Picking the right type of menstrual products cuts symptoms for 78% of women

Aunt Flo might have met her match. For most women, “that time of the month” is more than just an inconvenience — it brings painful symptoms that are bad enough to keep many home from school, work and other plans just to recover.But before you reach for the hot water bottle and pain relievers, a first-of-its-kind study suggests simply swapping your period products could significantly ease that discomfort.Researchers followed a group of 188 women across the US over three full menstrual cycles.The participants, whose average age was 30, all experienced menstrual cramps not linked to endometriosis — a chronic condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, often causing severe pain, heavy bleeding and other symptoms.

During the first cycle, participants used regular tampons, one of the most commonly used period products nationwide.For their second and third cycles, they were given the option to switch to either a menstrual cup or disc made by Saalt, an Idaho-based company that produces reusable period care products.Each day, the participants tracked their symptoms, leaks and how often they changed products.By the end of the study, the researchers found that 78% of the women reported improvements in symptoms like cramping, headaches, fatigue, bloating and food cravings while using cups or discs compared to tampons.And the relief wasn’t just modest.

The share of women reporting zero cramping, for example, jumped from 4% during the tampon cycle to 24% while using cups or discs — a six-fold increase.There were even some unexpected perks.About 14% of participants said they bled for fewer days while using cups or discs compared to tampons.That finding resonated with Cherie Hoeger, Saalt’s co-founder and CEO, who said she noticed similar changes after making the switch herself.“When I first tried a menstrual cup, I remember being shocked by how comfortable it was compared to tampons,” she said.

“There were several times wh...