Unplugged: A Doctor's Discussion on the Dangers of Tampons

Are Tampons bad for fertility?

There is a tampon revolution my friends, and I don't know about you, but I'm ready to grab my pitchfork. If you haven't heard the buzz about the mounting offenses of mainstream feminine products, that's OK. I was late to the conversation myself. As someone who hated nothing more than pulling a dry tampon out of unyielding gates I stuck to pads myself, but did you know that a single pad is estimated to contain the same amount of plastic as four plastic bags and other non-regulated materials like BPA?* Not cool to have BPA in our Tupperware, double not cool to have it snuggling up to our privates. We've asked our resident Eastern Medical Doctor, Jeiran, to outline the core issues with big brand feminine products, in attempt to save vaginas all around from unsavory sanitary bedfellows. 

THE BOTTOM LINE

The main concerns for Jeiran regarding big brand feminine products are one) pesticide-ridden cotton, and two) blocked flow. You've surely heard the whispers, if not cries, from skeptical consumers who lament the amount of pesticide residue left in the cotton we feed to our super permeable vaginal mucus membranes through our sanitary products. Jeiran points out cotton's heavy reliance on pesticides and genetically engineered crop and encourages those who are fertility-focused to consider other options.

As for flow? "Always best to let it drain naturally," says Jeiran who recommends organic pads for her patients. Endometriosis, she fears, may be caused by retrograde menstruation (blood flowing the wrong way up Fallopian tubes) and a tampon could in theory contribute. Endometriosis, a symptom common in woman experiencing infertility, is abnormal growth of uterus cells forming outside of the uterus.**

Feminine products are under scrutiny from doctors and congresswomen alike, but big brand products aren't disclosing their ingredients. The clause? The FDA considers pads and tampons medical devices*. Medical? What about just being a woman? And a woman preserving the integrity of her lady garden for that matter. Besides BPA, BPS and dioxins (cancer causing agents) have been detected in tampons due to their chlorine bleaching process.

THE TAKEAWAY

Organic pads. Period.

If you must, LOLA has engineered a popular 100% organic tampon, with full disclosure of their ingredients (just cotton), and a promise to give back to low-income woman and girls in need of feminine products across the U.S.***

We also are curious to try Thinx, those undies with built-in absorbency. Maybe we'll do a Bird and Bee test and report back to you!

We found this great video to sum up the sisterhood of the tampon resistance.

GIMME MORE

Cut Out These Fertility Killers Now

NITTY GRITTY

*https://www.bustle.com/articles/83591-are-tampons-safe-7-reasons-we-should-be-concerned-about-the-ingredients-in-feminine-hygiene-products

**http://holyhormones.com/womens-health/menstrual-cycle/what-is-retrograde-menstruation/

***https://mylola.com/about

(No conflicts of interest present in the above sources)