7 when you buy a set of 7. This may *seem* pricey at first glance, but as with all Lunapads products, your initial investment will save you a ton of money in the long run. With gentle care, a Lunapads Pantyliner should last an average of 5 years – some customers have been using the same Lunapads for upwards of a decade, even. It’s easy to calculate your personal savings; just divide the price of a box of disposables by the number of pantyliners inside – this determines your cost per pantyliner. Now, multiply that cost by the number of pantyliners you might use each day, and then again by 5 years. It really adds up! See our Why Switch? page for more info about how making the switch to reusables can really save you money.

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!

I brought my brand-new Diva Cup and three of my favourite Lunapads as backup. Comparing this to my packing habits prior to my switch to reusable pads, I found that I saved a lot of precious space – and weight – in my backpack.

On top of that, I didn’t have to worry about running out of supplies. And it’s definitely a plus not to have to worry about how to ask for (and bargain for) sanitary pads at the bazaar! This kind of self-reliance goes a long way in boosting my self-confidence when traveling alone in what is still a very male-dominated country.

Then, there’s the comfort factor. When you’re traveling eight hours a day, whether on a hot, cramped bus, on a horse that’s ready to run wild, or on foot across dusty mountain paths, the last thing you want is to have sticky, unbreathable plastic chafing your thighs. In a place where Western-style comforts are lacking, it’s good to know that at least your period wouldn’t create additional discomfort. I could focus on soaking in the travel experience, instead of obsessing about the discomfort in my underwear!

Last, but not least, using reusable menstrual products just makes so much environmental sense when traveling. Kyrgyzstan is a country with very little infrastructure. In the main cities, garbage pick-up is unreliable, and you can’t count on waste receptacles in public venues. Outside the city, garbage is simply burnt in one’s backyard (burnt plastic is not nice.) I also spent some time in the mountains with nomad families, whose lifestyles just didn’t produce much waste at all, and there was no system for handling garbage. It then struck me how irresponsible I would have been, if I had burdened their country with my used plastic pads. It’d basically be like dumping my garbage on someone else’s yard! And it’s not just any garbage–it’s non-biodegradable, it’s toxic, and it’s a biohazard (from the blood.)

[Tangent: Back in Canada, I'm starting to wonder why it is that, while we're so careful about handling blood in medical environments, we also think it's ok to leave menstrual-blood-soaked products in non-secure receptacles in public places. And the worst stench I've encountered was not from an outhouse in rural Kyrgyzstan, but in a woman's changing room at a Canadian swimming pool, where the sanitary pads bin has evidently not been cleared for a while...]

Anyway, I’d like to thank you again for your hard work in creating and promoting alternative products that do so much good for the environment and for women’s well-being. I’ve always touted your products in the online forums I frequent, and you can count on me to keep spreading the word.

Best wishes,
Florence

Yay! The cause of pads for girls in Africa is taking off like crazy. This time, it’s a local fundraiser at a swanky spa, so if anyone’s up for a pedicure while supporting a good cause, then come on down to “Passion with Purpose at the Pan Pacific”. All spa services will be 10% off, plus silent auction, snacks, drinks etc. I will be there for sure, complete with a Lunapads display.

The event starts at 6pm at Spa Utopia in the Pan Pacific Hotel on Thursday April 17th.

The benefit is the brainchild of Loretta Cella, a friend of Madeleine Kipling’s, who is yet another go-getter-make-it-happen kind of gal (our favourite kind!). Loretta has long dreamed of traveling to Africa, and the purpose of the event is to raise funds for her to purchase Lunapads to take with her to distribute to girls while she’s there.

The event is limited to 30 women, so call Loretta soon if you’re interested. She is also looking for Silent auction donations: (604) 710-4480.