Women today are conscious of the need to restrict their contact with synthetic materials, skin irritants and unnecessary chemicals but perhaps because of the more personal nature of the topic, many women use dyed and bleached cotton tampons and pads without being fully aware of the risk they are exposing themselves to. While many of us are making very positive changes to combat the negative impact our buying decisions have on the environment, the majority of us are still uneducated when it comes to understanding the impact of using non-organic sanitary products.
The two biggest culprits proven to cause health problems in non-organic tampons are rayon and dioxin.
Rayon is commonly chlorine-bleached, and is a highly absorbent fibre. Did you know that common brands of tampons are made mostly from rayon?
Dioxin, a toxic carcinogen, is a by-product of all chlorine bleaching and leaves detectable residuals in any product that has been bleached with any type of chlorine bleach. Published scientific reports have shown evidence that even low levels of dioxins may be linked to cancer, endometriosis and immune system suppression. Considering a woman may use as many as 11 000 tampons in her lifetime, she may be subjecting herself to additional dioxin exposure.
It’s not just the ingredients used in the tampons that are of concern, but also fibre loss from the use of synthetic tampons.
In my practice I see women everyday who are not aware of the chemicals that are in our sanitary products. We are oblivious to them and we go on using them month in and month out.
Women often do not link these chemicals to unpleasant side effects like:
• The slight fever and headache they get during their period due to the tampons or pads they are using
• The itchy skin they feel during menstruation
• White discharge
• Searing heat or pain
These are just the immediate effects of the chemically laden products of today. More serious, long-term effects include:
• Endometriosis
• Reduced testosterone
• Thyroid problems
• Various cancers i.e. cervical cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer
• Hormonal imbalances
• Immune system disorders
• Infertility and birth defects
These side effects happen because the vagina is like a sieve – whatever is in there goes right into the blood circulation.
As you can see, all of the above symptoms could be affecting your chances of falling pregnant.
SO WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS FOR SAFE SANITARY PRODUCTS?
There are two fantastic products on the market:
The Mooncup®
The Mooncup® is the world’s first medical grade silicone reusable menstrual cup, and is manufactured in the UK to ISO 13485*
Thanks to the Mooncup, hundreds of thousands of women around the world enjoy the following health benefits:
Most sanitary products can dry you out and leave fibres behind while the Mooncup is designed to respect your natural balance.
The Mooncup is made from medical grade silicone, unlike the cotton in other sanitary products which often contains bleaches and pesticides. It has been known since 1918 that toxins can be absorbed into the body through the vagina .
During one period and across a woman’s life-cycle, her blood loss varies, calling for different absorbencies. The Mooncup holds three times as much as a tampon, giving longer lasting protection on heavier days. As the Mooncup is non-absorbent it does not cause dryness, so is ideal for lighter days too.
The Mooncup is hypoallergenic, so is ideal for women with sensitive skin and allergies.
Mooncup Ltd offers a unique, professional advice service run by nurses to support women with any questions/problems they may have:
advice@mooncup.co.uk
Tel: +44(0)1273 673845
Natracare Pads and Tampons
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Natracare organic cotton tampons and organic and natural pads were developed as a direct response to health and environmental concerns about dioxin pollution caused by chlorine bleaching, the extensive use of pesticide spraying on conventionally grown cotton, and the use of rayon and other synthetics in feminine hygiene.
Natracare Ultra pads are made from only certified organic 100% cotton and renewable and sustainable plant cellulose. They are totally plastic-free, and like all of Natracare products, are totally chlorine-free.