How to Deal with Feminine Hygiene During an Emergency

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We earn a small commission when you click a link and make a purchase. Thanks for supporting PriorityPrepper.com!

Women, listen up!

Periods come whether the time is convenient or not… They don’t simply stop due to civil unrest, severe weather conditions, or any other emergency. If anything, the stress of these situations makes periods less predictable. Best be prepared!

I debated whether to write a post about this topic or not, but I decided it’s an important one. No matter what type of emergency you’re preparing for, you’ll want to consider feminine hygiene options.

The most obvious thing to do is to stock up on the disposable feminine hygiene products that you use. However, this is not the only solution or even the best one.

Alternative Feminine Hygiene Products

Disposable feminine hygiene products are some of the first items to disappear from store shelves during an emergency. If you don’t have any when your period comes, you’ll have to make do with what you can find — clothing, rags, or anything else absorbent. That doesn’t sound fun, especially since you’ll also need to find a way to wash them!

The problem with stocking up on disposable feminine hygiene products is that they take up a lot of space and will eventually run out. Plus, a huge supply is not going to do you much good in a flood or if you need to evacuate your home.

One incredibly useful feminine hygiene product for emergencies is a menstrual cup. It is a small, reusable contraption that you wear much like a tampon to collect menstrual blood. Menstrual cups are easy to store for an emergency because they are small and lightweight. Having one on hand will give you some peace of mind and comfort when your period comes.

Several companies sell menstrual cups, but the products are all very similar. They are made from flexible, antimicrobial silicone.

More Info on Menstrual Cups

I suggest you store a menstrual cup in your purse, your car, your bathroom, and all your emergency kits. Then you’ll be ready to deal with your period no matter where you are when an emergency strikes.

I admit there is a learning curve to using a menstrual cup. They are more challenging than tampons. However, most women become proficient in only one or two cycles. Once you get the hang of it, you might want to ditch disposable feminine hygiene products altogether. After all, menstrual cups offer all sorts of advantages over disposable pads and tampons.

If you’re still not convinced, check out these seven benefits to using a menstrual cup:

You can wear a menstrual cup for up to 12 hours at a time, even when you have a heavy flow.
When inserted properly, menstrual cups do not leak.
You can use the same menstrual cup for 5+ years, which saves you tons of money.
Menstrual cups are small and portable.
When inserted properly, you don’t feel menstrual cups.
Menstrual cups do not carry the same risk of TSS as tampons.
Menstrual cups do not cause as much waste as disposable feminine hygiene products.

Menstrual cups come in two different sizes — large and small. The large cups are for older women and those who have had a baby. The small cups are better for teenagers and young adults who have never been pregnant. Of course, all bodies are different, and it’s best to try both sizes to see what works best for you.

Now, this is important…

If you want to add a menstrual cup to your emergency kit, make sure you try it out before an emergency happens. That way you’ll know how to use it properly.

Make/Buy Reusable Cloth Pads

If you don’t like the idea of using a menstrual cup, you could get some reusable cloth pads or period underwear to put in your emergency kit.

The obvious downside to reusable cloth pads is that you must wash them. However, they’re still better than using clothing and rags you find around your house during an emergency. The waterproof outer layer prevents leaks, too.

You can also make your own reusable cloth pads — SewingSociety.com lists several free patterns.

Other Emergency Preparedness Items for Women

Preparing for your period during an emergency doesn’t end at buying menstrual cups and reusable cloth pads. Here are some other items you might want to have on hand: