Are your tampons safe?

The average woman may use nearly 17,000 tampons in her lifetime. A staggering number by all considerations, so why are so many of us blithely unaware of what is actually in them? When you think of tampons or menstrual pads, what ingredients comes to mind? Probably cotton. While that is the main ingredient in feminine hygiene products, cotton also happens to be the most heavily treated crop in the United States.  Not only is cotton sprayed with harmful pesticides, it's also bleached. Dioxins, which are a by-product of the bleaching process, are a known carcinogen and linked to endometriosis. 

If you think it stops there, think again. Companies like Tampax are not obligated to disclose all the ingredients in their products. Why is this bad? Well, since the vagina is extremely permeable, any ingredients and chemicals in a tampon are absorbed directly into the bloodstream. And without knowing all the ingredients, how can you be sure that you aren't exposing yourself to toxic compounds? These compounds may come in small, seemingly 'safe' quantities, but over time and prolonged use, they accumulate in the body. 

Here are some sketchy ingredients that have been found in conventional tampons and pads: 

Genetically modified cotton

Glyphosate 

Polyester

Polyethylene

Viscose rayon

Diuron

Chlorine dioxide

Polypropylene

Propylene glycol

Adhesives

“Fragrance”- Who knows what is in this?! The company doesn’t have to tell you! (Thanks, FDA)

What can you do? Thankfully, socially responsible companies are producing safe alternatives. If you use tampons, buy the organic, unbleached kind, which have not been treated by chemicals and contain only ONE ingredient: organic cotton. Don’t buy anything with “fragrance”, “scent”, or “parfum” on the label. 

Here is a list of brands creating safe alternatives:

• Natracare

• Lola

• Honeypot

• Diva Cup (most eco-friendly)

• Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Organic Cotton Tampons 

• Glad Rags Organic Pads 

• Organyc 100% Organic Cotton Tampons

• The Honest Company

• Conscious

• Cora

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