Menstrual Health: Your Period Products Deserve More Attention

This is an area that genuinely does not get enough attention in health conversations. People who menstruate are using period products for roughly 40 years of their lives, inserting or placing them against highly permeable mucosal tissue for days at a time every month.

The vaginal mucosa is among the most permeable tissues in the body. Absorption rates there are higher than on most external skin surfaces. This is actually why some medications are designed to be administered vaginally. It means whatever is in a tampon or pad that sits against this tissue has substantial bioavailability.

What Is in Conventional Tampons

Conventional tampons are often made from conventional cotton or a cotton-rayon blend. Conventionally grown cotton is one of the most pesticide-intensive crops in the world. While much of the pesticide residue is removed during processing, trace amounts have been detected in finished products. Rayon, made from wood pulp, has historically been processed using chlorine bleaching, which can produce trace dioxins as byproducts. Most companies have switched to elemental chlorine-free or totally chlorine-free processes, but labeling is not always clear.

PFAS in Period Underwear

PFAS contamination in period underwear became a significant story in 2020 when independent testing found PFAS at concerning levels in multiple period underwear brands. PFAS are used to create water resistance and are extremely difficult to remove from fabrics once added. Several brands have since reformulated or certified themselves PFAS-free.

A 2024 study from researchers at UC Berkeley detected lead, arsenic, and other metals in various tampon brands across multiple product lines. The researchers noted that even low-level metal contamination in products used this way is concerning given the high permeability of the application site.

Better Period Product Options