Are Tampons Safe For Your Health?

[LoShiNi]

Menstruation is a sensitive topic, and the products to deal with it are even more so. Throughout the past few years, the options have increased. There are pads, tampons, and even menstrual cups. However, we don’t always take notice of the side effects of these products, and today, we’re going to talk about just how safe it is to use tampons and what factors we should keep in mind.

1. Your vagina is very absorbent

It’s not hard to imagine that our vaginas quickly absorb any chemical product, which is put inside them. The vaginal tissue is covered with permeable mucus membranes that protect the body against bacteria, but which can also absorb or become irritated when coming into contact with chemicals. These vaginal membranes are full of blood vessels, which allows any chemical product to be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Studies have shown that hormonal chemical substances are absorbed between 10 and 80 times more via the vagina than orally.

2. Feminine hygiene products leave a huge environmental footprint

Modern feminism isn’t just about things that affect women specifically, but an intersectional approach, which focuses on all forms of oppression. This means that the environmental impact of feminine hygiene products is also a feminist issue. That impact could diminish if we use the menstrual cup, but it’s a matter of choice, not medicine.


3. Avoid putting plastic on your private areas

To cause damage, all chemical products must enter the body in a harmful way.

We don’t know to what point they do. Plus, we live surrounded by plastic contaminants, like those found in children’s toys or tinned foods. The plastic in tampons is used to avoid leakage and make them as comfortable as possible. Of course, in the case of allergies, there is always the option of using gauze like our grandmothers did.

4. There really is very little research about the damage caused by tampons

Activists put pressure on to have more research about the safety of feminine hygiene products. However, there’s not enough data about how these products affect women’s bodies. After the death of a woman from toxic shock syndrome, and the loss of another woman’s leg, some measures have been taken. The law requires all feminine hygiene products to be independently tested by National Health Institutions, and that their ingredients and results are made public.