Period management can change depending on what changes the body goes through at any given time. This is my experience of changes in period management strategy, mainly introduced by changes in the cycle due to the use of hormonal birth control.
Clean slate and first experiences
I didn't start using hormonal birth control until I was in the first year of university. I just didn't have a need for it for medical condition management, nor did I need birth control for contraception purposes. Meaning, I was able to see how my cycle naturally looks and feels and adjust to period management naturally.
The first experiences
I started my period at the average age as a teen, and like many others - started out by using the same period products as my mother and older sister - pads, mainly the brand "Always". I quickly learned that I disliked the feeling and greenhouse effect the plastic-based pads created. They felt bad on my skin, and I wanted to try alternatives, but it wasn't high on my priority list as a teen. I tried some cotton-lined pads - they felt better from the greenhouse and feel perspective, but I found that they quickly became uncomfortable if they had any amount of blood.
I also managed to try tampons. Honestly, they felt good in terms of how my skin felt during periods, but I found them uncomfortable mentally and physically when they went in or out drier than intended. I better accepted the discomfort a pad caused and changing it more frequently than one normally would, than the discomfort of a dry tampon going in or coming out.
Going environmentally friendly
In high school, some end of 2017 or beginning of 2018, I gained interest in the topics related to environmentally friendly living, health-conscious living and mindfulness practices and tapped into minimalism as well. During this time, I started to consume more content on these topics, and some of the most remarkable that I still follow are @LeahandLevi (nowadays the Levi Hildebrand YouTube channel), @mattdavella and @Lavandaire. I happened to watch many other YouTubers as well, but those I do not recall anymore. However, they did lead me to the path of investigating more environmentally friendly and body-conscious ways of living.
One such find was environmentally friendly period management by using reusable period products such as menstrual cups, cloth pads and period underwear or sponges. For me, the most appealing sounded like the idea of a menstrual cup - change every 12h (or when full), boil it before every period and keep it clean overall. It seemed discreet, easy to manage and most importantly - it could be comfortable at school due to the lack of need to change it during the school day.
I purchased the one that I first managed to find. I tried it over the summer before starting the last year of high school. It was amazing! Despite experiencing a couple of mishaps during first period, I tried it, and I was happy about it. My skin felt good, as there wasn't excessive moisture or warmth; I felt better as there was no discomfort and the constant worry of leaking through or smelling like period blood, and it was extremely easy to manage changing for me. I guess I was lucky as the first and only menstrual cup I have had was the perfect size and shape for me.
Menstrual cup (not the original storage pouch as it has been lost)
Hormonal contraception rollercoaster
As mentioned earlier, I started to use hormonal contraception only in University. The decision came from a place of being proactive (and honestly, after reading many articles as well as forums of negative experiences of relying on men to take care of contraception, a slight fear of potentially getting accidentally pregnant). It did not remove the need for condoms until I was in stable relationships, but hormonal contraception eventually had an impact on my period pattern and therefore - management.
First time NuvaRing - what changed?
During the entire time I was on the NuvaRing initially, I saw no significant difference in my periods and didn't change the period management much. The cycle got even more predictable than it was already (when removing and inserting the NuvaRing at the same time each month, I was able to predict the period with a precision almost to an hour). The bleeding slightly reduced but had no great impact, as my natural bleeding was already light to medium.
I continued using my menstrual cup and, on days where spotting could happen, also a panty liner. Simultaneously, I looked into the alternatives for disposable panty liners, but due to some life changes I did not purchase them and aimed to acquire them later, when life stabilised.
Nexplanon - the silent storm
After NuvaRing, I ventured into the long-lasting birth control options, and found Nexplanon. I had read about the most common side effects and was prepared that my periods would change on it.
The first couple of months, the periods were approximately when they should have been but got gradually lighter. Not long after the onset of the first side effects, I had to return to pads. The menstrual cup just got too painful to use (I had all-body dryness, which caused increased discomfort on insertion and removal regardless of the amount of lube used).
As my period got even lighter and more unpredictable, I resorted to mainly using panty liners, with some occasional daily pads. I considered for a brief moment getting the reusable cloth pads or underwear, but I quickly understood that the hygiene required for them would put a strain on my already limited energy that turned out to be yet another side effect of Nexplanon usage.
In the image, my current choice of pads and panty liners in a "New Hope Girls" bag.
The same - panty liners + occasional pads - continued after the removal of Nexplanon while I was on NuvaRing the second time.
Recovery and future prospects
As I am currently 9 months in full hormonal contraception recovery, I start to finally see some improvements that can allow me to return to more environmentally friendly options in the future.
Currently, I have found a brand called "Vesma essentials" that has pads I find extremely comfortable for the days where the most intense bleeding occurs. And on the rest of the periods (and PMS time, again - a different post in the future), I am managing with panty liners.
Why not cloth reusable period products?
While in the recovery period, I have looked at the options that are cloth-based reusable products, but I have decided not to opt for them just yet. I am in the recovery period of my journey of hormonal birth control usage, and due to the side effects I experienced, it is important for me to clearly track period and spotting patterns - intensity, length, colour, consistency. The best approach for such tracking is a menstrual cup due to the built-in volume measuring scale. However, I haven't yet reached that part of my journey where it is feasible and comfortable to use it (hopefully soon).
While choosing white or light no-pattern cloth pads and panty liners is an option for tracking changes as well, I am currently still mentally drained and having enough challenges as it is with persistent symptoms to be sure I can indeed take care of the reusable period products in a manner that does not compromise the ability to track any period changes due to persistent stains. I hope that in the future I will be able to fully switch to reusable period products, but only time will tell.
