The Period RevolutionPeople in search of more mindful menstrual products finally have more options for both disposable and reusable options. They also encourage women to speak with their doctor about TSS.[3]. A world where workers are treated with dignity from our paychecks to our working conditions. I got my first period when I was 11 years old. Thanks to the absorbent tampon, bacteria can multiply to dangerous levels and enter the bloodstream, creating the potentially fatal condition known as TSS. In reality, tampons come with a very real risk of Toxic Shock syndrome (TSS). In this world, every point in the cycle of production and consumption from extraction, to processing, to use, to disposal contributes not just to a less toxic world, but to a thriving world. Tampon stuck? You still need to change organic tampons every eight hours and use the appropriate size for your flow (i.e., dont use a super when a regular will do). You may note the cost of these pads is a bit high. Look for a company that has tested their products and is willing to disclose all materials used. It was an aha moment. The fabrics they use are soft and adorable. [3], Dioxin is the byproduct of the process from converting wood pulp into a synthetic fiber called Rayon, which is also used for fabric. New technology may eliminate SAPs by utilizing materials manufactured in nanoscale, which some scientists have concerns about. He adds that it doesn't mean there aren't any, but it hasn't come up yet or been identified. What are the facts? Tampons also may contain man-made ingredients like plastics. So even though there may only be tiny amounts present in tampons, they collect in our fatty tissues and can build up to dangerous levels. It is manufactured from and likely contaminated with acrylic acid, which is associated with numerous adverse health endpoints. Retrieved from. Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, These new results highlight the need for disclosure of ingredients in menstrual care products. Examples of the plastic found in period products are polyester fibers interwoven into the body of pads, leak-proof polypropylene that lines the back of pads, plastic tampon applicators, polyester blends in the body or strings of tampons, and coatings used to help smoothen tampon removal. 10 Reasons to Celebrate This Menstrual Hygiene Week! Missoula, MT 59807, Visit us in Denver 2005-2022 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. cancer, endocrine disruption, and reproductive toxicity. Collectively, its estimated that more than 20 billion period products (pads, tampons and applicators) are sent to landfill annually, contributing to the single-use plastic pollution problem. Wrong. Menstrual Cups and Internal Birth Control, Truth About Tampons? Yes, theyre pricey, but you have to think of it as an investment. She believes that media and internet hype over organic products have influenced our perspective on traditionally manufactured tampons and pads. The EPA also has determined that people exposed to high levels of dioxins may be at risk for a damaged immune system, increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and reduced fertility. Menstrual Cup Dangers Are Menstrual Cups Safe to Use? The skin inside of the vagina is very absorbent and permeable, yet manufacturers arent required to reveal what the tampons theyre selling us actually contain. On top of trying organic tampons, I was interested in reusable pads. You can avoid dioxins by using organic tampons that are bleached with hydrogen. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Some of these approaches have been used for centuries. Maybe youve wondered whats actually in there. 2022 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. According to physician and author Dr. Joseph Mercola, chemicals in plastics, like BPA and BPS, have been connected to the development of heart disease and cancer. All rights reserved. LOLA: light, regular, super, and super+ tampons, Tree Hugger Cloth Pads: liners, light, heavy, and postpartum pads, who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dioxins-and-their-effects-on-human-health, global-standard.org/the-standard/general-description.html, fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/facts-tampons-and-how-use-them-safely, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3238331/, Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, complete transparency with product ingredients, requires commitment; not easy to try just a couple tampons to see if you like them first, personally found them to be not as absorbent as other brands, easy to customize and edit subscription service, though Targets are everywhere, having this brand in drug and corner stores would be a game changer, widely available since Targets are everywhere, initial cost can be prohibitive (one heavy flow pad is $16.50), come in many types of fabrics and patterns. Product disclosure is a first step in reducing possible harm. Theyre also not a joke, either. "Women are protected from tampons containing excessive amounts of asbestos, dioxin and rayon fibers, which are chemicals that can potentially cause harm if contained in large amounts in tampons.". [6], Rana Hajjeh, M.D., a medical epidemiologist with CDCs division of bacterial and mycotic diseases, attributes the drop in TSS cases to the advances in the way FDA regulates tampon materials and absorbency. [3], A study by Michel DeVito and Arnold Schecter, published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2002, concluded that exposure to dioxin in tampons (and diapers) is thousands of times less than the dioxin people typically consume in the food they eat. Along with this disclosure bill, Rosenthal has championed other menstrual equity bills including no cost period products for menstruating individuals in New Yorks schools, homeless shelters and correctional facilities, and led the way to eliminate the states tampon tax in 2016. We should expect, and deserve, no less from menstrual products, said Jamie McConnell, Director of Programs and Policy at WVE. The Mayo Clinic doctor also cited recall bias to explain why some women seemed to think organic products made their cycles shorter. 1031 33rd Street Heres Why, 2021s Best Period and Leak Proof Swimwear, CBD Oil for Menstrual Cramps (PMS)? The barriers standing in the way need to be broken. Procter & Gamble, whichowns Always and Tampax,just acquired This is L, another organic feminine hygiene brand, in February. Get telltale cramps informing me my period is about to start. (2015). Responses ranged from women confirming they saw their cycles shortened by switching to organic feminine hygiene products to those who criticized her for spewing false information. Ingredients: 100% organic cotton (GOTS certified), BPA-free plastic applicator, A friend of mine purchased this brand from Target and lent me a few in my time of bleed. I excitedly texted her after using my first L. tampon, saying, Umm, most absorbent tampon of my life?!. Peberdy E. et. WVE envisions a world free from the impacts of toxic chemicals, one where our planet and communities are thriving, one where our gender, race, sexuality, zip code, income level or job does not determine our health outcomes. They use a button clasp to hold place in your underwear (though mine have been known to slide around a bit). It is unthinkable and unforgivable, there has to be a greater sense of responsibility for human life., Andrea Jurez U.S. women spend about $3 billion/year on sanitary protection. Although organic feminine hygiene products have only recently appeared on the market, the interest in them is high. Ingredients: cotton, bamboo, and minky fabric options, Cost: $55 for sample kit (one of each size), $200 for All You Need kit. Additionally, some brands of tampons contained other volatile organic compounds including reproductive toxins, toluene and xylene, as well as carcinogen, methylene chloride. More:Women get their periods every month and it's incredibly expensive. I have not switched over as I need to change my super absorbent pad and super ++ tampon every hour or so when I start bleeding right up to my half way mark. (You can unsubscribe anytime), Susan Dudley, PhD, Salwa Nassar, Emily Hartman, and Sandy Wang, National Center for Health Research, Jobs, Fellowships, Internships & Volunteers, http://www.euromonitor.com/sanitary-protection-in-the-us/report, http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/PatientAlerts/ucm070003.htm, http://www.ehponline.org/members/2002/110p23-28devito/EHP110p23PDF.PDF, http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/13/health/whats-in-your-pad-or-tampon/, https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2379/text, Alzheimers, Dementia & Other Disabilities, Early Puberty & Problems in Sexual Development, Sanitary Protection in the US. Run to the drugstore and buy whatever is on sale or whichever boxs color scheme speaks to me. While it can take a lot of preparation, there are many alternatives to commercial toilet paper.

Millions use menstrual products on a monthly basis. Retrieved from, H.R. According to a researcher for the Womens Environmental Network, dioxins build up in our bodies over the years. Online and in Person. Until there's more quantifiable research on the use of organic pads and tampons, Breitkopf says we just don't know how it affects menstrual cycles. "Ladies please switch to organic and stop putting dangerous products full of cancer causing chemicals in your body!!!!!". Manufacturers started to distribute warnings and to recommend that tampons are changed every four to eight hours and never left in longer than eight. There is something deeply amiss when chemicals are deemed too unsafe for paint stripper, but just fine for women to use in their tampons. If you own a business, consider joining, directly into the bloodstream without being metabolized, The estimated exposure doses of phthalates, parabens and bisphenols through the dermal absorption pathway from the use of pads, panty liners and tampons were significant. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. But I do recommend exploring your options for alternatives. Executive Director Im 34 now. Period.,"says that she doesn't think organic tampons pads are generally any "safer"or even necessary. There was a rumor going around that tampons contained trace amounts of asbestos, and that tampon manufacturers put it there for a very shady reason: to make users bleed more and need to buy more tampons. "Stress affects menses and thats probably the biggest thing from a month-to-month or year-to-year basis, but menses also changes closer to menopause.". Up until the late 1990s, bleaching the wood pulp resulted in traces of dioxin in tampons, but that method has been replaced with a chlorine-free bleaching process. Lola, an organic subscription-based tampon and pad company, raised $24 million in funds and even has celebrities like Serena Williams and Lena Dunham investing. If passed, A.521A will finally give New Yorkers vital information they need about their period products., Women and girls have every right to know what they put in and on their bodies. Chapter Coordinator On top of all that, the cotton or rayon is bleached to achieve its pure white color. Bleaching creates toxic compounds called dioxins. js.src = '//p2a.co/js/embed/widget/advocacywidget.min.js'; Rely and toxic shock syndrome: A technological health crisis.

Ingredients: 100 percent organic cotton (GOTS certified), BPA-free plastic applicator. More:'Menstrual equality': House passes measure allowing women to buy tampons, pads with health spending accounts. raised $24 million in funds and even has celebrities like Serena Williams and Lena Dunham investing.

'Menstrual equality': House passes measure allowing women to buy tampons, pads with health spending accounts, Women get their periods every month and it's incredibly expensive, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. It is the responsibility of manufacturers, and even more so our government, to protect the health of its citizens., Lubna Ahmed Heres our process. Think Twice About Using Tampons. The cotton in non-organic cotton most likely contains residue from pesticides and fungicides used on the cotton crop as its growing. So when it comes to choosing organic feminine hygiene products over regular products, it comes down to personal preference. Whats wrong with that?. To help support A.521A, women across the state of New York are using WVEs Detox the Box Party Kits to raise awareness about the hazards of hidden and harmful chemicals in menstrual care products, and de-stigmatize periods and vaginal health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers relatively little regulation of menstrual products. Moreover, because tampon manufacturers are subject to FDA inspection, the agency assures women that these inspections would likely identify any procedures that would expose tampon products to asbestos.[3], Starting in 2008, U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney of New York introduced legislation to require studies of tampon safety. After publicity about TSS caused by tampons in 1980, the most absorbent tampons were taken off the market, and women and teenagers were warned about potential risks. DOI: Vostral SL. So if there's anything out there that can make them lighter, shorter, less painful or practically nonexistent, we're all for it. Tampons are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a class II medical device, on par with condoms and contact lenses. Yes, some pads and tampons are made with cotton but it tends to be conventional cotton, which is grown with toxic pesticides, as opposed to organic cotton. All of these things are contributing factors to the plastic pollution problem. For instance, I have one box of tampons (seven light, seven regular, four super) delivered every eight weeks. I wish Oprah were there. The super-slim period products that swell to hold enormous amounts of menstrual fluid are appealing on the surface, but may contain plasticizing chemicals like BPA and/or other bisphenols. All articles on our website have been approved by Dr. Diana Zuckerman and other senior staff. In 1982, the FDA required that all tampon labels advise women to use the lowest absorbency needed to control their flow and include TSS warning signs. Fact Checked by Jennifer Chesak, May 10 2019. Im someone who needs to wear a liner with my tampons because my period doesnt play by the rules. "The fact is the tampon industry is regulated," she says. Its possible that there are plastics, nanomaterials or PFAS chemicals in the mix which should be avoided. Big-brand tampons are safe to use, but if the thought of ingredients like dioxins (a known carcinogenic) make you think twice, go organic for your own peace of mind. Women have a basic right to know whether products they insert directly into their bodies contain carcinogens. While there hasnt been research done into the effects of pesticide residue on tampon users, its common sense that we probably dont want these harsh chemicals inside our bodies. Well go over why this isnt as serious as it sounds and tell you how to safely remove it yourself at home. When it comes to the safety of traditional feminine hygiene products, there doesn't seem to be any "epidemics of diseases that are associated with tampons at this point," according to Breitkopf. The results of the testing detected carbon disulfide, a known reproductive toxin, in all four brands of tampons that contain rayon. As noted above, there is no scientific evidence that these products are safer. wrote the woman who goes by "young hilary banks" on Twitter. (A 2019 study shows that awareness can influence people to choose products that are better for the environment.) The testing results gives manufacturers a strong incentive to make products without harmful chemicals and provides further emphasis that we need to know more about these products and their impact on health. Rush to bathroom to see if I have anything left to use.

Similar to choosing organic vegetables, its an alternative and not necessarily better or safer for women.". (2011). [3] The TSS epidemic reached a peak in 1980 with a total of 814 cases, including 38 deaths, reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These parties provide a relaxed and fun space to spark dialogue between friends about the products used on and in the vagina, said McConnell. "Menstruationcan change naturally from month to month," he says. However, this isnt true, and the FDA has responded directly by saying that they have zero evidence of asbestos in tampons and no reports showing increased menstrual bleeding with tampon use. According to my pad usage, I could save $660 from now until menopause. Tampons also arent independently tested. Exposure Assessment to Dioxins from the Use of Tampons and Diapers, Kounang, N. (2015). The facts on tamponsand how to use them safely. A Detox the Box Party Kit includes fact sheets on harmful chemicals found in some menstrual products, a discussion guide, spoof videos that call-out harmful body-shaming marketing, and actions to take to ensure menstrual products are universally safe and accessible. Kits also include information on A.521A, and simple ways they can contact their assemblymember, encouraging support for ingredient disclosure of period products. The FDA website reports that tampon manufacturers have provided the agency with results from studies conducted at independent laboratories, which concluded that the dioxin in the rayon raw materials range from undetectable 0.1 to 1 parts per trillion.

Tips for Choosing Better Period ProductsShop for MADE SAFE certified Period Care to ensure the product has been fully vetted for substances known or suspected to cause human and ecosystem harm. They also contain potentially harmful chemicals that every woman should know about. is a common question asked by many of my patients as a result of this hype and unproven claims about the dangers of every day purchased tampons used by half the population," Ross says. It is unacceptable that there are so many unknowns about the ingredients, safety, and health impacts of products that come into contact with one of the most sensitive and absorbent parts of the body.. We are encouraged and inspired by women in New York and across the nation who are demanding their right to know, said Rosenthal. Dioxins and their effects on human health. "The device is going into the body so that could change things, but there's no scientific evidence that's the case," Breitkopf tells USA TODAY. A new bill introduced by Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan) requires disclosure of ingredients in menstrual products, including tampons, pads, menstrual cups and period underwear. Let's be real, no one enjoys having periods. Other ancient cultures also used wood, paper, vegetable fiber, sponges, grass and eventually cotton. But a tweet claiming that organic pads and tampons shortened a young woman's periodby about three days and changed her flow ignited a debate over whether this was even possible. "'Is organic better when it comes to using tampons?' Retrieved from. (function(d, s, id) { Tampons, pads and menstrual cups are considered medical devices by the FDA and are not subject to ingredient labeling. The disease, which was first described among teenage girls in 1978, primarily strikes tampon users under the age of 30. Most of the tampons that we find in stores today are made from non-organic cotton and rayon. Look for products with. Disclosure of those chemicals, as would be required by A.521A, would provide New Yorkers with the information needed in choosing which products they would feel comfortable purchasing. [2] Women deserve to know if tampons have unnecessary risks, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates the safety and effectiveness of tampons as a medical device, merely issued a statement claiming that the available scientific evidence does not support the rumors. You can reduce your consumption of these single-use plastics by selecting products that do not contain plastic in the product and packaging, or by opting for a reusable option. But hey, its just cotton, right? Im hoping the cup could be a healthier alternative for me, thanks for reading, by. Wearing a tampon for too long puts you at risk for toxic shock syndrome, a potentially fatal infection. Thankfully, there are safer choices out there. (2017). Instead, where disclosure exists, only basic components of tampons are listed, often using vague language such as may contain:.. and rayon and/or cotton. If you added up all the money youve spent on disposable pads, that cost far outweighs the initial cost of buying reusables. In fact, Dr. Sherry Ross, anOb/Gyn and author of "she-ology: The Definitive Guide to Womens Intimate Health. Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from National Center for Health Research.



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