As a girl living in Australia with a conservative background, it has been a long and winding journey for me to discover what the best feminine hygiene product was for me. Today, I’m going to go over some of the ones that are available in Australia.

I never had an older sister to ask questions, therefore I could only ever ask my mother what the best options were in my younger years. My knowledge and understanding of period products was extremely limited until I learned there were other choices.

These are just my personal experiences with menstrual products, and believe me, I know everyone has a different viewpoint. But for those who are on the same discovery tour as me, here are some of my thoughts.

Pads

One of the most well known, and widely accepted, hygiene product, it’s one of the more readily available options. Walking down the aisle at Woolies or Coles, there are so many types to choose from. With wings, sleep, ultra absorbent and thin, are just a few of the varieties presented to us.

While this is a great option for young ladies who have just started their period, I found it wasn’t the most practical option for me. Being invested in Netball, and other sporting activities, the constant feeling of wearing a nappy, alongside the sensation of peeing, I didn’t last long in these. Very quickly I moved onto other options, and the thought of using them has never truly left me with a feeling of safety or security.

Tampons

Being readily available, and the option my mother recommended, tampons were my go to for most of my teenage years and twenties. They were small, discrete, and with the applicator included, absolute perfection. But they did have their downsides.

From leaking to dryness, I was never fully keen on using them, however there were not many other options I could choose from, (at the time). So with each cycle I would muscle through, go out and buy my $7 box of tampons, feel grossly overcharged and angry at the luxury tax on them and move on with my day.

And yes, in Australia, until recently, the big male hotshots in government felt female hygiene products were luxury items and added tax to them. We can get into the male incompetence in another girl talk blog.

Menstrual Cups

Boy, was this one a learning curve, and my favourite choice to date.

Now, I had never really thought much about this options until recently. I have been recently looking into more sustainable ways of living when I stumbled onto menstrual cups. Being sustainable, long lasting, and promising less awkward trips to the bathroom, it’s safe to say, they captured my attention. Intrigued, and wistfully optimistic, I made my purchase.

If you are wanting to use a menstrual cup, I highly recommend you do your research on how to use them. otherwise you’ll end up like me, stressed out in shower.

But even after that experience, I found they were the best product for me (at the moment). I haven’t had any leaks, awkward runs to the bathroom or embarrassing situations. When I’m expecting my period, I am able to wear it and be prepared rather than being caught unawares. And being silicone is just an added bonus.

These are just some of my experiences, and I know everyone has different preferences.