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Awareness, Adoption, and Perceived Barriers to Reusable Menstrual Products Among Women: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study
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A study of 104 women in India found that almost everyone had heard of reusable period products like menstrual cups and period underwear, and most understood their environmental and cost benefits—but lingering worries about comfort, hygiene, and how to use them correctly still kept many from actually switching. This matters because reusable products can cut down on plastic waste from disposable pads and tampons, but the research suggests that better education and hands-on demonstrations (not just awareness) are what's needed to help more women make the switch confidently.
Background: Reusable menstrual products (RMPs), such as menstrual cups, reusable cloth pads, and period underwear, offer a safe, affordable, and environmentally sustainable alternative to disposable menstrual products. Despite their potential health, economic, and environmental benefits, their use remains limited in many parts of India due to inadequate awareness, misconceptions, and sociocultural barriers. This study aimed to assess women's knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding reusable menstrual products and identify perceived barriers to their adoption. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional pilot study was conducted among 104 women aged 17–45 years in an urban area of Western Uttar Pradesh, India, between December 2025 and March 2026. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling. Data were collected using a pretested, self-administered structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, practices, perceived benefits, barriers, and sustainability-related perceptions of reusable menstrual products. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Almost all participants (97.1%) had heard of reusable menstrual products, and 90.4% knew about their correct use and cleaning. Menstrual cups were the best-known product (88.5%), followed by period underwear (77.9%). More than half (56.7%) believed reusable menstrual products were safe, although one-third remained unsure. Participants widely recognised their environmental friendliness (85.6%), long-term affordability (80.8%), ease of use (79.8%), and ability to reduce disposal-related waste (76.9%). However, concerns about discomfort during use (63.5%), hygiene (61.5%), maintenance and cleaning (58.7%), comfort (57.7%), and insertion (57.7%) continued to discourage adoption. Most women also believed that reusable menstrual products could reduce environmental waste (85.6%), decrease plastic pollution (76.9%), and support more sustainable lifestyles (80.8%). The internet and social media were the most common sources of information (61.5%). Conclusion: Although awareness of reusable menstrual products was high, their wider acceptance was hindered by practical concerns and persistent misconceptions. Providing evidence-based menstrual health education, practical demonstrations, and improving access to quality reusable products may help overcome these barriers. Integrating reusable menstrual products into menstrual health promotion programmes could improve menstrual hygiene management while contributing to environmental sustainability.
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