Every month, your chemist still wraps your pads in newspaper and stuffs them in a black bag — as if you bought something to be ashamed of. You didn't. A period is biology, not a secret. We're done whispering.
हर महीने, दुकानदार पैड को अखबार में लपेटकर काली थैली में देता है — जैसे आपने कुछ शर्मनाक खरीदा हो। नहीं। पीरियड शरीर का एक हिस्सा है, कोई राज़ नहीं। अब चुप नहीं रहना।
If you've ever bought sanitary pads in India, you know the ritual. The chemist glances around, pulls out your pack, wraps it in yesterday's newspaper, and slides it into an opaque black bag — all before you can blink. Sometimes he won't even make eye contact.
This isn't accidental. It's cultural conditioning: periods are "dirty," "impure," something women should manage in silence and secrecy. The result? Girls miss school. Women avoid doctors. Conditions like endometriosis go undiagnosed for years. Real harm, caused by paper and a plastic bag.
At AaliClinic, we think the black bag should go. Carry your pads openly. Talk about your period. It's just biology.
The most familiar period product in India. Pads stick to your underwear and absorb period blood before it reaches your clothes. They come in different sizes — regular, large, overnight — and with or without wings.
भारत में सबसे ज़्यादा इस्तेमाल होने वाला पीरियड प्रोडक्ट। पैड अंडरवेयर से चिपकता है और पीरियड ब्लड को सोखता है।
Unwrap the pad and peel off the backing paper to expose the adhesive strip.
Place the sticky side down in the centre of your underwear crotch (the part that sits closest to your body).
If there are wings, fold them around the outside of your underwear and press to stick.
Change every 4–6 hours, or sooner if it feels full. Never wear one for more than 8 hours.
Wrap the used pad in its wrapper or toilet paper and put it in a bin — never flush.
A small cotton cylinder you insert inside the vagina to absorb blood before it leaves your body. Comes with or without an applicator. Often feared but very safe when used correctly — and a game-changer for swimming, sports, or travel.
एक छोटा कॉटन का टुकड़ा जो योनि के अंदर डाला जाता है। सही तरीके से इस्तेमाल करने पर पूरी तरह सुरक्षित है।
Wash your hands. Unwrap the tampon and hold it by the applicator — the wider outer tube.
Sit on the toilet or stand with one foot raised. Relax your muscles — tension makes insertion harder.
Gently insert the tip of the applicator into your vaginal opening at a slight upward angle (towards your lower back, not straight up).
Push the inner tube up until your fingers touch your body. This pushes the tampon into the right position. You shouldn't feel it if it's in correctly.
Pull out the applicator — the string stays outside. Dispose of the applicator in a bin.
Remove every 4–8 hours by pulling the string gently downward. Never leave in for more than 8 hours (risk of TSS — toxic shock syndrome, a rare but serious infection).
A small, flexible silicone cup you insert to collect (not absorb) blood. One cup lasts 5–10 years. Steep learning curve at first — but thousands of Indian women swear by it. It sits below the cervix (the lower opening of the uterus) and creates a light seal to prevent leaks.
एक छोटा सिलिकॉन कप जो रक्त को सोखता नहीं, इकट्ठा करता है। एक कप 5–10 साल तक चलता है।
Sterilise the cup in boiling water for 5–7 minutes before first use of each cycle.
Wash hands. Fold the cup — C-fold (fold in half) or punch-down fold works well for beginners.
Relax, squat slightly, and gently insert the folded cup into your vagina, angled toward your lower back.
Once inside, let go — the cup will open and create a gentle seal. Run your finger around the base to make sure it's fully open (it should feel round, not dented).
Wear for up to 12 hours. Remove by bearing down slightly, pinching the base to break the seal, then pulling gently.
Empty into the toilet, rinse with water, and reinsert. At end of cycle, sterilise again.
Underwear with built-in absorbent layers — wear it just like regular underwear and it soaks up your period. Reusable, comfortable, and brilliant as a backup with a cup or tampon on heavy days. Still niche in India but gaining fast.
अंदर से absorbent परतों वाला अंडरवेयर — बिल्कुल सामान्य अंडरवेयर की तरह पहनें। भारत में धीरे-धीरे लोकप्रिय हो रहा है।
Wear exactly like regular underwear. The absorbent gusset (middle layer) faces toward your body.
Works alone for light/moderate flow. Pair with a cup or tampon on heavy days.
After wearing, rinse in cold water until water runs clear (do NOT use hot water — it sets stains).
Machine wash on gentle cycle, cold water, with mild detergent. No fabric softener (clogs the absorbent fibres).
Air dry — avoid the dryer to extend lifespan.
Reusable fabric pads — the original period product, modernised. Made from cotton, bamboo, or flannel. Snap around your underwear like a disposable pad but can be washed and reused for years. Very popular in rural India and now a conscious choice in cities too.
दोबारा इस्तेमाल होने वाले कपड़े के पैड — पारंपरिक तरीका, नए रूप में। कपास या बाँस के कपड़े से बने, धो कर बार-बार इस्तेमाल करें।
Place the cloth pad in your underwear with the soft side up, and snap the wings under your underwear to hold it in place.
Change every 3–6 hours depending on your flow, just like a disposable pad.
After use, rinse immediately in cold water to prevent staining. Soak in cold water for 30 minutes if needed.
Hand wash or machine wash on gentle cycle with mild detergent. No fabric softener.
Sun-dry when possible — sunlight naturally sanitises and removes stains.
Every body is different. Here's the honest side-by-side.
| Product | Cost in India | Duration | Eco-friendly | Swim / Sport | Learning curve | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🩸 Pads | ₹40–150/pack | 4–6 hrs | ❌ Plastic | ❌ No | ⭐ None | Beginners, easy use |
| 💧 Tampons | ₹100–250/pack | 4–8 hrs | ❌ Some waste | ✅ Yes | ⭐⭐ Moderate | Active, swimmers |
| 🌊 Menstrual CupEco | ₹299–899 once | Up to 12 hrs | ✅ Zero waste | ✅ Yes | ⭐⭐⭐ Steep at first | Heavy flow, travel, eco |
| 🩲 Period UnderwearEco | ₹499–1,499 each | 6–12 hrs | ✅ Reusable | ⚠️ Some styles | ⭐ Minimal | Overnight, backup |
| 🌿 Cloth PadsEco | ₹150–500 each | 3–6 hrs | ✅ Zero plastic | ❌ No | ⭐ Minimal | Sensitive skin, low-waste |
Period myths have been passed down for generations. Let's set the record straight.
No judgment. No awkward conversations. Aali is your 24/7 health companion — ask anything about periods, products, pain, or anything else on your mind.
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