The Feminine Hygiene Product Epidemic: The Scary Truth About What’s Lurking in Your Products

You worry about…

• The food you put in your body.
• The chemicals in the makeup you use.
• What’s floating around in the air you breathe.

But, when was the last time you worried about what’s inside your feminine hygiene products?

We know this isn’t the most glamorous topic to discuss--but it’s an important one!

The reason: Women around the globe are starting to suffer from illnesses, hormonal imbalances, and even fertility issues that can be traced back to the chemicals used in most modern-day feminine hygiene products.

If you use sanitary pads or tampons, it’s vital that you understand the potential health risks associated with using mainstream, unnatural products. Even more importantly, you should know that alternatives to mainstream hygiene products DO exist.

So, what risks do feminine hygiene products pose to your health AND what can you do to ensure you keep your body safe and healthy?

Keep reading to find out…

3 Dangerous Chemicals Found in Most Feminine Hygiene Products

First and foremost, we believe women should be educated about the dangerous chemicals that are commonly used in tampons, pads, and panty liners.

While there’s a laundry list of chemicals on the box that we could talk about, there are 3 majorly unsettling ingredients that we’re going to highlight today.

Ingredient #1 - Rayon

If you go to your bathroom right now and read the label on your tampon box, we can almost guarantee that rayon will be one of the top ingredients on the list.

It’s a pretty common fiber--in fact, even clothing items, like shirts, contain rayon fibers. For this reason, many people don’t think twice about it.

What you might not know about rayon is that it’s a synthetic ingredient made from sawdust. Due to the chemical makeup of this material, rayon is most closely associated with toxic shock syndrome--an illness that can be deadly to women.

Now you know why tampon boxes come with warning labels that discuss the risks of toxic shock syndrome.

Ingredient #2 - Dioxins

Most feminine hygiene products are vibrantly white--a marketing tactic that makes products (especially those that will be used on or in the body) appear as clean and sterile.

That being said, bright white isn’t a color that naturally exists. So, how do companies get their products so white?

The answer is bleach.

When bleach is used as part of a manufacturing process, dioxins are released.

The scary thing about dioxins: They are associated with female hormone disruption and autoimmunity.

Ingredient #3 - Synthetic Fragrances

A lot of feminine hygiene products are laced with fragrances which are advertised as a benefit to help keep you smelling fresh and clean.

Certainly, no one wants to trail around with an unpleasant odor. But, at what cost?

The reason fragrances can be so dangerous is because they are considered proprietary ingredients. This means they don’t have to be disclosed on ingredient lists.

How scary is that?

Everything from formaldehyde to carcinogens has been found in fragrances.

It’s silly to put your body at risk...especially when basic hygiene practices like changing your pad or tampon every 6-8 hours can keep you clean and smelling fresh.

Safe Alternatives to Mainstream Feminine Hygiene Products

At Pure Modern Living, we take pride in stocking our virtual shelves with safe, natural hygiene products.

For example, one product we highly recommend is the Diva Cup.

The Diva Cup is a silicone device that is worn during your menstrual period.

It’s 100% latex-free, plastic-free, acrylic and acrylate-free, BPA-free, phthalate-free, odorless and is free of colors and dyes.

It can be worn for up to 12 hours and comes with a leak-proof guarantee when worn correctly!

Best of all, it can be reused which saves you hundreds of dollars per year on feminine products all while protecting your health and safety.

Give it a try!

If you prefer a more traditional type of hygiene products, we also recommend The Honest Company Cotton Tampons.

This product is made with 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and offers a plant-derived plastic compact applicator.

You can also rest assured that these items are made without fragrances, deodorants, rayon, or synthetic superabsorbents which maximize your protection while minimizing your risk of absorbing harmful chemicals.

Give them a try!

Finally, if you’re in need of pads or panty liners we recommend Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Maxi Pads.

These highly absorbent pads are NEVER bleached, ensuring that no harmful dioxins ever come in contact with your skin.

Furthermore, they don’t contain any dyes or fragrances that are found in most other panty liner brands.

Give them a try!

It’s shocking to see what many companies can get away with putting in their products.

Yet, it’s equally exciting to see more and more safe and natural feminine products hit the market.

At the end of the day, it’s all about education. Don’t be afraid to do your own research to decide what will work best for you and your body.

Best of luck finding safe solutions that work for your individual needs!