Organic and eco-friendly products are becoming more and more popular, and for a good reason! Have you been starting to wonder if organic tampons and organic pads are really that important and worth spending extra money on?
Now, I already think it’s ridiculous that we have to pay for our menstrual products every single month. But, if you can afford to pay for organic tampons and pads, they really can be very beneficial for your health.
What’s The Difference Between Organic and Conventional Tampons and Pads?
Conventional tampons and pads are made with conventionally grown cotton (meaning they are produced using pesticides or insecticides), synthetic rayon (which aids in absorbency), or a mix of both conventionally grown cotton and rayon.
According to the FDA, until the 1990s, menstrual hygiene manufacturers would bleach the wood pulp, introducing dioxins to the material.
Today, rayon is produced using elemental chlorine-free or totally chlorine-free bleaching processes, significantly reducing dioxins’ productions but not eliminating it.
Conventional tampons and pads may also contain fragrances to control odor. And their applicators are typically made of smooth plastic for insertion.
Organic tampons and pads are made with cotton produced without pesticides or insecticides, and they are fragrance-free! Applicators for organic tampons are often made from biodegradable materials, making them also better for our environment.
Regulations on Conventional and Organic Tampons and Pads
Whether organic or not, all menstrual hygiene products are regulated by the FDA and classified as medical devices. All tampons and pads must reach regulations of the products’ effectiveness (like absorbency) to be approved.
The FDA also requires all tampon manufacturers to monitor dioxin levels in their finished products.
This all sounds great, but menstrual care companies still don’t need to disclose what’s inside their products.
Since pads and tampons are regulated as ‘medical devices,’ there’s no government requirement that ingredients be disclosed. Unfortunately, this makes it hard to avoid chemicals of concern.
Toxins in Conventional Tampons and Pads Include:
- Dioxins and furans: linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, and reproductive toxicity. These are byproducts of the bleaching process of conventional tampons and pads.
- Pesticide residues: linked to cancer and have been detected in products with conventionally grown cotton.
- Fragrance: is an umbrella term used for dozens of undisclosed ingredients that make up “fragrance.”
To learn more about toxins you should avoid for your health and fertility and the toxins listed above, please look at Toxic Chemicals You Need to Avoid for Your Fertility.
Now consider this: tampons and pads come in contact with some of the most sensitive and absorptive skin on a women’s body.
Doctors are increasingly administering hormone treatments vaginally because the drug can be transferred directly into the bloodstream without being metabolized. Therefore, when given vaginally, the drug levels in the body can be 10-80 times higher than if the drug was administered orally.
This makes the seriousness of these toxins in our menstrual care products even higher.
Price and Availability of Organic Tampons and Pads?
Organic tampons and pads have become readily available to buy in stores. However, conventional products still make up the bulk of the market.
Organic products are also typically a bit more expensive than conventional. Unfortunately making it difficult for some women to have access to them.
So, Are Organic Tampons and Pads Really Better for Your Health?
Organic tampons and pads are produced with fewer chemicals. There is no scientific evidence suggesting that organic or all-natural tampons and pads are better for your health than conventional. This is shocking, isn’t it?
Nevertheless, this means that it’s best to use whichever tampons and pads that you feel the most comfortable with.
Overall, organic tampons and pads are the right choices for women seeking more natural options for their menstrual health.
What Are The Benefits of Using Organic Tampons and Pads?
I chose to use organic tampons and pads for my menstrual cycle based on my research.
I am currently using the Rael brand for my menstrual products, and I feel much more safe and content with using them. Rael tampons and pads are made with responsibly sourced and 100 percent organic cotton. And they are made without harsh chemicals that can irritate you, disrupt your hormones, or expose you to carcinogens.
1. Organic Tampons and Pads are Toxin-Free
Organic tampons and pads are made without toxins, making them better and safer for your body.
Switching to organic tampons and pads essentially reduces your exposure to dioxins, phthalates, pesticides, and more harmful chemicals.
Are you interested in a non-toxic and reusable menstrual care option? Check out 10 Advantages of a Menstrual Disc and How to Use One!
2. Organic Tampons and Pads Are Better For The Environment
Organic cotton plants take 71% less water and 62% less energy to produce.
3. Organic Tampons and Pads Are Free From Polluting Plastic
Conventional menstrual products are full of plastic- 1 pack of pads contains the same amount of plastic as 5 carrier bags. This plastic takes hundreds of years to break down into smaller microplastics, therefore, polluting sea animals and our environment.
Many organic tampons and pad brands are plastic-free, making them totally home compostable! Meaning they will disappear over only a few months.
4. Organic Tampons and Pads Are Safer For Sensitive Skin
Like myself, some women may have sensitive skin, making them more likely to experience irritation from the chemicals in conventional tampons and pads. This usually leads to the woman opting for an organic, non-fragrant tampon and pad brand for the woman experiencing irritation.
5. Organic Tampons and Pads Are Better For The Wildlife
Because organic cotton farming doesn’t use harmful pesticides or insecticides, the birds and the bees are protected from unnecessary harm.
Conventional farming heavily uses insecticides, which have been proven to contribute to a significant decline in wildlife, including birds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
16% of the world’s insecticides are used on cotton, and more than 75% of the world’s food crops rely on pollinators. So, choose organic products if you like food being available in the world!
Tips for Switching to Organic Tampons and Pads:
- Look for Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS) certification when shopping for organic menstrual care products. This is a way to ensure that the products you buy are grown, manufactured, and treated organically.
- Look for the MadeSafe seal on organic menstrual care products
- Choose unbleached, chlorine-free pads, and tampons to avoid dioxins and furans.
- Choose unscented products to avoid undisclosed fragrance ingredients that can be irritating in the short-term and linked to cancer, reproductive harm, and hormone disruption in the long term.
- Try to find 3rd party certified organic tampons and pads, so you know a trusted source has checked their products
Sources:
Donate Menstrual Care Products:
Menstrual hygiene products are a basic need for all women and should be regarded as a fundamental right.
Lack of access and the cost of buying menstrual hygiene products can add to the list of struggles due to menstrual bleeding.
“Most women in society can identify with having to ‘make do’ with toilet paper or tissue for a few hours when they are caught off guard by the start of their menstrual flow or run out of products. But, for the women who participated in this needs assessment, they are often forced to ‘make do’ all day, for their entire cycle, and often every month”- Anne Kuhlmann, Ph.D.
Here is the link to the assessment/research study mentioned above
In all of my posts where I talk about women’s hygiene products, I will be leaving links to sites where you will have the ability to donate products or cash to help others in need of products if you can and interest in doing so.
Period poverty is real. And having the ability to purchase organic pads and tampons is fortunate.
I was once one of the women who had to ‘make do’ for months, and it’s important to me to support and help women in all ways possible!
We’re in this together!
– Katelyn Lauren
Donate Here:
DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may get a commission if you decide to purchase something through my links at no cost to you. Please read my Disclaimer for more info.
DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding you or your baby’s health. Please read my Medical Disclaimer for more info
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