Hello! I’m Lenzi, founder of the Dot Shop. I started the Dot Shop to provide YOU with comfortable, affordable, reusable period products that give you freedom and control over your menstrual experience. I’m excited to share a slice of my journey with you, and I hope that it helps you make some decisions about your own journey. As you read, remember that we are different people. My choices and lifestyle might not match your choices and lifestyles. And that is okay!
Even though it’s been more than 20 years, I still remember the feel of the giant, thick maxi pad my mom gave me when I had my first period. I remember walking like a cowboy, overly aware of this newfound bulge between my legs. In middle school, I discovered “super thin” pads. I relished in the sleek thrill it gave me to flick them out of my pencil case like a credit card. That thrill quickly diminished everytime I had to carefully peel the sticky, broken pieces of plastic off of the back of my panties. I remember sitting in the bathroom, ears strained to the door, knowing that everyone (EVERYONE!!) could hear me unwrapping the pad. The terror!
In high school, I decided that I wasn’t going to let my period keep me out of the water on vacation. So, I bought tampons for the first time. After opening the box, I carefully read the instructions, including that part about how I could get the deadly and scary toxic shock syndrome. To this day, if I have to resort to a tampon, I think, “This is it. This is how I go. Death by tampon.” But the swimming, splashing and snorkeling was worth it…usually. I still preferred pads because the idea of putting something inside to sop up all that blood and hold it there turned me off.
I first learned about reusable products in college when a friend introduced me to the menstrual cup. I preferred pads over tampons, so a tampon replacement didn’t really suit my lifestyle at the time. Plus, she told me she cleaned it in the same pots everyone else used to cook, so it was a swift and complete “No, for me dawg.” I did eventually try the menstrual cup and the menstrual disc, which is similar, but sits a bit differently. Turns out, I still prefer not to insert menstrual items, but, if I need to, I prefer the menstrual disc.
A few years later, my mom told me about reusable period panties and changed the way I interacted with my period forever. I appreciated being able to visually see how my period was going. I liked that the panties had pretty colors and styles. It was celebration and joy in a situation that was just previously tolerated. I liked the feeling of slipping the panties up without having to consider a separate pad insert. To me, it feels just like putting panties on any other day. I suppose at the core, I appreciated the normalcy of the period panties. Eventually, I also found out about cloth pads, which come with their own cute designs, and I built those into my lifestyle.
As you can see, I have tried a lot of products: pads, tampons, reusable menstrual cups/discs, panties and cloth pads. And you may be surprised to know that that’s not even all of the products out there! Every choice I made throughout my period journey made me more confident, powerful and comfortable with that part of my life. Whether the decision was to try out a new product or not, I ended up in a better position. Ultimately, I started the Dot Shop because I want you to have the tools you need to thrive in your menstrual journey. If you’re interested in trying reusable products, but you don’t know where to start, check out the CHART BELOW to get a sense of what might work for you. When you’re ready, we’ve got some great products for you. Sign up for our email list to stay up-to-date on products, resources, in-person shopping events and sales! Thank you for choosing to be here and claim control over your own menstrual experience!