Haha, I used improper terminology. I didn't mean a cotton ball like the ones you buy. I was thinking more like a cotton rag, that could be inserted to soak up the blood then removed and cleaned. My dad died when I was 5, I grew up with a mother and an older sister in the house, so I am no stranger to the weirdness of women :p

Also, some women use diapers, I don't know why if SHTF you couldn't fashion a washable diaper out of spare clothes.

Originally posted by greeneyedleo

Originally posted by king9072
Wouldn't shoving a cotton ball up there for several hours work just the same? You could remove and wash it daily, and replace it. Why would that be such an issue?

Clearly you are not a woman


That's the exact same thing I thought when I read that post!!!

But yea Deus Ex Machina 42... I actually have about 20 boxes of tampons (8 ct) that I purchased a few month ago from the dollar store. Not sure if you have that store in your town but everything is $1. So I purchased a lot in case SHTF, but in the back of mind I was wondering if did need to pack up survival supplies and flee my home, would I have room for all those tampons? Or would there be items of more importance that I need to make room for?

The cup sounds like a great Idea....yea a bit nasty, but isn't bleeding for 1 week a month also.

Use a piece of rag folded & placed in the gusset of your undies. Wash out, dry then reuse. That's why women's periods were sometimes called their "RAGS". Women have done it this way for a very long time before the modern system. My mother use to do it this way in the 1940's & she said that it was the way her mother & grandmother use to deal with situation.

Always, always read the sign on the door....

/Me backs away slowly...

In all seriousness, this is something I have never thought to discuss with my "bug-out" buddies and their partners. It is amazing what you don't think about until it is too late.

You could use a sea sponge if you were by a sea, I guess. Or you could just let it ride. (LoL!) I was told by he said she said, that some women used nothing, not even underware but I don't know how true that is.(Before the tampon) I suppose it could be somewhat true depending on the woman?? But I highly doubt it nowadays.

WoW! all this estrogen is making me dizzy!

Seacrest OUT!!

There are a lot of great suggestions here, but keep in mind, you are in hiding, resources are limited. I for one still think the cup is a great idea. Think about it...its compact, its reusable for up to ten years, there is nothing to dispose of and not to be gross, but I would fear drawing the attention of wild animals with the smell of blood if I had to take the time to bury something...

Gross topic but ooooooook...

Well, hopefully the stress alone of any major event would cause a delay or a short-term stop of menses. I agree with only the rag statement. Old shredded clothes could be used and tossed. Some of us (who have done our kegels) can even hold it in until ya need to pee then clamp right up again to walk around etc..for hours. Any tampon-style 'thing' shoved up that is not sterile to begin with or in for longer than a few hours would be toxic...I'd never even consider them even now. Best bet...keep a blanket on hand to last for months as period-fodder.

men shouldn't be reading this thread LOLOL

Um excuse my ignorance but sticking a CUP in my yoo hoo sounds painful. I wear tampons but they pintch the shyt out of me sometimes but one grows use to it. But a CUP? Wouldn't that be very uncomftorable. What type of material is this thing made of? Plastic I assume, OUCH... Anyone used one of these things? Do you know if it painfull? I have stocked up on pads and tampons but gee wiz 10 years worth is a little much, so this sounds like a good idea. I'm just thinking owee... Is it just me? My mom and her six sisters did the rag thing back in the day, but we must consider how many rags (or old clothes) could one fit in a backpack along with all the other have to have items we will need? I have bad cramps sometimes and I worry about being without my heating pad and Advil? Any natural yet safe cramp killer ideas?