This is where I will take the opportunity to tell you about some of the safer alternative tampons and pads that I have tried. The opinions expressed here are mine alone. I do not sell any of these products nor am I affiliated with any sites that do. I have included information from the manufacturers package along with my commentary.

My purpose is to give women an idea of the safer products available, and to give polite constructive criticism to the manufacturers of these products. It is not my intent to tell you which is the best pad or tampon. Every woman's period is unique to her. My periods are usually very heavy, but they start out light and end light. On my heaviest days (if I were using mainstream chlorine bleached products), I would use Always Super Maxi with wings or Always Maxi Overnight Flexi with wings. I usually have 3 very heavy days with clotting. On the one heaviest day I would usually have to change my Always night time pad every hour or hour and a half. This "heaviest" flow would usually last me 12 to 24 hours. I give you this information so that you can understand that my period is very heavy. Some of these products could be used by other women on their heavy days, but for me they will not work.

When I first learned about dioxin being in diapers, pads, and tampons, I went out and bought a case worth of various pads from Seventh Generation (I'll be adding my opinions on these as well as washable pads soon). At that time I did not have much extra cash and figured I better stock up and buy in bulk for the cheapest price. Well I still have some of those pads left. They were OK pads, but for me they weren't exactly what I needed. So my search continues for the best non chlorine bleached disposable pad for me.

I do not recommend that women immediately discard their preferred brands and restock their bathrooms with healthier and environmentally friendly products.(Unless of course you have all kinds of cash or you've already tried various brands) What I do recommend is that you purchase one of the alternative products you are interested in and test it out. Keep doing this every cycle until you find an alternative that works for you. Don't give up your trusted dioxpons or dioxpads yet! Test out the alternative brands when you do have the time to deal with an accident or abort the mission if necessary. I have to admit that I have yet to find a natural product that would have been able to stand up to one of my previous hectic work schedules during a heavy flow. Being laid off is giving me the opportunity to test out some of these alternatives and put them to the test in an environment that I am completely comfortable with; my home.

I understand that schedules and lifestyles can be very hectic. When I went back to work after my first round of being laid off because of illnesses, I strayed from using environmentally friendly products. I think that I may possibly be paying for my mistakes, but none the less, it's a fact that needs to be stated. None of the safer products that I tried could stand up to my schedule. The organic cotton washable pads were able to handle some of my heavy days. But I just did not have the necessary setup at work to be able to deal with it decently. Excuses! Excuses! I know.... but the reality is that we don't want to give up convenience. Is it so much to ask for a product that works and is safe for our bodies and the environment?.... I would like to see a company "invent" a pad that is very similar to the Always brand Super and Overnight pads, that have organic ingredients, non chlorine bleached, with wings, and an absorbent top layer that wicks away moisture. Is that so much to ask???!!

Not that I would use a disposable pad all the time. But it would be nice to have something that is safe for us and convenient. I do believe that any one who has the capability to switch to totally natural products should do so. Any woman that leads a hectic lifestyle should use the most environmentally friendly product as often as possible. But there should also be safer alternatives that are also convenient.

Bottom Line: Try some of the safer alternative products and tell your favorite companies what you want. But be polite... ;-)

I would like to see all paper bleaching processes changed to Totally Chlorine Free. Get rid of Elemental Chlorine Free. ECF is a misleading term. Label products with the ingredients involved in it's production. Release your data on current and past testing done on feminine hygiene products. Woman should have the right to know what they are putting in their bodies. They should have the ability to make educated choices. If we do not have facts available to us then it makes it impossible for us to make an educated decision. We should be able to choose whether or not we want to use products that are bleached with chlorine, treated with friendly bacteria, or produced using genetically modified crops - no matter what the finished product is. Keeping this information from consumers, in my opinion, is rude, arrogant and, irresponsible. If you feel the same way as I do, then please write the manufacturers and your government officials.

I am reminded of the quote by Thomas Jefferson: I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves...and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion.

Natracare Ultra with Wings - Extra Soft Cover, 14 - Natural Absorbent Layer, Non-Chlorine Bleached, Biodegradable, Classically Simple, Reassuringly Natural. Biodegradable liner, natural absorbent layer, extra soft cover to keep you dry and comfortable, adhesive strip holds pad secure, wings.

Ruth's Opinion: This is a very thin and soft pad. This pad measures approximately 8 inches long by 3 inches wide. Unfortunately, I am having problems with the adhesive on this pad. At times the paper strip is difficult to peel off of the pad. The pad does not tear, but sometimes the strip does. I am also noticing that if I apply the pad to my underwear before I take my shower, the pad does not stick. (I usually hang my panties next to the shower, ready to be put on the moment I get out of the shower) It has also been raining here lately and I am finding that if the humidity in the house is high, the pad does not stick very well. If I am very careful at applying this pad, and make sure that the wings completely wrap around and secure to each other, then it sticks OK. Otherwise I really like this pad. For me this pad would be used on light days only. I liked the softness, and will use it again. I recommend that Natracare work on perfecting the adhesive on this particular pad. I am looking forward to trying some of their other products.

Natracare Curved Shaped Regular - 14, Extra soft cover, perfume free, natural materials, non-chlorine bleached, biodegradable, absorbency = 2 drops.

Ruth's Opinion: This pad is soft and has channels on the sides and curved ends. It also has a plastic feeling backing to it, which prevents soaking through. This pad measures approximately 8 inches by 2.5 inches. I really like this pad, but I will not be able to use it on my heaviest days. I need something longer. I would recommend that Natracare expand on this pad design by also offering a longer, possibly thicker version for night time use. I like this pad and give it a high recommendation. I will be using it again.

Natracare Traditional Shape Super -12, Extra soft cover, perfume free, Natural Materials, Non-Chlorine Bleached, degradable, absorbency = 3 drops..

Ruth's Opinion: This pad is soft and is a traditional square shape measuring approximately 8 inches by 2.5 inches. It does not have a plastic backing and if worn too long it has soaked through for me. I like this pad, but I will most likely use it on my lighter days.

Natracare Night Times - 10, Extra Long, Soft and Comfortable, Non Chlorine Bleached, degradable, absorbency = 4 drops.

Ruth's Opinion: This pad is soft and is a traditional square shape measuring approximately 10 inches by 2.5 inches. It does not have a plastic backing, and has leaked for me during my heaviest night. However, so far, this is the best disposable night time pad that I have found that is not chlorine bleached. I plan on using this pad again and recommend it to others.

Natural Preference Super Maxi Plus by Tendasoft - 20 pads with 4 channel protection, no chlorine bleaching, unscented, with winged edges, recycled packaging, and less wood pulp. Our BCTMP (Bleached Chemi-Thermal Mechanical Pulping) requires half as much wood pulp to produce than conventional pads, thus helping save trees for future generations. Questions? Comments? Please call us toll-free 1-800-616-8288. Tendasoft Inc., Van West, OH 45891 - www.tendasoft.com (Ruth-as far as I can tell their website is not operational....?)

Ruth's Opinion: These pads are soft and comfortable. However, I was not very fond of the adhesive that was used. It was more like super glue. Most of the time the pad ripped apart when removing it, due to the glue sticking so much to my underwear. This pad measures 8 inches long by 3 inches wide. The construction of this pad seems very much like the pads I bought from Seventh Generation that did not have wings.

The second time I tried this pad it was not as humid out. I had no problem with the pads sticking too much or tearing when taking them out. However, I still feel that Tendasoft could improve on the adhesive. The wings on this pad did nothing for me. They were more in the way than actually helpful. I'm thinking about trimming the wings off of the pads that I have left. I did like the feel of the pad and it's absorbency.

Their comment about BCTMP (Bleached Chemi Thermal....?) made me raise my eyebrows....? Natracare's website states: "CTMP (Chemo-Thermal Mechanical Processing). This process requires a high input of energy. Toxic sulfur compounds along with resin acids and other wood wastes make CTMP waste highly toxic to fish and very difficult to biodegrade. Pads made with this process break up and clump." I'm still trying to investigate this "CTMP". I called Tendasoft and requested more information on the process that they mention. A very kind and friendly sounding woman offered to email me their info. When I know more I will post more ........ :-)

PulpWatch.com - Glossary and Terms
BCTMP Bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulp (Market BCTMP is produced mainly in Canada and New Zealand). Chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP) A pulping process in which woodchips are chemically treated before they are heated and mechanically separated in a refiner. As such it is a development of the thermomechanical process. By altering the parameters of the process (chemical concentration, temperature etc.) it is possible to customise the pulp for particular end-uses. CTMP may be bleached, in which case it is known as BCTMP, a grade which competes with BHKP in certain printing and writing and cartonboard applications. Market CTMP/BCTMP is produced mainly in Canada and New Zealand.

Organic Essentials Super Disposable Pads - 22 pads with an organic cotton core, side gathers help prevent leaks, no chlorine bleach or perfumes. Certified organic cotton core, non-woven cover keeps moisture away from your body, water soluble glue to secure pad to panties, side gathers to help prevent leaks.

Ruth's Opinion: The cotton did feel soft and comfortable, and I liked the side gathers. The pad stuck well to my underwear, and the glue did not over stick or tear the pad when trying to remove it. I tried it on one of my moderate to heavy nights and it leaked for me, however I must point out that the packaging does state that this pad is a "super" not a "nighttime" pad.. For night time use, I need a pad that is longer. Organic Essentials super pad measures approximately 8 inches long by 2.5 inches wide. Overall I really liked this pad and would recommend it to others. I plan on using this pad again and will be looking into Organic Essentials other products.

Natracare Organic All Cotton Regular Tampons - 20 (no applicator) 100% Cotton, certified organic, GMO free, Non-chlorine bleached.

Ruth's Opinion: I haven't used tampons much since around 1997, and I have only used these tampons twice, when I wanted to go swimming. I liked them, they were OK. But I did not wear them for very long, probably less than 2 hours. Being that I was swimming, I was very self conscious and paranoid that I was leaking. So I kept going to the bathroom to check and when I was done in the water I went and changed back to a pad. The tampon did not leak during the time I used them and I will use them again. When I did use tampons I used to use Playtex Super Plus, so using a regular absorbency tampon won't happen too often for me. I will be looking to see if Natracare manufactures super absorbency tampons.