7 Reasons Why You Should Ditch Tampons ASAP

Ever since you were a teenager (or younger), you have been relying on tampons and pads each month, and use them without a second thought. Afterall, they are convenient, easy to use – you toss out the evidence, and then it’s out of sight and out of mind. Why spend any more time thinking about your period, right? Wrong!
 
Your skin, including what’s between your legs, is highly permeable. Anything that comes in contact with your skin can be absorbed into your body and directly into your bloodstream. That is why you should not put anything on or in your body that is made with questionable ingredients or chemicals.
 
Did you ever think about what you are putting in your body during that time of the month? Well, you should! Within every tampon box, there is an instructional pamphlet with cautions about toxic shock syndrome (TSS) – a life-threatening condition. Well, tampon’s safety concerns go far beyond TSS, since conventional tampons pose numerous health issues that are of paramount concern to your health and wellbeing.
 

Here are 7 reasons why you should ditch tampons for good:

1. Life Threatening

Even if you don’t leave a tampon in for an extended period of time, they can harbor bacteria. Tampons can cause tiny tears in your sensitive tissue, creating a breeding ground for bacteria. Small fibers from the tampons can also break off when you pull out a tampon, which can remain within your body and promote bacteria growth. That bacteria growth can lead to TSS, a life-threatening condition caused by staph or strep bacteria.
 

2. Fear the Unknown

Tampons and sanitary pads are classified as medical devices, and as such their ingredients are not required to be disclosed. Companies can list ingredients, but because they are unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it’s not necessary to inform consumers of what they are putting inside their bodies to meet FDA regulations.
 

3. Like a Sponge

Why should unknown ingredients matter to you? Because you insert tampons into your vagina, which is highly absorbent. In fact, it is up to 80 times more absorbent than a product or chemical taken orally. Your vagina will quickly absorb chemicals and substances placed inside your body directly to your bloodstream.
 

4. Swim Away Fishy Fishy

The cotton in tampons undergo a chlorine bleaching process that is used to whiten and disinfect. The chlorine leaves behind numerous chemicals such as dioxin, which is a carcinogen that is linked to abnormal tissue growth and disruption to your immune and endocrine systems. Excess chlorine also leaks into oceans and kills aquatic and wildlife.
 

5. Say No to GMOs

The cotton in tampons commonly contains pesticides left over after harvesting, some of which are probable human carcinogens. Worst of all, more than 90% of US cotton can contain genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), so chances are your tampons do too!
 

6. Chemical Soup

Tampons and sanitary napkins typically contain artificial fragrances and other chemicals used to neutralize odor. Some brands also toss in some artificial colors (because your period products should be pretty, right?), adhesives and plastics such as polyester, polyethylene (PET), propylene glycol (PEG) and polypropylene, which are linked to infertility, birth defects, cancer, hormone disruption and a plethora of other health concerns.
 

7. Garbage Heap

Just like everything that you throw away, tampons and feminine hygiene products end up in a landfill. Think about the number of tampons you have used since your first period many years ago, and how many more you still have to use during your reproductive years. By the time you reach your final menstrual period, you will have used as many as 16,000 tampons. That is thousands of cotton tampons (and non-biodegradable plastic applicators) mixed into heaps of garbage in your nearby landfill.
 
 
Now that you are armed with this information, you can make changes starting with your next period. Instead of using traditional tampons, you can choose organic tampons that are made without conventional bleach or harmful chemicals. Or, if you are more daring, you can choose a menstrual cup or reusable cloth feminine pads that are machine washable. Whatever you decide to use, never use a regular tampon again!