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Why you should use organic tampons and pads

When it comes to the groceries, cosmetics and home cleaning products we use, organic is a top priority. However, when it comes to using feminine hygiene products convenience wins and alternative organic options are frequently forgotten.

Since tampons have gained popularity in the last 50 years there has been an overwhelming increase in gynaecological diseases like fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and endometriosis. The question is, could this be related to using synthetic and non-organic tampons and pads?

Cotton is a heavily sprayed crop which means that the cotton used to make sanitary products contains chemical pesticides, herbicides and fungicides which have been shown to have a negative impact on health. Exposing your most sensitive body part to these chemicals is therefore a very bad idea.

In addition to this, tampons are bleached with chlorine to give them their white colour which leaves the user exposed to the harmful by-product dioxin. Luckily in the 90’s the manufacturers of tampons began using an “elemental chlorine-free bleaching” which greatly reduces the production of dioxins. However, even in minute amounts, dioxin has been linked to immune issues and birth defects. If a woman uses thousands of synthetic tampons in her lifetime the dioxide exposure will accumulate.

The skin around the vaginal area is very thin, sensitive and permeable area. Tampons and pads come into contact with this sensitive area for hours or days every month. Absorbing chemicals via this avenue might actually be more dangerous than consuming them via the digestive tract as they enter the blood stream directly and are not filtered.

Conventional feminine products can irritate and dry the vagina which can increase the risk of yeast infection and bacterial infections. Switching to organic tampons and pads will greatly improve these symptoms.

Luckily there are plenty of companies that now offer natural and organic cotton tampons that will remove any risk of internal exposure to chemical pesticides, herbicides fertilisers as well as synthetic fibres and dioxin.

Find organic tampons and pads here

Sources
http://www.evolvingwellness.com/essay/natracare-the-importance-of-organic-feminine-hygiene-products
https://www.organicconsumers.org/old_articles/bodycare/tampons090704.php
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/feminine-hygiene-products_b_3359581.html