Obstetrician and gynecologist tells us about sanitary napkinsObstetrician and gynecologist Jung Seon-hwa

 

First, disposable sanitary napkins

 

First of all, let me tell you about disposable sanitary napkins, which are widely used by the public. Disposable sanitary napkins are pad-type sanitary napkins that are attached to panties and are known to be very accessible because they can be thrown away immediately after being used.

 

However, it has the disadvantage of irritating the skin, and there is also a controversy that the polymer absorbent contained in the main ingredient is harmful to the human body. In fact, disposable sanitary napkins are said to have various chemical treatments to prevent menstrual blood from escaping. Depending on the product, benzene-based ingredients or bleach may be added to add flavor.

 

However, since the chemicals contained in sanitary napkins are easily encountered naturally in daily life, it is misunderstood to attribute menstrual abnormalities or severe menstrual cramps to disposable sanitary pads.

 

Second, eco-friendly sanitary napkins

 

The second is eco-friendly sanitary napkins. It is a pad-type product that looks exactly like a disposable sanitary napkin, but it has a certification mark and is a little more expensive.

 

Eco-friendly sanitary napkins are made of 100% cotton or cotton, so they are easy to decompose and do not irritate the vulva.

 

Third, menstrual cup

 

The third is the menstrual cup. A menstrual cup is an insertable product that is placed in the vagina to accept menstrual blood. It can be reused after washing, so one product can be used hygienically for a long time.

 

Menstrual cups have the disadvantage of being less accessible than pad-type products. In fact, when you go to the gynecologist office, sometimes you come to the hospital because it is difficult to remove the menstrual cup once you put it in. There is also a certain amount of psychological fear at play in this, so if you are using a menstrual cup for the first time, it is recommended to use a product with a long handle and air holes.

 

Also, some people ask me if using a menstrual cup causes menstrual blood to flow back. So far, no studies have reported cases of menstrual blood reflux, so you can rest assured that this is the case.

 

Of course, if the vulva is injured or used for a long time without proper insertion, there may be problems. Women have an anatomical structure centered on the vagina, with the rectum behind and the bladder in the front, and if the menstrual cup is not worn properly, the vaginal mucosa becomes inflamed and a path forms in the nearby bladder or rectum. This can lead to urine or feces leaking into the vagina. Although this is only a small number of cases, it is important to wear a menstrual cup correctly.

 

Fourth, tampons

 

Fourth, let's take a look at tampons. You can think of tampons as a compromise between menstrual cups and pads. Like a menstrual cup, it is used in the vagina, but it can be disposed of immediately like a pad-type product, making it convenient to use in everyday life.

 

Tampons have some controversy. There is a certain amount of misunderstanding and exaggeration mixed here.

 

The first is the perception of insertable products. You might think that sexually inexperienced women shouldn't use tampons, but the truth is that the hymen is a tissue that can easily rupture just by riding a bicycle or moving violently. It's a misconception that you shouldn't use insertable products because you don't have sexual experience.

 

The second is the possibility of vaginal dryness. However, vaginal dryness is rare in most premenopausal women, so there is no need to worry.

 

The third is the possibility of toxic shock syndrome*. Toxic shock syndrome is a serious side effect that can lead to death once it occurs. However, side effects can be avoided just by wearing tampons correctly, so it is important to remove the wrapper well, insert it with well-washed hands, and replace it in time.

 

Fifth, cotton sanitary napkins

 

The fifth product I would like to mention is cotton sanitary napkins. Cotton sanitary napkins are used by attaching them to panties just like disposable sanitary napkins, but the difference is that they are not irritating to the skin and can be washed, so one product can be used for nearly 2~3 years.

 

However, cotton sanitary napkins can leak menstrual blood to the outside of the clothes when the amount of menstruation is high. In addition, it is difficult to change it outside, which limits the range of activities.

 

Sixth, menstrual panties

 

The last is menstrual panties. Menstrual panties are an all-in-one product that can be worn like regular underwear, and they have the advantage of being very comfortable to wear.

 

However, they are expensive and difficult to replace when you are out and about. Menstrual products, in particular, are worn when bleeding. If the blood accumulates for a long time, microorganisms are more likely to grow, so if you can't change your clothes often, we don't recommend it.

 

Obstetricians and gynecologists' top 3 menstrual products

 

So far, we've looked at 6 menstrual products. Each product has its advantages and disadvantages. From now on, we will rank the recommendations from 1st to 3rd from the gynecologist's point of view. Of course, there is no clear answer to menstrual products, so it is important to choose the right product according to your preferences and situation.

 

First of all, I would pick eco-friendly sanitary napkins as the number one. The most important thing is that menstrual products are easy to access on a daily basis and have a low barrier to entry. Eco-friendly sanitary napkins are pad-type and easy to use, but there seem to be many products that take care of the parts that come into contact with the skin.

 

In second place is the menstrual cup. There are so many options for menstrual cups, and if you wear them properly, they can be hygienic. In the past, there were a lot of latex products that caused allergic reactions, but recently, there have been a lot of silicone products.

 

In third place are tampons. When I go to the gynecologist office, I see a lot of people who have skin diseases caused by sanitary napkins, but this problem is definitely less with implantable products, so tampons are ranked third.