Being a girl is tough,
It’s even tougher when you bleed out of your vagina every month.
Yes, we’re talking about the P-word: Period.
Period Experiences in Malaysia
In a way, despite Malaysians knowing about women’s anatomy and how blood flows out of us each month (Hello Form 3 Science), I still feel like menstruation, period or whatever you wanna call it is still a taboo subject in Malaysia.
Here are my personal experiences where period menstruation is seen as taboo:
- In high school, my friends who lend me pads always covered them with a tissue or quickly stuff them into my pockets so “the boys won’t see it”. As if pads were kryptonite and boys were Superman; doomed when faced with each other.
- Even up to university, girls still give me something to cover lended pads. It’s not like I’m waving my bloody used pads around.
- Some girlfriends complaining about how their boyfriends won’t buy them sanitary pads because it’s “gross”. Uhh… Okay, want something else served alongside that toxic masculinity?
- Having guys exclaim “you are so disgusting” for saying you’re on your period. Diarrhoea is gross but I don’t go around shaming people for having it on sick days.
Although I would love to keep harping on about how menstruation should be viewed as normal in Malaysia, how about some cool fun facts instead?
At least we’ll learn something new that hopefully won’t trigger any period-shaming Malaysians out there.
Period Fun Facts
Fun Fact #1: You’re Still Fertile
Unfortunately, even while your vagina is gushing out blood, your ovaries are still working. So that means: don’t have unprotected sex while on your period or you’re gonna end up with a baby.
Blood’s not a guaranteed contraception.
Fun Fact #2: No Period? It Doesn’t Mean You’re Pregnant
Already peed on your 12th pregnancy test and it still shows negative? But you haven’t gotten your period in months?
Don’t worry, you ain’t The Virgin Mary carrying the second coming of Jesus. Most probably it’s:
- Stress
- Weight loss
- Unhealthy eating habits
- New medication that affects hormones
Fun Fact #3: Think You Sound or Smell Funny? It Might Be Your Period
Research done by vocalization researchers shows that our voices change slightly during our period. This is because of reproductive hormones affecting our vocal cords.
If you’ve had your period or even been near someone on their period, you know that distinct smell I’m talking about. Reproductive hormones also cause a woman’s natural scent to change and be less attractive.
It’s all due to the cavemen era where men relied on smell senses to ensure their partners were primed for reproduction; cavewomen ovulating and NOT menstruating.
Fun Fact #4: You Don’t Lose as Much Blood as You Think You Are
I know, I know this fact seems false particularly on heavy-flow days but it’s true, your body only actually loses around three tablespoons of blood during your period; the average woman can lose anywhere from one tablespoon to a small cup of blood during a normal period length.
HOWEVER, if you think you’re losing much more blood than that, do seek a doctor. Losing too much blood can cause dizziness and make you more susceptible to sicknesses.
Now that you know some period fun facts, let’s get to know some local Malaysia Sanitary Pad Brands, catered specifically for Malaysian women.
6 Local Sanitary Pads Malaysia
1. Enya
We’ve talked a lot about organic skincare, even organic pet food.
All things that we place in and outside our body. So it makes perfect sense why our sanitary pads should be free of toxic chemicals that can harm our skin too.
Here’s where Enya comes in with their organically grown cotton sanitary pads that will surely leave your skin itch-free & rash-free!
We even did an exclusive interview with Enya’s co-founder, Elaine Hong.
Organic products are usually pricey but if you subscribe to Enya’s Basics Pack, the first pack is free!
What else are you waiting for?! It’s free! It’s good for you! It’s Enya!
2. Joui
Noticing that many sanitary pads on the market not seeing much improvement plus the increase of prices, Joui founders decided to start a sanitary pad brand that will ensure customers of high-quality pads only.
Joui sanitary pads are made of the highest quality cotton as well as SAP-absorbing material (no more leakage!) while implenting Cozeft™ technology (5 health elements) input that can greatly helps to resolve most of the common women problems such as changing the pad, getting rid of odor, irritation and helping women to balance their PH values.
Joui’s Pink Series (30 Pantyliners) (RM18)
Joui’s Black Series (10 Night Pads) (RM15)
Joui’s White Series (10 Day Pads) (RM15)
Joui sanitary pads are available to be purchased online now!
3. MONTE
Many brands declare a high absorption rate when it comes to their sanitary pads. But come a heavy-flow day and it’s stain heaven all over your favourite pair of pants.
MONTE Sanitary Pad realized this issue and has come up with the MONTE 8-Layer Feminine Sanitary Pad that guarantees the latest cutting edge technology which will prevent any blood leakages from happening.
This technology applies to all MONTE’s products including their night pad series, day pad series & pantyliner series.
MONTE products are available to be bought in 4-packs, 10-packs & 22-packs.
4-pack (RM50)
10-pack (RM100)
22-pack (RM200)
4-pack (RM50)
10-pack (RM100)
22-pack (RM200)
4-pack (RM60)
10-pack (RM120)
22-pack (RM240)
Order MONTE products online today!
4. Athena
Talking about sanitary pads or safe & organic materials, it’s also important to discuss the impact of them towards the environment.
Not only do most sanitary pad brands on the market contain harmful ingredients to our skin, they are also equal to about 4 plastic bags. It’s also no use denying the fact that we throw away our pads after each use.
“Reusing my pad?!” You might exclaim and think we’re crazy but it’s not as weird as you think.
Lo & behold, Athena which is a sanitary pad brand that is washable therefore reusable!
Right: Dahlia The Regular Washable Pad (RM31)
Right: Rose The Extra Long Washable Pad (RM40)
Athena’s pads are available to purchase online and through selected locations & agents.
5. Bamboolite
All of us girls know how bulky a pad can be. Even worse is when it’s date night, you’ve worked out & diet enough to fit into that tight dress but suddenly your period comes a day before.
Everyone already knows: you either wear a tampon or compromise & wear the loosest flowiest dress possible (to also accommodate that period bloat).
What if tampons scare you (ever pulled a dry tampon out of your vagina? Let’s say it’s definitely painful) but you still wanna don that dress?
Thankfully, Bamboolite has just the solution for you!
Menstrual panties.
Menstrual panties are padded with waterproof layer at the center areas to prevent leaking during your period. The best thing is, it’s washable so you’re saving the environment too!
Costing only RM9 per panties with sizes from L, XL, XXL, you have no more excuses,
Go on and order a pair of Bamboolite menstrual panties now!
6. SweetnCozy
Another Malaysia sanitary pad brand that does washable cloth pads, SweetnCozy pads are all handmade with cotton & flannel and have the cutest designs & patterns!
They will definitely shoo away any period blues you might have.
From Lite Liners to Normal Pads to even Maternity Pads, the options are endless and you all need to do is choose a type and design.
Cloth Pads by SweetnCozy
Right: Cloth Pad Triple Pantyliner Set in Pastel (RM66)
Right: Minky Heavy Pad in PH 10P
How to use SweetnCozy Cloth Pads?
So that’s it for our article on the topic of menstruation period in Malaysia.
We hope you found this article informative and go on, go purchase a pad or two!
(Hopefully your boyfriend won’t feel grossed out if you buy any though).
This article is a part of The Cool Bear’s Taboo Series where we dive deep into topics most Malaysians shy away from. If you like reading this, check out our other Taboo articles on the Pink Tax in Malaysia and if men should shave down under?
