Ease Into Your Period With a Subscription Box
Menstruation can be a difficult time of the month, especially if it's accompanied by heavy bleeding, cramps, nausea and vomiting. And that's something many women deal with, according to a 2012 study that found 84.1 percent of women experience menstrual pain, and 43.1 percent experience pain during every period.
Period subscription boxes are designed to relieve some of the stress and tension that accompany the menstrual cycle. Now you don't have to worry about running out of your favorite pads or tampons—they've got you covered.
What's in the box?
From the basics to the most luxurious self-care products, period subscription boxes offer something for everyone. They can be customized to suit your needs, and you can decide how often you would like to receive them. If you don't get your period every month, you can simply cancel and resume it whenever you need to.
"Life is so hectic, and we probably all suffer from decision fatigue in some way—I think people just really appreciate that 'buy period products' is one less thing they have to add to their list," said Mia Klitsas, founder of Moxie, an Australian period care brand.
And it's not just your basic period products included in the boxes. Moxie's standard box contains 3 packs of menstrual products of your choice, along with a 100g block of milk or white chocolate, two sachets of herbal tea and a key tag for new subscribers. The Period Store has a penchant for pampering with gourmet goodies and a limited edition art print in every box.
Meanwhile, Blob Box, a U.K. period subscription box, offers bulk purchases if you don't want to worry about receiving your box every month. You can order 3, 6 and 12 months in advance for total peace of mind. They also include a menstrual phase calendar, "which allows you to track which phase of your cycle you should use the products," explained Eniye Okah, Blob Box founder and director.
Solutions for the eco-conscious menstruator
Environmentally conscious menstruators can opt for boxes with natural, organic and sustainably sourced materials. "We decided to create tampons and pads using only 100 percent certified organic cotton—so they are better for your body and better for the planet—and have them delivered to people's doors when they need them, giving them a stress-free period," said Fiona Parfrey, co-founder of Riley, a period company based in Ireland.
Lola, a feminine care company headquartered in New York, is committed to "no toxins or dyes, ever," according to its website. Meanwhile, L., a San Francisco–based company, doesn't use "chlorine, pesticides and fragrances," and Rael, in Los Angeles, is committed to cruelty-free and reusable products.
Changing the conversation
For decades, there has been a stigma attached to menstruation, which was depicted in commercials showing blue "blood" and women seemingly having a carefree period every month. In reality, periods can be debilitating, disruptive, irregular and painful. It's important companies spread awareness so that more women speak up and get the support they need.
"I'm so proud of our vibrant packaging, and I want people to be proud to let others know when they are on their period," Okah said. "This is the change we need and to openly speak more about our periods—that's why I have a no-shame community."
"Moxie came at a time when most ads about periods depicted women running on the beach in white pants, with super-animated expressions, telling us how free they felt to be using 'brand X' products whilst on their period," Klitsas added. "To me, these weren't realistic depictions. And so, I wanted to change people's experience with period care and provide not only great products that were packaged beautifully, but were also real and honest about what they would deliver."
Eliminating period poverty
As well as raising awareness about period pain and reproductive conditions, some period subscription companies, including Riley, Cora and L., are focusing efforts to highlight the issue of period poverty that still exists today.
For example, research shows that 65 percent of women and girls in Kenya cannot afford sanitary products. This is a huge concern because women are being denied basic period care, which will affect their day-to-day lives. Riley attempts to combat this by donating a percentage of each box sold to a charity that provides free sanitary products to girls and funds education on menstrual health.
Meanwhile, California-based Cora uses 10 percent of its profits to buy pads and provide health education to women and girls in India, Kenya and the United States. To date, the company has donated more than 4 million pads to almost 50,000 girls in India and more than 5 million pads to 80,000 girls in Kenya.
L. partners with organizations in Guatemala, Kenya, Cambodia and the United States to give back, and states on its website, "For every L. purchase, one period care item is made accessible to someone around the world who needs it."
Whatever your menstrual needs, a period subscription box can probably fulfill them with the ease of delivery straight to your door—all while doing a little good in the world.
Periods are hard. Subscriptions may make them just a little bit easier.
