Are Feminine HYGIENE Products Slowly HARMING You? (Plus Safe Alternatives).. By Dr Mercola
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The issue of safe feminine Hygiene product options is Rarely discussed, but it’s an Important topic for roughly a third of the population - to women.
Why? Your Skin is the Largest organ in your body, and also the Thinnest. Worse yet, your Skin is Highly Permeable/ absorent — especially the skin in and around the Vaginal area.
Anything coming in constant contact with your skin will land in your Bloodstream for distribution Throughout your body. This is why I’m so fond of saying:
“Don’t put anything on your body that you wouldn’t eat if you had to.”
Chemicals On your Skin may be Worse than eating them. At least enzymes in your saliva and stomach Help break down and flush chemicals from your body. But when they touch your skin, they’re absorbed Straight into your Bloodstream, going directly to your delicate organs. Once in your body, they can accumulate because you typically lack the necessary enzymes to break them down.
In my opinion, Feminine Hygiene products can be likened to a “Ticking Time Bomb” due to Years of exposure. The average American woman uses 16,800 tampons in her Lifetime — or up to 24,360 if she’s on estrogen replacement therapy.
And that’s Just tampons. Many women use different types of sanitary pads, alone or with tampons, and there’s also nursing pads.
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What's Really in Those Sanitary Pads and Tampons?..
How Little we’re told about the MATERIALS in Feminine products. In fact, Tampon and Sanitary Pad manufacturers are NOT required to disclose/ tell ingredients because feminine hygiene products are considered “MEDICAL DEVICES.”
In fact, Conventional Sanitary Pads can Contain the equivalent of about FOUR (4) Plastic bags! With everything we now know about the Hazardous/ dangerous nature of Plastic chemicals, this alone is Cause for Concern (!).
For example, Plasticizing chemicals like BPA and BPS disrupt Embryonic development. They’re linked to Heart Disease and Cancer.
Phthalates, which give paper Tampon applicators a Smooth finish, are known to Dysregulate gene expression, and DEHP may Lead to Multiple Organ Damage.
Synthetics and plastic restrict air flow and trap heat and dampness, potentially promoting yeast and Bacteria Growth in your vaginal area.
Besides crude oil plastics, conventional Sanitary Pads can also contain other potentially Hazardous/ Not good for health ingredients, such as Odor neutralizers and Fragrances(!).
.......................... .......................... .......................
The Price You Pay For 'Clean' WHITE Tampons And Pads..
How do Tampons and Pads get that Ultra-WHITE “Clean” look? Usually Chlorine Bleach, which can Create Toxic Dioxin and other Disinfection-by-products (DBPs) such as Trihalomethane. Studies show Dioxin collects in your Fatty tissues. According to an EPA draft report, Dioxin is a Serious Public Health Threat that has NO “safe” level of exposure! Published reports show that even trace dioxin levels may be linked to:
- Abnormal tissue growth in the abdomen and reproductive organs
- Abnormal cell growth throughout the body
- Immune system Suppression
- Hormonal and Endocrine system disruption
.......................... .......................... ....................
Beware Of Toxic Shock Syndrome(!)..
Remember:
Tampons create a Favorable environment for BACTERIA Growth. Micro-tears in the vaginal wall from tampons allow bacteria to Accumulate. One infamous risk is Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), caused either by poisonous toxins from Staphylococcus aureus (staph) or group A streptococcus (strep) bacteria. TSS is a life-threatening condition, so symptom recognition is crucial. Should any of the following symptoms occur during your tampon use, seek medical help immediately (!!!):
- Sudden high fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Low blood pressure
- Seizures
- Rash on palms or soles of feet
- Muscle aches
- Redness of your eyes, mouth and/or throat
.......................... .......................... ......................
To MINIMIZE Your Risk Of This Potentially Life-Threatening Condition..
- AVOID Super absorbent tampons – choose the Lowest absorbency rate to handle your flow
- NEVER leave a tampon inserted Overnight; use overnight pads instead
- When inserting a tampon, be ExtremelyCcareful(!) Not to Scratch your vaginal lining (AVOID Plastic Applicators)
- Alternate the use of tampons with Sanitary Napkins or mini-pads during your period
- Change tampons At Least every 4-6 hours
- Do NOT use a tampon between periods
- Safer Alternatives
..........................
The issue of safe feminine Hygiene product options is Rarely discussed, but it’s an Important topic for roughly a third of the population - to women.
Why? Your Skin is the Largest organ in your body, and also the Thinnest. Worse yet, your Skin is Highly Permeable/ absorent — especially the skin in and around the Vaginal area.
Anything coming in constant contact with your skin will land in your Bloodstream for distribution Throughout your body. This is why I’m so fond of saying:
“Don’t put anything on your body that you wouldn’t eat if you had to.”
Chemicals On your Skin may be Worse than eating them. At least enzymes in your saliva and stomach Help break down and flush chemicals from your body. But when they touch your skin, they’re absorbed Straight into your Bloodstream, going directly to your delicate organs. Once in your body, they can accumulate because you typically lack the necessary enzymes to break them down.
In my opinion, Feminine Hygiene products can be likened to a “Ticking Time Bomb” due to Years of exposure. The average American woman uses 16,800 tampons in her Lifetime — or up to 24,360 if she’s on estrogen replacement therapy.
And that’s Just tampons. Many women use different types of sanitary pads, alone or with tampons, and there’s also nursing pads.
..........................
What's Really in Those Sanitary Pads and Tampons?..
How Little we’re told about the MATERIALS in Feminine products. In fact, Tampon and Sanitary Pad manufacturers are NOT required to disclose/ tell ingredients because feminine hygiene products are considered “MEDICAL DEVICES.”
In fact, Conventional Sanitary Pads can Contain the equivalent of about FOUR (4) Plastic bags! With everything we now know about the Hazardous/ dangerous nature of Plastic chemicals, this alone is Cause for Concern (!).
For example, Plasticizing chemicals like BPA and BPS disrupt Embryonic development. They’re linked to Heart Disease and Cancer.
Phthalates, which give paper Tampon applicators a Smooth finish, are known to Dysregulate gene expression, and DEHP may Lead to Multiple Organ Damage.
Synthetics and plastic restrict air flow and trap heat and dampness, potentially promoting yeast and Bacteria Growth in your vaginal area.
Besides crude oil plastics, conventional Sanitary Pads can also contain other potentially Hazardous/ Not good for health ingredients, such as Odor neutralizers and Fragrances(!).
..........................
The Price You Pay For 'Clean' WHITE Tampons And Pads..
How do Tampons and Pads get that Ultra-WHITE “Clean” look? Usually Chlorine Bleach, which can Create Toxic Dioxin and other Disinfection-by-products (DBPs) such as Trihalomethane. Studies show Dioxin collects in your Fatty tissues. According to an EPA draft report, Dioxin is a Serious Public Health Threat that has NO “safe” level of exposure! Published reports show that even trace dioxin levels may be linked to:
- Abnormal tissue growth in the abdomen and reproductive organs
- Abnormal cell growth throughout the body
- Immune system Suppression
- Hormonal and Endocrine system disruption
..........................
Beware Of Toxic Shock Syndrome(!)..
Remember:
Tampons create a Favorable environment for BACTERIA Growth. Micro-tears in the vaginal wall from tampons allow bacteria to Accumulate. One infamous risk is Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), caused either by poisonous toxins from Staphylococcus aureus (staph) or group A streptococcus (strep) bacteria. TSS is a life-threatening condition, so symptom recognition is crucial. Should any of the following symptoms occur during your tampon use, seek medical help immediately (!!!):
- Sudden high fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Low blood pressure
- Seizures
- Rash on palms or soles of feet
- Muscle aches
- Redness of your eyes, mouth and/or throat
..........................
To MINIMIZE Your Risk Of This Potentially Life-Threatening Condition..
- AVOID Super absorbent tampons – choose the Lowest absorbency rate to handle your flow
- NEVER leave a tampon inserted Overnight; use overnight pads instead
- When inserting a tampon, be ExtremelyCcareful(!) Not to Scratch your vaginal lining (AVOID Plastic Applicators)
- Alternate the use of tampons with Sanitary Napkins or mini-pads during your period
- Change tampons At Least every 4-6 hours
- Do NOT use a tampon between periods
- Safer Alternatives