I used to use re-usable sanitary towels all the time. At one point, pre-Mooncup, I used to combine them with tampons on the heavier days. Then somehow I got out of the habit. Those were quite primitive homemade napkins, all fraying hems and wadded stuffing, held in my pants with safety pins that often left massive holes. So that might be why I let that habit drop. I bought a starter kit of fold-up pads ages ago, can't remember exactly where or when (recovering hoarder ahoy) but this weekend (when I was at home all the time) I thought I'd use them. Here's some details for anyone else who might be thinking of taking the plunge.

I only have the basics - one holder that clips around my pants with press studs, one long foldy cloth that fits inside it and four smaller cloths.

( Cut for period talk - not hugely graphic but does talk about the practicalities of cleaning bled-on itemsCollapse )

I think I'm going to keep on trying with these. If it works out for a few months I might expand my collection so the process of cleaning them can be a bit less pressured. I'm going to keep them for staying at home or doing short errands, because the practicalities of managing them at work give me a headache just tentatively considering it.

I've heard rumours that unbleached cloth pads make periods less painful. Well, I've had a less painful period in relative terms, but suspect that might have been down to using the relevant medication since I couldn't spend the entire weekend lying around shrieking with pain. The fact that I felt the need to take the tablets suggests that whatever magic reusable pads are meant to work on this front doesn't affect me that much. Again, your mileage may vary.

I rarely read the Michfest boards, but am quite glad to have done so today, as this thread seems quite useful for advice on dealing with Mooncups, jamrags and so on in the great outdoors.