If you are super serious about your health, chances are you purchase a tone of all-natural beauty products as is, but do you buy organic feminine products as well? Is it necessary?
The true concern when it comes to tampon usage is Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), a serious but rare disease women get from improper use and poor manufacturing of tampons. Dating back to the 1980’s TSS has been a health concern, as in early years tampons were made from high-absorbent synthetic materials such as some rayons, polyester, and cotton.
MUST READ: Do You Make These 5 Common Tampon Mistakes?
The use of some of these materials have since been outlawed. Most tampon packaging will also advise one to only use the absorbency necessary for their their cycle. Meaning, if you are on the back end of your period and are only spotting, don’t use the high absorbency tampon because you only want to have to change once a day. This is not only unsanitary and foul, it presents serious health risks!
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are two ways super-absorbent tampons cause TSS: When they are left in place for a long time, they can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Additionally, the absorbent fibers can scratch the surface of the vagina, making it possible for bacteria or their toxins to enter the bloodstream.
So it leaves you to wonder, would an organic tampon be a better solution? You might think so, but it really just depends. Unfortunately the FDA doesn’t regulate the “organic-ness” of a tampon because it is considered a medical device. They also don’t require companies to list everything a tampon is made of. In general, an organic tampon is made from natural cotton fibers that typically were left unbleached or was bleached without toxic chemicals. This is unlike standard tampons that are typically made with cotton and rayon blends, which tend to have the dangerous chemical dioxin.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, they have been “working to promote dioxin-free methods of producing wood pulp.” The Environmental Protection Agency has stated that they believe dioxin within feminine products can be linked to:
The lesson in all of this is to do your research. Organic tampons are a great option, if they are in fact “organic”. The primary risk of tampons is more around usage versus how they are made, but there are some clear concerns with the long-term use of tampons made with particular toxic chemicals.
With no true regulation over the make-up of these products, it is up to the consumer to find a healthy product for themselves. It is important to know the risks involved and continue to educate ourselves on how to avoid them.
For more info, visit KissTheChaos.com and follow me on Instagram: @Ooolala_laa.
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