When it comes to safeguarding your hormonal health, switching period products according to your flow is a great place to start. Many Kiwi women risk infections, adopting a one-size-fits-all approach by using the same tampon size throughout their menstrual cycle.
Feeling discomfort, dryness, or regularly suffering from vaginal thrush can be avoided if more women are aware of their menstruation rhythm or, as coined by Oi – Know Your Flow.
New Zealand period care company Organic Initiative (Oi) recently teamed up with Ovie, an app for sufferers of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, to help women better understand which period products to use and when. By highlighting the importance of using the right tampon size, they hope to boost the wellbeing of women across New Zealand.
“Most of us know from first-hand experience that if we use a tampon that’s not absorbent enough, we risk leaking – but what many women don’t realise is that using a tampon that’s too absorbent for your flow can be detrimental to your health,” explains Oi Global Sales and Marketing Manager Gemma Craig.
“Not only can it feel uncomfortable and hurt to remove, but it also soaks up all the good moisture that keeps your body in balance, creating opportunities for illness.”
Research shows that the safest way to use tampons is to use the lowest absorbency needed to manage the flow, but when the Oi team recently consulted a group of 36 women, they discovered that 14% of them used the same absorbency tampon throughout their cycle.
Ovie founder Clare Goodwin is passionate about empowering women to make the best choices for their bodies, and she says Oi’s period products are a great option.
“When I am using a tampon in my body, I want to ensure that there are no nasties or harmful chemicals,” she says. “Choosing certified organic cotton tampons like Oi’s takes those worries away, as they are free of synthetics, chlorine bleach, dyes, and fragrances.”
Designed and made in New Zealand, Oi produces a variety of tampons (including organic applicator tampons, bio-compact tampons, and digital tampons), each with two absorbencies: regular and super.
“Each one should be used depending on your flow and how much blood you lose. A super tampon might be required for the first day or two of your cycle, but once your flow becomes lighter, you can swap to a regular tampon,” said Clare.
Menstrual cups are also increasing in popularity, saving money and the planet, and the Oi cup provides up to eight hours of extended wear. Clare is a big fan, but as she points out, sometimes traditional tampons are hard to beat.
“The Oi cups are great, but tampons are especially helpful for those days that you’re going to be out for long periods of time and unable to wash your cup.”
Whether you use cups, tampons, pads—or Oi’s new reusable period briefs—if you want to care for your hormonal health optimally, it’s vital you know your flow and look for products made from certified organic cotton.