How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: Since 2008-2009

Reason for making the switch to reusables: I was taking a class on feminism and pop culture, and came across articles and stories of these cups and pads, that womyn made and advocated. I felt so empowered that I had to try it myself, and it was around the time that I was becoming aware of waste, sustainability, organic food, etc. After the first months, I was hooked! I talked to my friends, family, men and womyn about reusables! I still do! I hold workshops at schools, gardens, and at homes about these products!

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Name: Courtney
Age: gosh asked me this 2 days ago and I could have said younger! 35
Hometown: Iowa
Current Location: Carolina Coast
Occupation: Mom to 3 boys & Blogger at Crunchy Beach Mama

Interests: Love to read. I like to scrapbook but am years behind. Talking walks and bike rides around the neighborhood with my kids. Watching sports games with my family. Studying how to be a better person spiritually.

Dreams: To be financially secure so my hubby doesn’t have to work so hard. To live a long healthy life. To buy and decorate a home on the ocean where I can fall asleep listening to the waves and wake up to play in the sand.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products: 1.5 years
Reason for making the switch to reusables: We started cloth diapering my 3rd baby. It didn’t seem right then that I wasn’t using cloth for my own uses. I wish I would have started both long ago! Much more comfy, affordable, healthy, and green.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share:I like teaching others that being ‘crunchy’ or natural is easy. It not only helps out Mother Nature, but it saves us so much money! The health benefits alone should encourage everyone to look into how they can change their lifestyle. One step at a time.

Name: Kathryn Dusseau Kloos
Age: 34
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Current Location: Portland, OR
Occupation: Naturopathic Physician and mother

Interests: natural medicine, plant spirit medicine, women’s health, playing the guitar, being out in nature, travel to warm tropical places.
Dreams: Before I attended Naturopathic college I spent time studying healing arts with traditional people in the Brazilian Amazon. At that time I was in a deep contemplation if I should stay in Brazil and continue my studies with the plants or go to naturopathic school.  One of my friends there was a beautiful nineteen year old daughter of a shaman.  She knew the medicinal uses of every plant in the the forest and the unique songs that went with each one.  When I asked her what she wished she could do in her life, she told me all she wanted to go was go to medical school.  She said this with sadness in her heart knowing that there was little chance she could ever attend a university due to a lack of opportunity for the people of that region.  It was in that moment when I realized I should go to medical school. If she couldn’t go, I should at least take the opportunity to pursue a higher education that so many people globally don’t have access to.  My vision then and my vision now is to create a knowledge exchange between indigenous and contemporary healers.  One day I would like to take a group down to the Amazon to distribute much needed medical supplies as well as aid in the preservation of their herbal and healing traditions.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products: 14 years
Reason for making the switch to reusables: They are are more comfortable than disposable menstrual products and better for the environment.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: I think that we are in a time now when women are being asked to do a lot in the world.  Its really important that we take time to replenish ourselves by resting, spending time in nature and doing whatever brings us joy.  As women we need to remember to honor the rhythms of our moon cycle and not push ourselves too much, especially during the time of menstruation.  Traditionally women used to bleed during the new moon which is a time for quiet reflection and planting seeds of new dreams.  Ovulation would traditionally happen on the full moon which is a time of outward creativity and expression.  My hope is that we can collectively remember to honor our moon time as a time for rest and reflection as well as value the importance of ‘being’ as much as we value ‘doing’.

Name: Steph Tubman
Age: 25
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Current Location: Southern Highlands (Quetzaltenango), Guatemala
Occupation: Peace Corps Volunteer and Graduate Student

Interests: Writing, Environmental ethics, Foreign languages, Hiking, Whole foods
Dreams: For the moment, leave my community at least a little better off than how I found it! Eventually, finish my Masters’ degree, have a family, and keep learning, teaching, and growing.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products: Two and a half years
Reason for making the switch to reusables: After college I visited an intentional community, which inspired me to try to go zero waste. Getting a menstrual cup was an obvious first step, but I still used disposable pads when my flow was heavy. When I moved to a Guatemalan town with no adequate waste management, the challenge of zero waste became quite practical rather than simply philosophical. I bought a set of GladRags and never looked back!

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: If we’re really going to improve human development world-wide, I think we’ve got to embrace technologies that not only enhance quality of life but also reduce consumer dependency and impact on our ecosystems. I’m of the opinion that reusable menstrual pads are one such awesome technology, which hopefully in the next decade will be promoted – whether purchased or homemade – to more women world-wide (including here in in Guatemala).

Name: Zoe E.
Age: 24
Hometown: Santa Fe, NM
Current location: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Grad Student, Teacher

Interests: Writing, educating, cooking, learning.
Dreams: To open my own preschool where the kids would learn and grow body-mind-spirit.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: Over a year.

Reason for making the switch to reusables: So many! Saving money, not wasting, and keeping my body healthy by using a product free of harmful ingredients.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts or anything else you’d like to share: I almost get outraged when I hear people still use tampons! Not only are they bad for your body, but think of how many of these throw-away products are sitting in landfills! The sad thing is that many women I know haven’t heard of reusables or are too scared/grossed out. God forbid we’re in touch with our bodies, right? I’ve converted a few girls though!

Name: Dallas S.
Age: 19
Hometown: Moreno Valley, CA
Current location: Portland, OR — headed to San Francisco, CA
Occupation: Brand Ambassador

Interests: I like to work and I love to eat! I have an obsession with petting every dog I see. Coffee, traveling, girls, tattoos, and having a good time! Kowabunga!
Dreams: Move to a new place every year.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: A little over a year now!

Reason for making the switch to reusables: I had a friend who wanted me to try a menstrual cup, and after months and months of me saying that I would buy one, she bought me a Lunette!

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts or anything else you’d like to share: I had to ask my mother to stop buying me tampons! She sends me care packages every few months, and they always have tampons in them. Considering I never use them anymore, I am so overstocked with tampons.

Name: Meg B.
Age: 25
Hometown: Naugatuck, CT
Current location: just relocated to Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Cosmetology student/Unemployed

Interests: Beauty, good food, animals, beer
Dreams: To learn how to sculpt those awesome Hello Kitty acrylic nails from Japan.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: About two years

Reason for making the switch to reusables: Aside from the obvious desire to lessen my carbon footprint, I switched to reusable menstrual products to have a better attitude about my period. Not that the whole process was this squicky mess that I would rather light my hair on fire than deal with, but I knew there could be a better way to get through my cycle without using scratchy cotton and dealing with leaks galore. My Lunette is so easy to use (after perfecting the “twist” when inserting), easy to clean, and easy to forget about throughout my day.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: I recently moved to Los Angeles for my husband’s work. He simply had to transfer but I’m still job hunting. Reusable products are great for women on a budget. I haven’t had to buy pads or tampons in almost two years! Little things add up, so I take all the help I can get when it comes to expenses.

Name: Anney T.
Age: 22
Hometown: Southern California
Current location: Brooklyn, NY
Occupation: I work for a company called GoodWood NYC based out of Brooklyn. We sell wooden chains to rappers and kids who love rappers. It’s the best job I’ve ever had. I answer a lot of e-mails and force my co-workers to listen to Justin Bieber all day. Just that one song “Baby”, though. Nothing else matters.

Interests: Fake cheese and everything else bad for you.
Dreams: Publish my book of rare, secret, based poetry. Once I do that, I want to get a nice apartment in LA so I can be close to my wonderful family. I want to make sure that all of my younger cousins have a bad influence in their lives.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: Just a little over a year now!
Reason for making the switch to reusables: First of all, they cost way less than purchasing tampons every month. Living in New York is not cheap. I never have to worry about having enough tampons or pads everywhere I go; it’s just very convenient. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter at parties. When my first go to conversation starter “hey, have you ever heard of Lil B?” fails, I move straight to “so, do you use a cup?”.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: When I lived in Portland, Oregon for a few years, I helped run this music venue called The Artistery. I had this roommate, Kevin, who was/is the most hilarious dude I’ve ever met. Every week Kevin had some new idea or project he was working on that involved absurdist-type humor and elaborate schemes that were half nonsensical but were 100% the best idea ever. Don’t quote me on that though because I’m bad at math. Moving on, Kevin was a bit of a caricature in my eyes for quite some time. It was hard for me to fathom him as a real human being. To me, Kevin was the only evidence of a very cruel higher power who placed him on Earth to taunt the rest of us saying “hey, look at this guy; you will never be as funny, smart or as cool as he is. AND his girlfriend is a total babe (hey rebecca)”. Anyway, this all changed one day when I was hanging out at the extension house attached to The Artistery. Kevin was taking a shower and had no idea anyone else was in the house, so he came out wearing nothing but a towel, sans glasses, singing “Crocodile Rock”. For the first time in the history of our friendship, I noticed that Kevin had skin (not in a derogatory way) and two tattoos on his ankles (an “equality” sign and an “anarchy sign”; remnants from his days of being 15 and punk). At this point, I had already dropped the book I was reading to watch my friend materialize from a myth to a man. He noticed me sitting there, turned to me and said “oh, hey, Anney” and then proceeded to sit down, still in his towel, and put on his socks.

Name: Emily Marie Ahtúnan
Age: 39
Hometown: East Coast – Mid Atlantic States
Current location: New England: Vermont
Occupation: I have an eclectic occupational history: from research assistant, writer, audio/visual assistant, student, social worker, behavioral consultant, disabled individual, photographer. I have a certain disdain for the question of “What do you do?” as it’s one of the first things we tend to ask any new acquaintance. My disdain arises from the cultural sense that we define ourselves by what it is we “do,” rather than who it is we are, at any given moment. When I meet someone, I want to know who they are, what makes them passionate, on fire … what brings that glimmer into their eyes when they speak of themselves and their lives. If you want to know who I am; you won’t find the answer in my occupation. Let’s have tea together and talk.

Interests: Nature, Photography, Birding, Writing, Art, Compassion, Green Living, Local eating, Cooking, Nurturing myself, others and our connection with the Natural World.
Dreams: To live more rurally again, in a small log cabin with my companion feline, completely surrounded by nature. Travel and, to always dream. To eventually make a living from my photography, art and writing.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: Approximately 1 year.
Reason for making the switch to reusables: The main reason, initially, was an attempt to ease the discomfort (raging/debilitating pain is more like it) prior to and during my cycle. A GYN suspected that I had endometriosis and wanted to begin a pharmaceutical regiment that would put me into medical menopause. I wasn’t about to take that leap, so I began in earnest to investigate other options, which led me to resuables: GladRags and the DivaCup to be exact. Making that switch proved to be a huge success in more ways than one! Now, it’s health along with the environmental reasons to use GladRags and the Diva Cup. It’s also much easier on my budget too. Since making the switch, I can’t think of a reason not to; making the switch to reusables also provided me an opportunity to become more in touch with my cycle and my body. I’m much more at ease with myself, my cycle and talking more openly about it. Bonus, bonus, bonus – I dream that every woman will make the switch to reusables and find the joy (yes, joy) in using them.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: I have been going through some issues with my PAP smears, and happen to have a knitted uterus which I brought to a GYN appointment a year or so back. GYN bonus points: she also has a knitted uterus. Ladies, that may be a prerequisite question when looking for a GYN. I love my GYN! I had my knitted uterus in my backpack for the appointment, brought it home and put it on the kitchen table. The cat jumped on the kitchen table and grabbed my uterus in her mouth and ran off with it. Noticing she was running away with my uterus; I said “Come back here with my uterus!” If any of my neighbor’s heard me, well … how often have you shouted “Come back here with my uterus,” to your feline or to anyone – out loud? I only wish that I had my camera in hand as she trotted off …