Period product preferences – a cup half full? A study of Swedish high school students’ choice of menstrual products with a focus on sustainable, reusable products.

Abstract: The most used menstrual products in Sweden are disposable pads and tampons, contributing to plastic pollution and harmful resource use; an environmental impact that could be reduced by using reusable products, such as menstrual cups and reusable pads. This cross-sectional study of high school students in Malmö and Lund researches their menstrual product preferences and the factors that influence these. Using a mixed methods approach, data were collected with an online self-completion questionnaire and semi-structured interviews and discussed by applying the integrated behavioural model for water, sanitation, and hygiene (IBM-WASH). The findings show that comfortability, convenience, and stigma influence the participants’ choice to varying degrees depending on the product and participant. In conclusion, it is necessary to promote and heighten knowledge of the benefits of reusable menstrual products while acknowledging and addressing social and cultural stigma that influence product choices.