Leia Gluckman staff writer
In the midst of a pandemic there comes a time when most women will eventually have to deal with dear ‘Aunt Flo’. There is no more relying on fully stocked shelves when people are hoarding almost anything they can get their hands on. So in the case that pads and tampons are no longer viable options, here are some other products to get you through that time of the month.

Period Underwear

It might not initially sound like an appealing or fun idea; however, period underwear is an environmentally friendly and convenient alternative to other menstrual products. Period underwear is washable and long-lasting. Brands like Thinx spearhead projects beyond the environment such as making puberty education more accessible and affordable.
Thinx 
“Thinx are washable, reusable underwear designed to replace pads and tampons, or be worn with tampons and cups for extra protection.”
Femininti
Femininti’s are made of organic bamboo that hold up to 4 tampons’ worth and have unique anti-odor properties, according to their website.

Reusable Pads

Standard pads can take 500-800 years to decompose and are good as a one-use period option, but reusable pads can last for up to five years. Generally made from cloth or bamboo, they are durable and easy to clean in the washing machine.
Glad Rags
“Although they may seem daunting at first, cloth pads are really very simple to use! GladRags Day and Night Pads consist of one holder and two inserts. This versatile design ensures thorough cleaning and allows you to make them mini or maxi by using one, two, or even three inserts. Pantyliners are just one piece. All of our pads have wings that snap around.”
Heart Felt
These are similar to the Glad Rags but are made from charcoal.

Menstrual Cups

Menstrual cups are similar to tampons but made of silicone and be left in for up to 12 hours. As is the case with the other options on this list, menstrual cups are environmentally friendly, reusable and cost effective. Switching to menstrual cups can save the environment from roughly 11,000 tampons, panty-liners and pads. They also come in a variety of sizes.
Cora
Per their website, Cora is “committed to giving all women access to safe and effective period products as well as valuable and trustworthy information to educate and empower.” Cora uses profits to fund girls’ education and provides pads to girls around the world with every purchase.
Diva Cup
Diva Cups were some of the first menstrual cups introduced to the markets. These come in multiple sizes and are made of silicone.