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Tampons and Your Health

There is quite a bit of confusion these days on the extent of the link between tampon use and risk of collateral conditions associated with tampon use. Currently, the FDA accepts the data of the manufacturers of brand name tampons as to the level dioxins in the tampons. This is obviously not independent data.

Dioxin

Dioxin pollution is a family of toxins, which is one of the world's most serious environmental problems. Dioxin builds up cumulatively in the body over time from birth, so heightened exposure means heightened risk. The production of dioxins in the manufacture of paper pulp products such as tampons and sanitary pads, etc. are not only harmful to the environment, but also unnecessarily expose women to low levels of dioxins every time they use these products. According to Arlie Schardt, executive director of Environmental Media Services, a Washington based consumer watchdog group, "A consensus is emerging among scientists that dioxin....is an extremely dangerous substance, a chemical that can cause cancer, damage the immune system, reduce fertility and interfere with fetal and childhood development." Few chemicals, in fact, says Schardt, offer such a potent array of deadly effects. As our original report pointed out, what makes dioxin in tampons such a vile threat is that residues come in direct contact with the most absorbent tissue in the human body - the vaginal mucousa. And for up to 70% of all women, that contact is maintained up to 7 days a week, for up to 50 years. "When I realized that the FDA relied on studies provided by the manufacturer, and that no government studies were ever done, I knew we needed legislation in place as quickly as possible, if we are to protect not only our generation of women, but our daughters and even our granddaughters," says Maloney.

Irritation

Some women suffer from skin allergies and irritations, which can cause discomfort in varying degrees. Symptoms such as uncomfortable soreness and or itchiness are often heightened during menstruation due to synthetic and plastic ingredients in sanitary products. Natracare tampons are made from organic, 100% cotton, which is GMO free and 100% non-chlorine bleached. Natracare products are free from rayon, binders, plastics, surfactants, resins and fragrances. Natracare's panty shields are made with a breathable liner, which is designed to allow air to circulate freely. What's more, Natracare pads do not contain polyacrylic absorbents or have plastic covers that lie next to the skin, both of which can cause irritation. Many women have found relief from irritation when changing to Natracare products.

Pesticides

Many people are worried about the use of pesticides in farming and choose to buy organic produce wherever possible. Non-organic cotton is sprayed with pesticides that release toxins, including dioxin, into the environment, leaving residuals in the cotton. Organic cotton avoids the practice of spraying crops with these pesticides.

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a rare but fatal disease caused by a particular type of bacteria that can produce toxins in the body. The symptoms of TSS come on fast and are often severe. Menstrual TSS has been linked to the use of super-absorbent and synthetics in tampons.

Results of a study published, in, The journal of Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, suggest that the use of 100% cotton tampons may reduce the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome compared with tampons that contain rayon. The study was carried out on 20 tampon varieties, including Natracare's 100% cotton tampons and concluded that all-cotton tampons did not produce the dangerous TSS toxin from the bacteria Staphylococcus aurous, while other tampons did. Natracare tampons are made from organic, GM-free, 100% cotton and do not contain synthetic materials such as rayon.

According to Dr. Phillip Tierno, an infectious disease specialist at New York University Medical Center, "While some studies, including my own, continue to show rayon tampons are a threat to women's health, manufacturers conduct their own studies, which, to no one's surprise, show the opposite," says Tierno. This, he says, leads to a debate, which manufacturers interpret as a green light to continue offering women these products.