Woe to the woman who finds decisions difficult when she's faced with the sanitary napkin aisle (or even aisles). What began as a thick wad of cotton often attached to underwear with safety pins has become one of the products most responsive to consumer demand. So many brands, so many sizes, so many shapes. Should you use a light, medium, heavy or overnight variety? What about pantie liners? Scented or unscented? How slender is slender, and how long is long?
What to Look for
Some decisions can be made only by trial and error, or rather, trial and I-won't-buy-that-kind-again. What fits one woman well will not fit another the same way. But there is some help out there. Readers of Woman's Day magazine annually choose the best products in categories ranging from makeup to first aid. Always brand sanitary pads in varying sizes and absorbencies consistently finish at the top of the heap in the Woman's Day survey. While conventional maxi-pads mold more closely to the body and may make you feel more protected, the thin varieties go virtually unnoticed in the most form-fitting clothes. For help in choosing a shape and size of pad, check out the series of questions on always.com and stayfree.com.
Some women are concerned about the health and environmental effects of chlorine bleaching, a process used by pad and tampon manufacturers to purify the wood pulp that goes into making them. Chlorine bleaching can leave behind chemicals called dioxins, which some evidence suggests may cause cancer and endometriosis. Most manufacturers say their processes are dioxin-free, but the FDA says that while the processes may not involve or result in dioxin, some of the chemicals may be already present in the wood pulp and cotton used to make the products. If you're very concerned about this, the only solution is to make your own sanitary pads (several Web sites have instructions) or buy organic brands such as Natracare, available in health food stores and by mail order.
Common Pitfalls
Some women are allergic to the chemicals used in the scented forms of sanitary pads. Others, if not allergic, are sensitive to the substances. Both situations can bring on irritation or itching.
A common mistake women make is to buy pads that are too small. The average, regular-size sanitary pad is made to fit into a size-six pantie, which will not fit every woman. For a larger pantie size, try long or super-long, and increase the coverage by buying pads with wings. Some varieties are now made to fit women who wear size 14 or higher.
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