Behind the Tampon: Unmasking the Hidden Dangers Lurking in Our Period Products
From the moment we cross that thin, yet notable border from childhood to teenagehood and give an unwelcome welcome to puberty, one fear still torments us in the back of our minds: the period. For many girls out there, this can be a terrifying and difficult part of the journey to womanhood: understanding this bizarre, yet normal bodily process.
The horrifying thought of the blood staining our clothes and exposing our “condition” simply is too much for a young, innocent, teenage girl. Even worse was the solution to this terrible problem: the tampon. The idea of having to put a strange object in our bodies to prevent our blood from leaking and embarrassing us in front of our classmates was frightening to say the least. Of course, the pad was also an option, but this simply could not stop the heavy flow some of us experienced, and it was often frowned upon by other girls who thought it childish. So, we gave in and gave the tampon a try, just to realize it might be as bad as we initially thought.
THIS is what lead looks like.
Imagine this inside your body.
Tampons have been one of the most popular and widely used menstrual hygiene products in the United States for decades. In fact, according to a survey by the CDC, 42% of women in the United States use tampons to prevent leakage during their period. However, recent studies have discovered metals such as lead, arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, strontium, vanadium, and zinc hiding in at least one sampled tampon, and 100% of the tampons sampled had lead in them.
Tampons contain 24 times as much lead as the limit for bottled water, something extremely alarming, since no exposure to lead is safe unlike with other metals. Not only can exposure to lead cause infertility, it can also lead to cardiovascular problems, neurological disorders, and renal issues. Although many products like paint and ceramics have been known to contain lead in the past, the issue with tampons is even greater, since they are to be inserted in women’s bodies, who are the most vulnerable to this metal.
Adding to the concern, tampons have been linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), a rare but potentially life-threatening condition caused by bacterial toxins. TSS can develop when tampons are left in for too long, creating an environment where bacteria can thrive. The risk of TSS, although relatively low, is significant enough to warrant caution. Symptoms of TSS include sudden high fever, rash, low blood pressure, and even organ failure, making it a serious issue for those using tampons.
Nevertheless, it is still unclear whether tampons are completely unsafe to use. Jenni A. Shearston, the study’s main author explained that
“Right now, all we've done is show that there are these metals present in the tampons, but what we don't know is whether or not the metals can come out of the tampon and get into the body. Until we know that, we can't really speculate about any potential health effects.”
Because of the unclarity of the issue, specialists recommend to only use tampons while experiencing heavy menstrual flow, since chemicals are less likely to be absorbed by the skin when one is menstruating.
It's advisable to avoid tampons and consider other menstrual products like pads. However, the decision depends on individual preferences and how each person's body responds. If choosing to use tampons, it's important to do so carefully and only when necessary, pending further information.
The lack of transparency about the ingredients in menstrual products, such as tampons, highlights the ongoing medical reluctance to prioritize women’s health. This oversight may be rooted in long-standing societal taboos surrounding menstruation, but it’s clear that change is overdue. Despite tampons being in use for decades, their components have not been adequately studied. Had this research been prioritized earlier, it could have potentially mitigated the increasing health issues affecting women today.
Companies that produce tampons and other menstrual products must be more responsible. If a brand's mission is to provide women with menstrual hygiene items, they must also be committed to ensuring the safety of those products. Regardless of whether the presence of these harmful ingredients, such as lead, was intentional or not, companies have a an obligiation to rigorously test their products before releasing them to the public. To prevent such dangers, stricter regulations and policies are needed to guarantee a safe manufacturing process for tampons and other menstrual products.
While the full extent of health risks remains uncertain, precautionary measures are advisable when it comes to putting anything in your body. Try to limit tampon use to heavy flow periods and use your voice to advocate for more research into women’s health issues. Regulatory reforms are essential to ensure the safety and integrity of menstrual hygiene products, reflecting a critical step towards protecting the well-being of all who rely on these essential items.
