Toxic Shock Syndrome is caused by an immune system reaction to bacterial toxins such as Staphylococcus aureus or streptococcus. The controversial tampons were pulled from the market and government regulations were put in place after women were dying, but there are still concerns about TSS. The National Organization for Rare Disorders estimates TSS occurs in up to three per 100,000 menstruating women. TSS most commonly occurs in girls and women 15 to 25 years old who are using tampons. Symptoms include fever, rash, low blood pressure, and fatigue, and the condition can progress to coma and even death. A young woman in BC died last year from TSS after using a tampon overnight and having an unexplainable rash. Now, don’t be alarmed! Millions of women use tampons without any health concerns so I’m not suggesting you toss out your tampons because you are afraid of TSS! Better suggestions are to change your tampons frequently, avoid highly absorbent tampons unless absolutely necessary, and consider alternating with pads. TSS can still be an issue with organic tampons and menstrual cups (bacteria can adhere to the cups as well). If you use a cup, make sure to wash it with soap and water and boil it between cycles. Western culture has made menstruation “dirty”, so tampons have been “sanitized” in advertising with bleached pure white tampons and pretty applicators, and are shown soaking up colourful blue liquids. Gasp, let’s not discuss blood! But the bleaching of the cotton used in tampons is a health concern for many reasons. Chemicals used to make tampons are not easily available to research. Bleached cotton used in tampons has changed and improved over the last two decades, however, the amount of dioxin that the bleaching process releases into the tampon is still very controversial. Because tampons are considered medical devices, there are no ingredient labelling requirements. US tampon manufacturers must now conduct dioxin tests and report these to the FDA. From these tests, the FDA’s risk assessment is that “the exposure to dioxin is many times less than normally present in the body from other environmental sources, so small that any risk of adverse health effects is
considered negligible”. Dioxin is a known carcinogen and is linked to decreased fertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, and immune issues. According to the World Health Organization, dioxins are “highly toxic and can cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones and also cause cancer.” Although tampon manufacturers have made efforts to decrease dioxins, the vaginal area is a very susceptible part of a woman’s body to dioxin exposure. Most women wear 16 to 20 tampons per cycle. Women menstruate for 30 to 40 years, so the potential risk with dioxins is much more the cumulative effect. Dioxins are called persistent organic pollutants—they do not break down, and instead accumulate in our tissue with repeated exposure. The vaginal membrane is more absorptive than external skin, so using tampons is a source of repeated dioxin exposure. Cotton grown for tampons is also often sprayed with chemicals such as glyphosate. GMO cotton is a huge topic to discuss, but simply put, herbicides don’t belong in our vaginas! So what are our solutions? Should you be scared of tampons? Absolutely not! But let’s make some changes. Demand that manufacturers disclose ingredients in their products. Only buy 100% chlorine-free tampons (they can be bleached with hydrogen peroxide). Try to eliminate the plastic tampon applicators (or demand biodegradable options), or skip the applicator brands. Applicators have a huge environmental impact by filling up landfills, and are difficult to biodegrade. Imagine how many applicators there must be for 12,000 tampons per woman! Consider options such as reusable washable pads or menstrual cups, and clean these properly so you can use them safely for years. Menstrual cycles are natural and not dirty, so please try to switch the stigma around blood, hygiene, and our limiting beliefs about our bodies. As Christina Bobel, president of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research said, “We have these societal stigmas into menstruation that stifle discussion and investigation. There’s a ‘just shut up and clean it up’ approach”. Time to make the switch in women’s health to something far more sustainable and supportive to our bodies!
Have a better period!
Women menstruate for 30 to 40 years—that’s a lot of products! Choose ones that are good for you and our planet.
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Get a 100% chlorine-free tampon. Look for one without a plastic tampon applicator (or that’s biodegradable), or skip the applicator kind altogether!
Tampon Alternatives
The Cup
Menstrual cups are clean and comfortable with a variety of sizes available for all body types. Since they’re reusable, they save you money and minimize environmental impact!
2 Pads
Try non-chlorine bleached pads or a reusable washable kind.
Coming Soon!
Have heard about period underwear yet? Find them soon at Nature’s Fare!
the good life The Magazine of Nature’s Fare Markets | 29