Blog
Health & Hygiene
Revisioning Menstrual Education (Part 1)
Part 1: Setting the context for a deeper shift By Kathy Walkling, co-founder of Eco Femme. Menstruation has, over the last 15 years, gone from being virtually off the radar to becoming a focal development issue receiving significant global attention,...
Collaborating with Sharana to give menstrual education to adolescent girls and women
Written by Sharana. Sharana collaborates with Eco Femme, Auroville to create Menstrual Cycle Literacy and encourage the use of Cloth Pads among Adolescent Girls and Women In Sharana, as an organization we have never claimed to be able to do it all on our own; we are...
A review of “Period Queen” by Lucy Peach
Book review of “Period Queen” by the Australian Period Preacher Lucy Peach who explains how to take the most of each phase of your menstrual cycle and turn it into a power every month!
Menstrual Cycle: Tracking or Charting?
Your inbuilt health report card! In the hustle bustle of life, disconnection from one’s own body is inevitable. Have you ignored pain and aches in the body and are unsure about the root cause? Or accepted periodic energy dips and pushed through your days, feeling...
The power of informed choice
(Excerpt from our interview with Maanushi Foundation) Some of the most inspiring stories from the field have been about individuals, alone or in groups, who have been able to bring about profound changes in their society through simple but effective interventions. In...
How to track your Menstrual Cycle and Why it matters (Part 2)
In the part 1 of this blog series, we understood what it means to track your menstrual cycle. In this part 2 of the series, we will dive deeper into the various methods of tracking your menstrual cycle. The image above is from our ambassador Shivangi, who practises...
How to track your Menstrual Cycle and Why it matters (Part 1)
First of all, let's understand what menstrual cycle tracking is. Menstrual/ Period cycle tracking is a powerful tool to become familiar with your menstruation. We are passionate about cycle tracking and have long advocated for this practice during all our educational...
From Pills to Cycle Tracking – A Journey of Empowerment
By Susana Bustos (Eco Femme’s Graphic designer) This is my journey moving from pills to cycle tracking. I started tracking my cycle one year ago with some reservations. I began preparing myself to take a big step to control my fertility naturally using the...
Our collaboration with the organization Sharana to create Menstrual Cycle Literacy and encourage the use of Cloth Pads among Adolescent Girls and Women
Written by our partner Sharana from Pondicherry. Sharana collaborates with Eco Femme, Auroville to create Menstrual Cycle Literacy and encourage the use of Cloth Pads among Adolescent Girls and Women. In Sharana, as an organization we have never claimed to be...
Linda’s PCOS Journey
From insecurity to full trust in my body In the spring of 2017, I was in love with life. My new boyfriend was the sweetest thing, we took many weekend trips away, and in the meantime I was writing my thesis. Of course that was stressful, but I constantly felt like...
Eco Bébé – Our Story
What planted the seed for Eco Bébé? Our cloth nappy journey evolved alongside our cloth pad journey, starting many years ago. We started stitching cloth pads because we were deeply confronted by the sanitary waste situation in India and all around the...
How to wash my Cloth Pad? (PART 3: About our Cloth Pad Soap)
You’ve become interested in using a menstrual product that is healthier for the environment and for your body. You are considering or already made the switch to washable cloth pads. What about choosing a soap to clean your cloth pads? It should be effective, but it...
How to wash my cloth pad? PART 2: Choosing a soap
You’ve become interested in using a menstrual product that is healthier for the environment and for your body. You are considering or already made the switch to washable cloth pads. But what about choosing a washing detergent to clean your cloth pads? It should be...
How to Wash my Cloth Pad? (PART 1: A Washing Routine)
If you are reading this either you are considering or already made the switch to this reusable menstrual product. And now you are wondering about how to wash your cloth pad? Here is a blog article that gives you some cleaning tips...and is followed by PART 2: Choosing...
Toxic Chemicals in Disposable Pads & Tampons
The prevalence of toxic chemicals in today’s world is no longer a question.... from the food we eat and the cleaning products in our homes, to our medicine and makeup. It may come as a surprise to learn that they are also in our menstrual products, such as disposable...
Periods and Seizures: What is Catamenial Epilepsy?
That time of the month can sometimes be a hassle, what with expensive sanitary products, pain, bloating, the general desire to fall into a pit and never crawl out again. All of those things add to the already unpleasant yet (sometimes) mandatory experience that...
Why switch to organic cotton cloth pads?
Organic certified pads, why is that important? Many people might make the assumption that organic product certification is about products that are not harmful to the environment but few people know that this label covers a wider scope of ethical and social concerns....
Natural Menstruation
Natural Menstruation -No need for Menstrual Products? Is this really possible! Talking about our menstrual flow, you might wonder just what would we do without our menstrual products? Without pads, tampons, cups or otherwise? If you type ‘natural menstruation’, ‘free...
Menstruation: How much do we Bleed?
By Stephanie Kraus Every month a woman that menstruates uses some kind of method to handle her blood flow. We can see the blood going into the pad, into the tampon or menstrual cup and into the toilet basin. But have you ever wondered how much do you bleed? What is...
The AVIVA Method: Self-Help For Your Menstruation!
Have you ever wondered, right there and then when you are having those menstrual cramps: "Just WHAT can I do!" Besides slipping a pain killer tablet into your mouth, withdrawing under your bed covers and calling it a day. It is great to have a simple tool that is...
#ThePadEffect Campaign
From the 1st - 28th May (Menstrual Hygiene Day) we participated in #ThePadEffect campaign lead by Feminism In India (FII) to create more awareness about the harmful effects of disposable, plastic menstrual products and the benefits of switching to sustainable options....
Kelsey’s Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Story
In our continued series on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), former Eco Femme volunteer, Kelsey shares her story on living with and managing this condition. We thank her for sharing her journey, wish her well and send our love! If you think you may have Polycystic...
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): Shipra’s Story
To continue our theme on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), former Eco Femme volunteer turned ambassador, Shipra, shares her story of living with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). We're so grateful for her honest and open sharing of this health issue. To learn more...
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) – A Guide
Despite Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome remaining the most common ovulatory disorder of the female reproductive system affecting a really high 4-12% of women, it's still very difficult to diagnose. An estimated 50% of women who have the condition don't know what...
Be good to yourself: Self Help for your Menstruation
While there are ailments which do require the assistance of health professionals, there are many good habits that can bring comfort during menstruation which apply to all phases of the menstrual cycle. Stress, poor diet, lack of sleep and an irregular lifestyle can...
Disposable Menstrual Products: Convenience at What Cost?
Traditionally, women all over the world have used cloth to handle their monthly menstrual flow. These days, however, disposable menstrual products such as pads and tampons are more commonly used around the world. Promoted for their convenience, these products are...
Convenience at what cost?
Traditionally, women all over the world have used cloth to handle their monthly menstrual flow. These days, however, disposable menstrual products have become commonplace in many countries and are now gaining popularity around the world. Promoted for their...
Meet our new Full Cycle Kit!
We are happy to present our new Full Cycle Kit! This kit introduces you to our pad range, containing different pad sizes to use during different times of your monthly cycle. Our newest kit is a great way to make the switch to a greener period and makes a great...
Medicinal plants and asanas for a more comfortable cycle
We are honored to present two beautiful works by our lovely volunteers, Elena and Alissa. Visiting students from the States, they dedicated a great amount of research and effort into producing both an educational video that helps explain natural yogic positions to...
Profoundly simple revelation in early detection of cervical cancer in Indian women!
Eco Femme is dedicated to the health and education of women, and we love news of progression! In rural India, customary cultural practices and beliefs perpetuate a heavy, palpable silence surrounding the physical, mental and social wellbeing of women and girls....