The original version of this article appears in Hygiene & You Blog; A leading reusable & alternative menstrual solutions company based in India. Reposted here with permission.

Last few months has been a lot of period talk on social media which mostly leads to the discussion on Re-Usable Menstrual Products (RUMPs) – Menstrual Cups and Cloth Pads. If you are reading this article, I am sure you are here to find out which is the most suitable RUMP for you and how to select the right one from the wide variety we have available online. I will suggest you to go through this information, do a little more research and get yourself the most appropriate product for yourself that works for your body type, lifestyle and period flow.

How to Select the Right Cloth Pad

Reusable cloth pads come in different sizes and level of absorbency. These can be used for daily discharge, period flow, mild incontinence and postpartum bleeding. These are made of soft and breathable fabric which is gentle on your skin, and do not cause any rashes or infections.

Width: Crotch / gusset width of the pad (once the snap buttons are shut) usually range between 6-9 cm. Following points must be considered while selecting the narrow or wide pads-

• Young / petite girls / average size women should go for narrow pads. Plus size women may prefer wider pads.
• Narrow pads are great for light to moderate period flow. Wider pads work better for heavy menstrual flow, mild urinary incontinence or postpartum bleeding.
• If your underwear / panty has a narrow crotch, you will need a narrow pad and for a panty with wider crotch panel, wider pads will fit better.

Length: Reusable menstrual cloth pads are also available in various lengths – just like the disposable sanitary pads. Range is usually between 16-38cm. Two things you must consider while selecting the appropriate length of the pads are:

• Use / Flow – for daily discharge or light period flow (first / last day spotting) you can go for smaller pads / cloth pantyliners. For medium period flow or mild incontinence, you can opt for pads with length 20-28 cm. For heavy flow or mild incontinence you must consider pads of length 26cm or above. For postpartum bleeding, I will suggest pads with length at least 32cm. You might find this chart helpful.
• Body size – Women with a petite body type should go for short / medium length pads as a very long pad can bulk up in the underwear and feel uncomfortable. Women with heavy body should opt for longer pads (even for light flow) as these will give a better fit. Short pads / pantyliners may end up moving in the panty.

Fabrics: Cloth pads are now available in a variety of fabrics from cottons to microfibres. Cloth Pad Comparison Chart shows you the inner and outer laters used in various brands (in India). Microfibres / Polyester based pads can absorb more than cotton pads. You can also opt for pads that have a poly inner layer and cotton top layer to get the benefits of both.

Styles: Cloth pads are available in 2 styles – (For a more detailed Pictorial Guide please check out this link)

Ready to use (All in Ones/ AIOs)

Ready to use – they come in one piece with all of it’s layers stitched together. Top and bottom layers are skin-friendly fabric. Few layers of absorbent fabrics form the core of these pads, that are hidden / stitched between the top and bottom layer. These come with wings that hold the pad directly on the underwear. Brands: (In India) – EcoFemme, SOCH, Shomota Kamini; (In East Africa) - EVA, Afri-pads, Comfort, Malika 

Holder + insert (All in Twos/ AI2s)

Holder + Insert – In this style, you get one holder with wings – which is attached on the underwear. This holder has loops where an extra insert is attached. Insert in this style is made of absorbent material and can be removed and replaced with a fresh one when it gets full. Brands  (In India) – Shomota Poddo, UGER; (In East Africa) -  EVA, EVA Active, EVA Fresh, ICare pads

Beginners can start with 4-5 pads from different brands to test which style and fabric they prefer before getting a whole stash. Depending on your flow and weather, to cover a full cycle, you will need around 10-15 cloth pads. Since each pad can be washed and reused for at least 70-120 times, this stash for 15 pads will last you for 4-7 years 

Click here to learn: How to Select the Right Menstrual Cup 

(Another great review from Hygeine & You, India. Reposted with permission)

Don’t wait any longer. Go ahead with a smart choice to make your periods greener.

Disclaimer: The Views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Health & You or EVA, Please use your reasonable judgement before proceeding with purchase or use of any product based on the blog.