Did you know that most of the leading brands in sanitary products are made from synthetic rayon with only a small amount of cotton?
Many of the pads and tampons made by leading brands also contain SAPS aka 'Super Absorbant Powders' which are made from polymers that are derived from crude oil. Many also contain dioxins, furans and pesticide residue which have been linked to cancer, reproductive and endocrine disruption.
Other chemicals often found in commerical sanitary products include styrene, a know carcinogen, chloromethane which is a reproductive toxin, chloroethene, a known carcinogen, chloroform, a carcinogen/reproductive disruptor and neurotoxin, acetone which is a known irritant and glycophosphate a known carcinogen.
Many also contain a lot of plastic which is made from crude oil. These contain BPA which is an endocrine disruptor and carcinogen plus phthalates which are also endocrine disruptors.
Other concerning ingredients include fragrance, odor neutralises, artificial colors, polyester, adhesives, polyethene (PET), polypropolene and proylene glycol (PEG) which are linked to endocrine disruption and cancer.
Do you really want these nasty chemicals near your most sensitive area??
The skin is highly permeable and anything applied to the skin gets absorbed straight into the blood stream. The vagina is a highly vascular area so using pads and tampons that contain these ingredients means that your body is actually absorbing these chemicals everytime it comes in contact with them!
Absorbing toxins may actually be worse than consuming them because at least when you consume them your gut has protective mechanisms via your digestive tract and liver but if they by pass your digestion and get direct access to your bloodstream then you’re in trouble!
Now what about cotton pads and tampons?
Cotton is actually considered the worlds dirtiest crop, with approx 84 million pounds of pesticides sprayed on conventional cotton crops per year.
These are some of the most dangerous chemicals in agriculture. Round up (Glycophosphate) which is a widely used herbacide has even been detected in 85% of cotton sanitary products tested. Yikes! Most cotton also comes from Geneticaly Modified crops.
So what alternatives are best?
Organic Cotton Pads and Tampons (My favourite is Tom Organic which is organic cotton that is chemical free, non gmo, chlorine free, frangrance free and void of any dyes)
Menstural Cups are a great alternative and also great for the environment! There are several brands including The Moon Cup and The Diva Cup so it’s best to read reviews and test for yourself but basically you insert the cup and empty it as needed. It’s washable and reusable, safe for your body, cost effective and good for the earth, win win!
Although it may sound strange, period underwear is also a good alternative with brands such as Thinx and Modibody which are safe, absorbent underwear, specifically for wearing during menstruation. They reduce odor and control leakage plus can be washed and reused. They have similar benefits to menstural cups as they are great for your health, the environment and your wallet!
So let’s ditch the toxic stuff and experiment with the many other wonderful options we as women have access to today when it comes to managing our monthly bleed!