How do you evaluate the quality of feminine care products, whether we are talking about sanitary pads or tampons? What is the first thing you are looking at?

The package! Yes, that is the first criteria by which you can tell whether you are dealing with a good quality or poor quality product. And when I say the package, I don’t mean the colors on it, even if that is something that definitely catches the eye. The important part is how the package is sealed and if it is resealable and then how the individual pads or tampons are packed.

I’ve just read a poll asking women what are the first three things to be found in their bags and almost all of them mentioned sanitary pads or tampons. Someone said “Only three things? You can find everything in a woman’s bag!” And that is right! Everything is in there. So, you throw a sanitary pad or tampon in your purse, among everything else. And later the same pad or tampon that touched who knows what gets to be placed in a very intimate, sensitive part of your body. That is why it is vital that the pad or tampon be safely packed, in a completely sealed package.

Most pads are packed in a piece of plastic whose sides overlap, but they are not sealed. Air and germs can easily get in there. Others have a tag that keeps the package closed, but they are not completely sealed either, leaving room for contamination. And then, as we all know, there are plenty (especially panty liners and tampons) that don’t have any individual package at all.

I have also mentioned that the big package should be resealable. Why is that? Because most packages are stored under the counter or in different places in the bathroom, which are not the cleanest environment. If the package, once opened cannot be resealed, and, again, the individual pieces are not completely sealed, there is again risk of contamination.

The best packaging that I have seen so far in feminine care products is that of Anion sanitary pads, produced by Winalite. Each Anion Love Moon sanitary napkin is completely sealed in an automated line without human contact, so it is free from contamination. The big package is also resealable with a food grade foil. You can open it, take a pad out, seal the package back air tight, and it will look like new.

So, as you can see, the way the products are packed is important for your health. Next time you are making a purchase I hope you will remember to take this slight detail into account.

Ruth Taylor

What are ten things you cannot live without? If you are a woman sanitary pads will most probably rank high on your list. And because they are so important and used so much, we have to choose them carefully and make sure we get the best.

What are the qualities we should look for in a sanitary pad? How can we test them (except for trying them on and exposing ourselves to some unpleasant experiences)? What materials are sanitary pads made of? How can the tampons or sanitary pads we use affect our health?

You will find the answers to these questions (and many more) in the following posts on this blog. Our team has done extensive research and is ready to share lots of information about feminine care products. I am sure you will find these articles useful, some of them intriguing bringing up issues you did not know about or were not aware of, and all of them will be practical, aimed at improving your comfort and health.

Please feel free to ask questions, make suggestions or add comments. You are all most welcome here!