The Truth About Feminine Hygiene Products

 

With extended use of pads after the c-section birth of my first son, T.J., I developed irritation. About a week after delivery I made a call to my OB’s office, but was informed he was on vacation. The nurse practitioner told me it was most likely a urinary tract infection and prescribed antibiotics without seeing me. 

This being my first child, I had no idea what “normal” was after child birth. Throw in first-time mom sleeplessness and you could have gotten me to do just about anything. I didn’t think twice about it and took the antibiotics. The irritation didn’t go away, despite 2 weeks of antibiotics. It eventually went away by my 6 week appointment, coincidentally around the same time that my postpartum bleeding went away.

Irritation: Take Two

My second son, Nathan, was born in August 2020. He was a healthy, 8 pound 2 ounce baby born via c-section at exactly 40 weeks. After about a week of using the same pads (I’m loyal), I once again began feeling the same irritation and made an appointment to see my OB.

After explaining my symptoms, she immediately asked if I was specifically using a particular brand and type of pad. I was shocked that she was so spot on. She told me that she had encountered many patients complaining of irritation with said pads. Her advice was to switch to something more natural, and that I should see a difference. Within a few days after switching, the irritation had significantly subsided and by a week, it was completely gone.

I couldn’t believe there was an association. And I was a little annoyed that I took antibiotics for no reason with my first pregnancy (topic for another day…). I was on a mission to find out why my body, and apparently a lot of women’s bodies, reacted this way. I mean, I’ve used these pads for years and never had irritation–why now?

Three Reasons to Ditch Synthetics

1. Toxic Ingredients 

I actually had to search the brand website for the ingredients in my pads, as they weren’t listed on the box. Here’s where my search led me. The ingredients in my beloved pads include polypropylene, polyethylene, petrolatum, and the very vague “absorbent foam core”. 

According to Burns and Rauhe, polypropylene and polyethylene are both plastics and cause decreased breathability in pads. This can create bacterial growth and lead to dermatitis-like symptoms, especially with extended use. Petrolatum is derived from petroleum (like petroleum jelly!) and is usually used as a moisturizer. They may contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which is an identified carcinogen by the European Union. If that wasn’t enough to convince you, they also cause skin irritation and allergies (Burns and Rauhe, 2019).

2. Not Organic

Because the vagina easily absorbs whatever it comes into contact with, it is especially important to choose your pads and tampons wisely. When something is made organically, it is made without the use of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Even feminine hygiene products with easy-to-read ingredients, like cotton, could be harmful if the quality is poor. The remnants of chemicals, including insecticides and pesticides, used during growing could remain deep in the makeup of the fibers. So although switching to cotton feminine hygiene products is a step up from synthetic, organic would be the goal to ensure you’re using the least toxic product possible.

3. Environmental Damage

The synthetic plastics in feminine hygiene products do not allow for natural breakdown when tossed in a landfill. According to the Huffington Post, the average woman will go through roughly over 9,000 tampons in her lifetime; we could also argue the same number for pads. Multiply that by the number of women who menstruate (800 million worldwide according to www.wateraid.org) and that’s a lot of trash.

Alternatively, disposable cotton pads are biodegradable and compostable. Organic cotton doesn’t damage soil or cause surrounding water toxicity so it is more sustainable. Another plus? Plants that produce organic cotton use 88% less water and 62% less energy (aboutorganiccotton.org, 2016).  

What The Research Says About Synthetic Feminine Hygiene Products

A study by Park & Bakarat et al in 2016 tested 11 undisclosed brands of pads for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and phthalates. Both VOCs and phthalates are man-made chemicals that in the short term cause allergic reactions and in the long-term are linked to cancer. VOC exposure causes dizziness, skin irritation, allergic reactions, and damage to the kidneys and central nervous system (source: EPA and CDC).

Specifically, VOCs that were tested for in this study were methylene chloride, toluene, and xylene. Researchers found that 2 types of phthalates (classified as reproductive toxicants) and xylene were found in all brands. Toulene was found in 9 brands and methylene chloride was found in 2 brands. 

“As sanitary pads…are in direct contact with external genitalia for an extended period, there is a probability that a considerable amount of VOCs or phthalates could be absorbed into the reproductive system.”

Park & Bakarat et al, 2019

Four Alternatives to Synthetic Feminine Hygiene Products

*Disclosure: All opinions expressed are my own and I would never recommend products that I don’t use or stand behind. This post may contain affiliate links from which I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, view the Privacy Policy and Disclaimer pages.

1. Disposable Cotton Pads and Tampons

If you’re a fan of disposable pads, the easiest switch is to look for cotton pads. Like I mentioned previously, organic is better if you can afford this slightly more expensive alternative. I have tried brands that, although transparent enough to list their ingredients, use polyolefin either in the applicator of the tampon or the backing on pads. Keep in mind that this is a plastic, similar to the ones mentioned above. If this doesn’t bother you, I’ve used the following products in the past and have liked them. 

• L. brand Ultra Thin Liners | 80 liners for $6.99 at Target | Ingredients: organic cotton topsheet, woodpulp core, polyolefin backing and adhesive.
• L. brand organic cotton tampons | 30 tampons for $6.99 at Target | Ingredients: Organic cotton and applicator made of polyolefin.
• Seventh Generation Free & Clear pantyliners | 100 pads for $14.29 on Amazon | Ingredients: chlorine-free processed wood pulp, polyolefins, adhesives, silicone-coated paper.

What I’m using now that I’m a fan of is the brand Oi (Organic Initiative). I can only speak to their regular and super pads, since I haven’t tried the pantyliners or tampons.

• Oi Organic Initiative | 20 pads for $11.00 on Amazon | Ingredients: cotton top layer, cotton core, biodegradable cornstarch as the leak-proof bottom layer, adhesives made from vegetable gum glue | Cool bonus: the wrapper itself is also made from biodegradable cornstarch. 

2. Reusable Menstrual Pads

Reusable menstrual pads look like regular pads with wings but are made from fabric that can be spot-treated and washed. The wings clasp together around your underwear to stay in place. They usually come in packs so you get at least 3 pads for either the same flow or varying flows.

There are so many options to choose from, it gets a little overwhelming. If you want to support small businesses, there are plenty of options on Etsy to choose from. And if you’re crafty, you could opt to make your own!

My advice is don’t fall for the cute patterns until you read the materials/ingredients. The most important thing is what is touching your body, and I’m of the mindset that cotton is always best. I’ve read that some brands use polyurethane in the backing which has questionable toxicity, depending on the form. At the end of the day less is best, but overall this is a very safe option. 

3. Menstrual Cups

I have personally never used these, so I can’t give a recommendation in good faith. A menstrual cup is usually made of hospital-grade silicone and functions by creating a suction seal once inserted to collect the flow. Although there is a bit of a learning curve with this one, most women say that it is life changing once you learn how to use it. Some positives for this option is that it is cost effective (on average they cost $25-$30), not wasteful, and provides longer wear time than pads and tampons (around 10-12 hours!).

Aside from the initial learning curve, there are some other things to note. Most brands recommend replacing after about a year but leave it up to the user’s discretion. This would still be cheaper in the long run and a simple google search will tell you how to recycle it! There is also simple daily maintenance for these menstrual cups while on your period, which is as simple as cleaning with mild soap and water.

4. Reusable Menstrual Underwear

These are pretty straightforward: underwear with an absorbent lining. They function as either a backup for your pad/tampon/cup or standalone. I did find a few brands; however, only a couple were made from predominantly cotton. One brand even touts that it can hold as much as 4 tampons, which is pretty incredible. 

Although these are sustainable since you can wash and rewear to your heart’s content, they can be pricey. The range is anywhere from $15-$30 per pair and you’d need at least one pair per day. If that’s too expensive, these could be a great night-time option when you don’t trust your feminine hygiene product on those heavy days.

Too Long, Didn’t Read

Wearing a feminine hygiene product for a week may not seem like a long time, but it’s the accumulation over years that can do damage to our bodies. Synthetic pads and tampons are made with toxic ingredients, produced non-organically, and damage our environment in more ways than one. You’re doing yourself and the planet a favor by making the switch to organic cotton disposables, reusable pads, menstrual underwear, and/or menstrual cups. The bottom line is always read your labels and understand the ingredients.