Menstrual cups, period pants and more: a beginner's guide to reusable period care

That’s where reusable period products come in. Whether it’s the everyday ease of highly absorbent period underwear, the reliability of a menstrual cup or the softness of durable reusable pads, there are many different reusable products to fit your life and your budget. Learn how to make the switch with our helpful guide and get ready for comfort, confidence and a period routine that works for you all cycle long.

If tampons are your go-to for your time of the month, menstrual cups are an excellent alternative that you can use time and time again. Like tampons, menstrual cups are inserted into the vagina, where they collect menstrual blood rather than absorbing it. Small and with a funnel-like shape, menstrual cups are made from a flexible, medical-grade silicone so they sit comfortably. Each cup can be a different size to suit your needs, so it's always worth researching beforehand to find one to suit you. For example, some sizes may be recommended for younger people, those who have given birth and those who haven’t.

Your first time wearing a cup may feel a little bit uncomfortable, as they are designed to sit a bit lower in your vaginal canal than a tampon. However, although having it sitting lower may feel unnatural, you’ll barely notice it after a while. Over the course of a lifetime, those who menstruate will use thousands of pads and tampons, most of which will end up in landfills as plastic waste.³ That’s why choosing a reusable period product, like a menstrual cup, can be a great alternative. Wearable for up to 12 hours at a time and with the ability to use a single menstrual cup for many years, you'll save time and money and cut back on waste.

When reusing your menstrual cup, simply empty the blood into the toilet, then give your cup a quick wipe or rinse with water and pop it back in. In between periods, it's recommended to give your cup a thorough clean with boiling water or a sterilising solution.

Reusable sanitary towels are a great alternative to single-use, disposable pads. You can use these pads repeatedly, helping reduce the number of disposable products sent to landfill. When you’re done, simply throw them in the wash with your normal underwear to keep them fresh and clean between each use.

These reusable alternatives are made from absorbent and breathable materials, like cotton, keeping you comfortable and leak-free. They have fabric wings with popper fastenings that secure around your underwear to keep your pad in place. And, just like regular sanitary towels, reusable cloth pads come in different sizes and absorbencies for every part of your cycle.

Period underwear, often called period pants, are designed to be worn during your period like regular underwear. They absorb blood like tampons and pads but they can be washed and reused time and time again – they’re even available in different absorbencies to suit your flow. Made with absorbent fibres, period underwear is quickly becoming a go-to product for many people who menstruate. Plus, for extra security, you can use them with other products, like a tampon. Like other period products, period pants can take some getting used to. At first, it may feel strange not wearing a tampon or pad but it'll feel perfectly normal after a while.

While you can wash and reuse period pants throughout your period, you’ll probably want to purchase a few pairs to see you through your period, as you'll need to change them every four to six hours (like pads and tampons). For each wear, rinse the underwear in cold water, pop them in a cool wash and hang them out to dry. From cutting back on waste to saving money, there are some great benefits to wearing period pants; you can even wear some types to go swimming (just check they’re suitable first).