Even though there are only three or four ounces of blood throughout the course of your ENTIRE period, it can definitely feel like an action movie-sized tsunami is gushing out of you every 29 days or so. (Yes, the average cycle is 29 days long, not 28 as commonly believed). Here are your choices:

PADS

Pads are usually the best choice for any Glow gals who don't feel comfortable dealing with tampons especially during their heaviest flow.

Pads are also great for sleep-time. Those of you who are environmentally conscious might want to invest in reusable pads that you just wash and reuse. Otherwise, any pad that is dye and perfume-free is a good choice (those dyes and perfumes can irritate an already sensitive situation). Just be sure to change your pad before it is oversaturated and your backup period absorber becomes “your $700 mattress” or “your white pants” or “the lap of someone you have a crush on.” Two to four hours works best for most of us.

It's also great to know that they now have reusable pads, which are not only nifty, but make you feel super awesome about how you are treating the environment. 

TAMPONS

Tampons can be intimidating. But nothing that Glow gals cannot handle.  Tampons are great for swimming, and even some non-penetrative sexy time (sans the mess).

Go for unbleached, perfume-free tampons that are the best for the environment and your body.

Also, always take a look at your tampon after you've removed it. Is there still some white showing? You might want to consider using a lower absorbency tampon next time. While it’s tempting to get one that can hold more (We have some months where we’re like “Hi, um, does Space X’s rocket division make tampons??” it's always safest to go with the lowest absorbency tampon you can use.

MENSTRUAL CUP 

A menstrual cup is a reusable silicone cup that you insert into your vagina during your period.  (Lest you start picturing something like a “World’s Greatest Dad” mug inserted into your vagina, the cup looks a bit like a bell or the top of a bishop chess piece.)  It sits inside of you, collecting the blood and can be worn for up to 12 hours.

What Glow loves about menstrual cups is that they are relatively cheap (you'll save thousands of $$$ over your lifetime) and they are fantastic for the environment.  (Also, before you ask, yes, you can swim in it and no, you can’t feel it the whole time.)  While insertion can be a bit tricky at first, it's nothing you can't get a handle on. If you’re tired of your underpants feeling like a sling for a blood-soaked cotton mini mattress, a cup may be worth a try.

THINX

A recent invention, this company has promised us period-proof underwear. Many swear by it. It might be worth trying out on some of your lighter days.

So, yes, having a period sucks. But at least with all these options, it sucks a lot less now than it did 100 years ago...so let's thank the universe for that!