We’re going there! Most people find it taboo to talk about periods but it’s so necessary to bring to light. Periods are hard enough to deal with, and the products we use are so important. These pads, liners and tampons sit on, and inside us for hours at a time, and most mainstream brands are fill with toxins and chemicals! Think about it this way; the vagina is highly absorbent and because it has a mucus membrane it can absorb things at a much higher rate than even skin. If I already don’t want chemicals in my body products then I definitely don’t want them in my feminine care products! The scary thing is, SO MANY brands contain them.
Now picture all those toxic chemicals and how fast and acutely they’re entering your blood stream, with multiple doses a day for one week every month. Companies also aren’t regulated to list every chemical but almost all DO list fragrance as an ingredient which in itself is made up of a bunch of different chemicals. The cotton (if not rayon) used in these tampons are also grown with pesticides (again not listed) no thank you! Non-organic cotton affects not only us but the environment and others who are affected by the polluted water of their villages/towns in the surrounding areas of cotton fields.
This ingredient list was taken from a top selling tampon brand: “Rayon and/or Cotton Fiber, Polyester or Cotton String, Polysorbate 20, Odor Absorber, Fragrance.” They list both odor absorber and fragrance, yet do you see what sub-ingredients of chemicals are in each? No! So who knows what you’re putting in your body when you use these?! I’m definitely not comfortable with that.
Pads and liners are also filled with absorbent fillers or gels with more toxins, chemicals and fragrances. The glue used to hold them together and used in the sticky under-side tells the same story. Packaging even warns to discontinue use if irritation occurs.
After learning all this I switched to organic cotton tampons with cardboard applicators as well as organic cotton liners. I don’t want my tampons sitting in plastic nor did I like the idea of all the waste created by using them. In the beginning I always thought I hated cardboard applicators so I was very hesitant to switch but I had only ever tried ones that were just a cut off tube. Now many have rounded tops replicating the easy plastic applicators. I also try to buy liners that aren’t individually wrapped to avoid plastic and excess waste.
There’s other more zero waste options such as reusable pads and menstrual cups. I think menstrual cups are the best option overall, however with my long work days with little breaks and only access to our bathroom shared with the public; changing a menstrual cup in the middle of my day is not an option. Perhaps in the future I’ll turn to them but for now organic cotton is my option of choice. I’ve also posted organic cotton tampons and liners on my Resources page!
I’ll make a future post on self care during your period including epsom salt bath and oil recipes, supplements and foods to make the week easier!
Dilling With It 