Organic Menstrual Products — why it matters
What you need to know about menstrual products.
As health conscious women, we are vigilant about the food that we eat, the water that we drink and the beauty products that we use — Isn’t it time that we start judging our menstrual products against those same high standards?
Despite what advertising agencies might have you believe, conventional pads and tampons aren’t harmless. In fact, these products often contain a slew of damaging chemicals that you don’t want anywhere near your body.
If you didn’t realize that menstrual products can be harmful, you’re not alone. Many women make the assumption that all pads and tampons are created equal. Even when they have a hunch that something may be wrong, it can be difficult to discern which options are safe. This difficulty stems from the fact that companies are not required to list ingredients on the packaging. This lack of transparency keeps you in the dark and prevents you from making healthier choices.
That being said, I’m here to help you to make an informed choice regarding your body and the products that you use.
TOXIC INGREDIENTS
When looking at a pad or tampon, these items appear to contain only white, fluffy cotton; however, studies show that the cotton is often accompanied by synthetic plastic materials. The issue with these plastics is that they contain significant levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and phthalates (1).
VOCs refer to gases that are emitted from certain solid or liquid products. These gases result in adverse health effects and according to the Environmental Protection Agency can cause headaches, loss of coordination, nausea and damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system (2).
Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more durable, but despite their usefulness, they are known endocrine-disrupting chemicals, meaning that they wreak havoc on your hormones. Phthalate exposure has bee linked to obesity, reduced female fertility, and changes in sex hormone levels (3).
Conventional pads, tampons and panty liners were found to contain other endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including parabens, bisphenol and triclocarban (4).
Conventional cotton is known as one of the “dirtiest” crops and it gains this reputation from the practices that are used in its production. While being grown, cotton is heavily treated with pesticides and insecticides. After being harvested, it goes through a bleaching process, which results in the byproduct, dioxin. Not only does dioxin interfere with hormones, but it also damages the immune system, impairs reproduction and can contribute to cancer (5).
VAGINAL ABSORBANCY
Because the vagina is made of a thin mucous membrane rich in blood vessels, it has a much higher absorption rate than the skin on the rest of our bodies (6). When we consume something orally, it passes through the gastrointestinal system and undergoes metabolism in the liver, making whatever we consumed less toxic. The issue with vaginal absorption is that chemicals are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, without first being metabolized by the liver. To really bring this point home, one study showed that vaginal application of estrogen increased blood levels 10 times higher than taking the same amount orally (7).
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Until companies are required to list ingredients on feminine care products, we need to assume the worst and do our best to avoid potentially dangerous products. Some safer options include organic tampons, organic pads, menstrual cups and period underwear.
1. Organic cotton tampons/pads
There are many companies that offer organic options, including Sustain, Lola, Seventh Generation, Natracare, Cora and many others. Fortunately, many of these are widely available and can be found at your local drugstore.
2. Menstrual cups
Menstrual cups are bell-shaped cups made of medical-grade silicone that are folded and inserted into the vagina. Unlike pads and tampons, they catch your flow instead of absorbing it. Because they’re made of silicone, they don’t dry out the vaginal tissue and they don’t contain the same harmful chemicals found in conventional products.
If you’re intimidated by menstrual cups, I get it. They often require an initial adjustment period, but many women swear by them! Some well-known brands include DivaCup, Lunette and Lily Cup.
3. Period underwear
Period underwear is washable, reusable underwear that is designed to absorb your period. Most brands use a small amount of antimicrobial silver to fight off bacteria and odor. You can use them alone or in addition to a tampon as extra protection on heavy days. Some brands include Thinx, Knix, Dear Kate and ModiBodi.
SOURCES:
Park CJ, Barakat R, Ulanov A, et al. Sanitary pads and diapers contain higher phthalate contents than those in common commercial plastic products. Reprod Toxicol. 2019;84:114-121. doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2019.01.005
Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality. (2017, November 06). Retrieved August 17, 2020, from https:// www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality
Benjamin S, Masai E, Kamimura N, Takahashi K, Anderson RC, Faisal PA. Phthalates impact human health: Epidemiological evidences and plausible mechanism of action. J Hazard Mater. 2017;340:360-383. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.06.036
Gao CJ, Kannan K. Phthalates, bisphenols, parabens, and triclocarban in feminine hygiene products from the United States and their implications for human exposure. Environ Int. 2020;136:105465. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2020.105465
https://www.epa.gov/dioxin/learn-about-dioxin
Nicole W. A question for women's health: chemicals in feminine hygiene products and personal lubricants. Environ Health Perspect. 2014;122(3):A70-A75. doi:10.1289/ehp.122-A70
Tourgeman DE, Gentzchein E, Stanczyk FZ, Paulson RJ. Serum and tissue hormone levels of vaginally and orally administered estradiol. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1999;180(6 Pt 1):1480-1483. doi:10.1016/s0002-9378(99)70042-6
