Period Care
Choosing safer period products and protecting health from hidden chemicals
Common Exposures
Menstruators use over 10,000 period products over their lifetime. The average person who menstruates will have an estimated 508 periods in their life and spend about 2,540 days or 6.96 years menstruating.
Recent studies have found that tampons and pads contain harmful chemicals like PFAS, metals, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and yet these products are not subject to rigorous FDA testing for toxic chemicals. Exposure to these chemicals can lead to serious health concerns, including hormone disruption, cancer, and gynecological issues.
Period products may expose users to:
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Toxic metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium (found in tampons).
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PFAS, a group of chemicals linked to health risks, is detected in about half of the period products tested.
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Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (e.g., phthalates, parabens, VOCs) that interfere with hormones.
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Dioxins, a byproduct of chlorine bleaching, linked to cancer and endometriosis. These chemicals often go undisclosed on product labels.
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Pesticide residues from conventional, non-organic cotton found in tampons and pads.
Health Impacts
Women's health research is underfunded and under-studied. The history of period care research is marked by a long period of societal stigma surrounding menstruation, leading to limited research until the mid-20th century. Further research is required to understand the potential health challenges posed by toxins in tampons.
Consumers deserve transparency and accountability in period care safety. Safe and sustainable alternatives must be made more accessible for all.
Potential health impacts include:
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Increased risks of cancer, hormone disruption, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids.
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Potential for chronic exposure from using over 10,000 menstrual products in a lifetime.
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Exposure to metals has been found to increase the risk of dementia, infertility, diabetes and cancer.
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Metals can damage the liver, kidneys, and brain, as well as the cardiovascular, nervous, and endocrine systems. The health impacts of metals in period products is currently unknown.
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Underserved groups face higher exposure risks due to fewer safe and affordable product options.
Practical Tips for Reducing Exposure
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Choose unbleached period products.
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Avoid all fragranced products and colorants.
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Consider introducing reusable alternatives, like silicon or natural rubber menstrual cups, period underwear, or reusable cloth pads, to your period care routine. Although the upfront cost is a higher than single-use tampons and pads, these products will save you money in the long run.
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If making the switch to reusable alternatives is inaccessible to you, organic, unbleached tampons and pads made by Seventh Generation and Natracare are free of bleach, pesticides, and toxic chemicals.
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Applicator-free tampons
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Advocate for legislation requiring full disclosure of ingredients in period products.
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Demand regulators mandate heavy-metal testing for tampons.
Resources / Tools
The Best Period Underwear Without PFAS
11 Best Reusable Period Products That Helped Me Ditch Tampons and Pads for Good
Articles Discussing Period Product Transparency:
English
Spanish