Another reason some people are against using tampons is b/c of the chemicals in them. I just want to let everyone know that there are all natural tampons, and also natural sea sponges as non-chemical alternatives (as well as the keeper and the diva cup). Probably not available in your local drugstore, but maybe in your health food store and definitely available online.

Also, there are re-usuable cloth pads which I hear are a lot more comfortable than the commercial ones.

I found out about all this stuff after I started looking into cloth diapers for my kids...there's apparently a lot of overlap between cloth diapering moms and alternative menstrual cycle product women!