The average American woman uses up to 16,800 tampons in her lifetime – or as many as 24,360 if she's on estrogen replacement therapy.
And that's just tampons…
Many women use countless panty liners or sanitary pads in place of, or in addition to tampons.
For something you wear so intimately and regularly, wouldn't you want to know for sure that it’s not working against your health and well-being?
You may be thinking, how could feminine hygiene products possibly be putting your health at risk? After all, they're snowy white, pure and clean, right?
In my opinion, today’s feminine hygiene products are more like a ticking time bomb.
And for you men out there, don't go away just yet.
The women in your life – your partner, sister, mother, daughter – they all need this information. It may be up to you to inform them about these everyday conveniences that so many take for granted.
Why Feminine Hygiene Products May Not Be
‘Protecting’ You as You Would Expect
Women have been using and trusting disposable feminine hygiene products since 1933 when they were first marketed to the public.
No doubt when you use them, you receive absorbency protection. In fact, that's something the FDA ensures.
However, in the process of "protecting" you from leaks, your feminine hygiene products may potentially be subjecting you to unexpected, hidden risks.
Risks that you never bargained for – or haven't been warned about.
Before I tell you more about these potential risks, let’s do a quick experiment. Take one of your current tampons and remove it from its wrapper and applicator.
Over a piece of dark-colored cloth or paper, pull the tampon open. Give the inside fibers a tug with your fingers. Notice how the fibers break apart. If you look closely, you may even see lint and dusty fiber particles falling from the tampon.
These fibers can stay behind in your body when you remove the tampon.
Now let’s take a closer look at what’s in those fiber particles and what you can do to avoid them.
I suspect after discovering the truth about these ticking time bombs, you'll never think about "protection" the same way again…
How Today's Feminine Hygiene Products May Be Jeopardizing Your Health
Your skin is your body’s largest organ and the most absorbent.
A substance you place on your skin may be able to pass right through, straight into your bloodstream.
Take hormonal or seasickness patches for example. Your skin absorbs the chemicals in the patches, they enter your bloodstream and start to work almost immediately.
Your vaginal tissue is exceptionally absorbent. Because of its ability to absorb substances, healthy or otherwise, it’s only prudent to give it the same thoughtful care you give your internal organs. After all, you wouldn't deliberately eat toxins that might harm you.
The feminine hygiene industry uses words like "cotton-soft" and "cottony feel" when describing their products, but the truth be told, they’re usually not made of cotton at all.
Today's feminine hygiene products are made mostly from rayon, vicose, and cellulose wood fluff pulp:
- Rayon is made from cellulose fibers derived from bleached wood pulp.
- Viscose is a form of wood cellulose acetate that's fabricated to have a pleasing cotton-like touch.
- Fluff pulp is manufactured from tree wood and is the major filler used in conventional sanitary pads.
Rayon and viscose present a potential danger in part because of their highly absorbent fibers. When used in tampons, these fibers can stick to your vaginal wall, and when you remove the tampon, the loosened fibers stay behind inside your body.
Even if you are using real cotton tampons or pads, if not organic, they’re likely made from genetically engineered cotton that can contain pesticide residues.
How the Toxic Bleaching Process Can Adversely Affect Your Health
Tampons made from rayon are most commonly bleached with chlorine to provide that “pure and clean” white color.
However, when you use chlorine to bleach materials, the possibility of creating potentially hazardous substances such as dioxin and disinfection-by-products (DBPs) such as trihalomethane exists.
Dioxin, in the same family as Agent Orange, is a by-product of pesticide spraying, pollution from incinerators, and the production of paper and rayon products such as coffee filters, toilet paper, disposable diapers, and even possibly feminine hygiene products.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers dioxin a serious public health issue. There is no safe level of exposure!
According to studies, dioxin can collect in your fat cells and fatty tissues. Low or trace levels of dioxins may be linked to:
- Abnormal tissue growth in the abdomen and reproductive organs
- Abnormal cell growth throughout the body
- Immune system suppression
- Hormonal and endocrine system disruption
A leading doctor of microbiology and immunology at a major university medical center has stated "dioxins, though they exist in the environment, have a worse effect when they contact mucous surfaces like the vagina."
Yet the government continues to turn a blind eye to this damaging toxin, concluding there is no health risk expected from dioxins in tampons and pads!
In recent years, manufacturers have been claiming they can bleach materials for their products without chlorine.
Instead, they use an "elemental chlorine-free" bleaching process that uses chlorine dioxide.
Here’s the problem with that claim… Some elemental chlorine-free bleaching processes can generate dioxins at extremely low levels. Dioxins have been detected in trace amounts in mill effluents and pulp!
Beyond Dioxin and Disinfection By-Products… Petrochemicals May Be Lurking in Products, Too
To allow easy insertion, many tampons come with applicators – plastic or cardboard tubes that allow you to push the tampon into place.
What many women don’t realize is that these seemingly harmless applicators may also be a source of potentially hazardous chemicals, such as phthalates and other harmful plastics.
That nice silky finish on your cardboard application comes from phthalates. Phthalates are chemical plasticizers used in many items, including pills, children's toys, medical devices and personal care products, such as perfumes, liquid soap, nail polish and hair spray.
Phthalates, along with many plastics, are known "endocrine disruptors" because they interfere with normal endocrine system function.
Research links phthalates to weight gain and blood sugar issues, attention and behavioral problems, low IQ, birth defects, and fertility and reproductive issues.
If you are using plastic applicators and not recycling them, you’re contributing to a serious worldwide problem that extends beyond your personal well-being.
In 2009, The Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup project collected 20,000 tampon applicators out of 4 million total pieces of reclaimed plastic waste (yes, people were actually counting these things).
It can take 25 years for an applicator to break down in the ocean, and tragically, is often mistaken for food by marine life during the process. Please, if you must use them, never flush plastic applicators down your toilet!
The NEW Generation of Potentially Toxic Panty Liners and Sanitary Pads
As for sanitary pads, today we're seeing a whole new generation of products made from petrochemicals.
Conventional sanitary pads are made from over 90 percent plastic derived from crude oil, including superabsorbent polyacrylates, polypropylene and polyethylene.
Synthetics and plastic restrict the free flow of air and can trap heat and dampness, potentially promoting the growth of yeast and bacteria in your vaginal area.
Don’t be fooled by words like "non-woven" – they’re just fancy-talk for petrochemicals. These types of pads discourage healthy airflow.
The use of synthetic fibers, plastic-backed panty liners, and contact with toxic chemicals can lead to burning and soreness of delicate tissue in certain individuals.
So if these products have been around for decades, why haven't you heard about these potential dangers before now? There are several reasons:
- Manufacturers aren’t required to disclose all ingredients, including the chemical substances and processes they use
- Manufacturers typically hire their own researchers to conduct research (that’s the research the FDA sees)
- Just like with the drug industry, the feminine hygiene industry can “spin” the results of their research to suit their purposes
The Tampon Safety and Research Act of 1999 called upon the U.S. Congress to require independent testing of feminine hygiene products and a disclosure of all ingredients used in the manufacturing process.
To date, no tests have been conducted and there's still no public disclosure of all the ingredients used.
Toxic Shock Syndrome: Are You at Risk of This Potentially Fatal Infection?
If you're a long-time user of tampons, then you've probably heard of toxic shock syndrome (TSS).
This is a rare bacterial infection that's caused by the Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. Normally, S. aureus bacteria are harmless and are found on your skin and mucous membranes, such as your vagina. But in certain conditions, they can enter your bloodstream and release toxins that can turn deadly.
Toxic shock syndrome can lead to a potentially fatal drop in blood pressure (shock), known as hypotension, as well as organ damage. Other symptoms of TSS can include:
- Sudden high fever
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Low blood pressure
- Seizures
- Rash on palms or soles
- Muscle aches
- Redness of your eyes, mouth and throat
If you experience any of these symptoms during your period, I advise you to seek medical help immediately. If not treated right away, toxic shock syndrome can be fatal.
TSS has been associated with the use of tampons, particularly super-absorbent types that have been left inside for too long, creating the perfect breeding ground for S. aureus bacteria. What's more, when a tampon is inserted or removed incorrectly, it can scratch your vaginal wall, producing micro tears where bacteria can enter and accumulate.
Emerging research suggests that the tampon’s material may significantly affect your chances of developing this very serious infection.
Because tampons made with materials like rayon, viscose, and fluff pulp can leave behind fibers, they can create a favorable environment for bacteria growth. The outgassing of carbon dioxide and oxygen from these synthetic materials provide a food source for S. aureus bacteria.
This is just one more urgent reason to make the switch to organic cotton…
Avoid Toxic Shock Syndrome With These Tampon Safety Guidelines
You must remember that proper hygiene plays an important role in avoiding TSS. Take note of these simple reminders:
- Change tampons every 4 to 6 hours.
- Alternate the use of tampons with sanitary napkins or mini-pads during your period.
- Be careful not to scratch your vaginal lining when inserting a tampon.
- If possible, choose the lowest absorbency rate to handle your flow – avoid super-absorbent tampons.
- Never leave a tampon inserted overnight; use overnight sanitary pads instead.
- Do not use a tampon between periods.
The Worry-Free Solution to Meet Your Feminine Hygiene Needs, Naturally
Why take chances with questionable materials when you don’t really need to?
My Premium Personal Care line includes organic cotton tampons and panty liners and sanitary pads with organic cotton. These products are:
- Made with 100% Certified Organic Cotton – a more naturally breathable fiber that may be healthier for your body and the Earth
- Not made with chlorine and other harsh chemicals
- Made without synthetic materials, wood fluff pulp, dioxin and "super-absorbent" fibers
- Hypoallergenic – Perfume and scent-free
- User-Friendly and Earth-Friendly – Soft, rounded petal-shaped tip makes tampon insertion easy and comfortable. Biodegradable cardboard applicator, too!
- Available in regular and super absorbencies
And here's one more thing I believe you'll appreciate…
Each organic cotton tampon has its own "security veil" – a soft, breathable organic cotton cover that provides double insurance against any of the cotton separating from the tampon. The absorbent fibers remain with the tampon, right where you want them.
Why Organic Cotton?
Cotton is the third most heavily insecticide/herbicide treated crop in the U.S., just behind corn and soy. What's more, the EPA classifies nine of the most common pesticides used on cotton as highly toxic, while five are considered probable carcinogens.
What's more, 70 percent of conventional cotton crops today are genetically engineered.
This means that if you are using cotton tampons that are not 100 percent certified organic, you may be exposing yourself to potentially dangerous chemicals.
So a word of advice: when buying tampons, never settle for anything less than 100 percent organic cotton. For pads and liners, make sure all parts that touch your body are also made of 100 percent certified organic cotton!
The organic cotton used in my feminine hygiene products is grown without the use of toxic fungicides, dioxides, herbicides, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and is not genetically engineered.
Instead, the cotton is grown and harvested using organic farming methods that help replenish and maintain soil fertility, while promoting biodiversity to protect the air and water systems.
When you buy my organic tampons and pads and liners with organic cotton, you support small independently owned and operated family farms – a real “plus” for everyone. Organic cotton is not big business like the mammoth conventional cotton industry!
Organic cotton is not only a healthier choice for you and the environment, it also feels better against your skin and promotes airflow – two very important criteria for feminine hygiene products!
Naturally, organic cotton does cost a little more – but considering that it helps protect your health from potential toxins, the few extra cents will be definitely worth it.
GOTS – Your Assurance of the Real Thing
All cotton sold as organic in the United States must meet strict federal regulations regarding how the cotton is grown, including the type of seeds used.
So how can you be sure those organic cotton tampons or pads are really made with organic cotton?
Just as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sets standards for organic food, Global Organic Textile Standards, or GOTS provides third-party certification for the organic textile industry, including feminine hygiene products.
GOTS oversees the growing, processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, trading and distribution of all textiles made with at least 70 percent certified organic fiber.
Like organic food standards, a textile product carrying the GOTS Organic seal must contain a minimum of 95 percent certified organic fibers, while one with the “made with organic” label must contain a minimum of 70 percent certified organic fiber.
GOTS-certified textiles must be produced without conventional cotton’s pesticides, genetically engineered ingredients, formaldehyde, chlorine bleaches, heavy metals or other harsh chemicals detrimental to humans and the environment.
When you buy certified organic cotton feminine hygiene products, you don’t need to wonder if it’s the "real deal” if you see these four letters. GOTS guarantees it!
Meet My Premium Personal Care Line of Quality Products
Now you can choose from my complete assortment of quality products in my Mercola Premium Personal Care line:
- Organic Cotton Tampons
Made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton with a special organic cotton safety layer to help prevent fibers from staying behind in your body. They come with biodegradable cardboard applicators with soft, rounded petal shaped tips for easy insertion. Available in 2 absorbencies: Super and Regular.
Individually wrapped for convenience.
- Ultra Thin Pads with Organic Cotton (available in Daytime and Nighttime)
Special GOTS certified organic cotton interlace cover sheet over an organic cotton absorbent core with leak control channels. Complete with wings for added protection and secure fit. Choose Daytime Ultra Thin for medium flow days and Nighttime Ultra Thin for heavy flow or overnight use.
Individually wrapped for convenience.
- Sanitary Pads with Organic Cotton
Soft and cushy, Sanitary Pads are made with GOTS certified organic cotton and provide outstanding protection with leak control channels that pull fluid away from your body for maximum dryness and comfort.
What Makes My Premium Organic Cotton Tampons and Panty Liners and Pads With Organic Cotton Stand Out From the Competition?
Whether you choose to wear a panty liner each day or a tampon or pad for protection during your period, in my opinion, you should choose one that’s made with organic non-chlorine bleached material and without irritating fragrances, synthetics and super absorbents made from petrochemicals.
Premium Organic Cotton Tampons are made from 100 percent GOTS certified organic cotton. Free of genetically engineered cotton, or rayon, vicose, dioxin, and wood fluff pulp, you don’t need to worry about pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and other potentially harmful chemicals and toxins.
Just pure organic cotton for your most intimate area!
My high-quality Ultra Thin Pads with Organic Cotton, and Sanitary Pads with Organic Cotton are made with GOTS certified organic cotton where it matters most.
Here’s what you can count on my feminine hygiene products to not include:
- Genetically engineered materials
- Cellulose fluff pulp
- Rayon and vicose
- Chlorine and other potentially toxic materials
- Perfume and fragrances
Give Yourself the Protection You Deserve – Order My Feminine Hygiene Products With Organic Cotton Today
My quality feminine hygiene products are manufactured exclusively for us.
Just as I am particular about every product I sell on my site, my Premium Personal Care line is no exception. My goal is to provide you with products that are among the safest and most cost-efficient, high-quality organic cotton feminine hygiene products available.
I don’t believe you’ll find a finer tampon, panty liner, or pad or cotton anywhere.
So, don't delay. Order today and treat yourself to organic cotton for comfortable, safe and effective protection.