Toxins in Feminine Hygiene Products Increase Risks of Serious 

Health Issues in Women.

The overall purpose of using feminine care products is to clean, moisturize, absorb discharges, and provide treatment for sensitive tissues of the female parts. These widely used items are including; tampons, pads, feminine wipes, feminine washes, feminine deodorants, and feminine anti itch creams. This article explores a number of chemicals found in feminine products and that how they are posing risk of serious illnesses to women.

How Feminine Products Are Affecting Women's Health?

Female parts are made up of mucosal tissue without protection of usual skin. Vaginal tissue contains of many blood and lymphatic vessels allowing quick and direct transfer of chemicals and medicines to the circulation. For example, the vaginally applied dose of Estradiol (estrogen) impacts the blood level of this hormone 10 to 80 times more than oral version of the same dose. Therefore, similarly vaginal exposure to any hormone like chemicals or toxins will have a greater impact on the body than what is considered safe level under normal conditions such exposure from food or skin care products.

Do We Know What Is In The Feminine Hygiene Products?

Despite the fact that we know chemicals are absorbed easily though vaginal exposure and distribute readily throughout the body, unfortunately, there is no or very little research done related to the impacts of the chemicals found in feminine products. Furthermore, when it comes to regulations the feminine product are categorized under cosmetics, medical devices, and over the counter medication.

Based on the FDA's statement: "Companies and individuals who manufacture or market cosmetics have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of their products. Neither the law nor FDA regulations require specific tests to demonstrate the safety of individual products or ingredients. The law also does not require cosmetic companies to share their safety information with FDA.”

Feminine items like tampons and pads are considered medical device; and unlike the cosmetics it is not required that manufacturers to disclose the list of the ingredients or chemicals used to manufacture them to the public.

Anti itch cream and similar products are considered over the counter and only the safety of the active ingredients are reviewed which means the non medicinal ingredients are not reviewed for their safety.

Do Feminine Hygiene Products Contain Toxic Ingredients?!

Tampons are known to be very simple made from cotton, rayon, viscose, cellulose, wood fluff, or other pulp fibers. However these ingredients are highly bleached with chemicals and plants which they are sourced from are exposed to many chemicals and pesticides. Third party test results found dioxins, furans, and residues of pesticides in tampons. FDA guide lines suggest that the tampons to be free from Diaxin TCDD and TCDF and any pesticide but this recommendation is not mandatory.

Third party testing results was negative for TCDD but positive for Dioxin TCDF, other types of Diaxins, and furans in all four different marketed brands of products. The study further suggests that the health risks of the exposure to such chemicals is 100 to 1000 times higher from tampons compared to food and other environmental exposures.

Extra clean white look of the tampons and pads is because of the usage of chlorine bleach, which can create toxic dioxin and other by products. Studies show the dioxin accumulates in the fatty tissues. The US Environmental Protection Agency suggests that dioxin is a serious public health concern and there is no safe lave of exposure limit for it. Published reports have linked minimal amount of dioxin to abnormal tissue growth in abdominal and pelvic areas, abnormal cell growth, suppressed immune system, and hormonal imbalance.

Another study conducted testing for pesticides on one brand of tampon and found positive amounts of Dichlofluanid, Fensulfothion, Malaoxan & Malathion, Methidathion, Mecarbam, Piperonyl Butoxide, Procymidone, and Pyrethrum. Even though the amount of each pesticide was very little, it was against the FDA recommendation of tampons to be free of pesticides.

Fragranced tampons are source of another risk of exposure to unknown chemicals. One fragrance can be made from up to 3000 different compounds, and the manufactures do not provide the formula or the compounds that they use to make it. Based on the ingredients' list provided by International Fragrance Association, a fragrance can contain allergens, carcinogens and estrogen like compounds.

The same issues are associated with pads. Pads and the chemical compounds in them are often found to be the reason for rash, allergies, skin irritations, dermatitis. A small study found patients who complained from symptoms of itching and burning were using a particular brand of pad and when they stopped using that brand the symptoms went away.

Feminine wipes usually contain variety of preservatives and fragrance. All of those preservatives are known as allergens causing dermatitis, itching, and burning sensations. Studies show Parabens and Formaldehyde from wipes are linked to increase risk of cancer. As we know Parabens are estrogen like toxins that are detected in some types of breast cancer and could be found in vaginal creams, and feminine washes as well.

Feminine washes are often contain certain dyes such as D& C Red #33 or Violet #2 which supposed to be for external use only. FDA 's explanation of external use is" Does not apply to the lips, or any body surface covered by mucus membrane. For instance, if a color additive is approved for use in externally applied cosmetics, you may not use it in products such as lipsticks unless the regulation specifically permits this use".

Vaginitis is one of the very common issues for women, and that means more likely women use anti itch over counter creams for treating the irritating symptoms of itching and burning.  However, often over the counter anti Itch creams contain allergens which actually could contribute to more discomfort. Benzocaine is one of the ingredients used in anti itch creams which temporarily will numb the area but it can cause skin irritation and allergy, so when the numbing effect is gone the problem returns with more irritation. In addition, some over the counter anti itch creams also contain parabens and fragrance just adding to the problem.

What Are the Safer Alternative Options for Feminine Products?

The best is to reduce vaginal usage of unnecessary items that are marketed to women such as vaginal washes and just keep the usual routine good hygiene practice. Vaginal washes actually change the Ph and alter the population of vaginal normal flora. Frequent usage of vaginal wash and douche increases the possibility of vaginal infections and irritation.

Switch to the hypoallergenic brands, those using clean sources, avoiding harmful bleach and fragrance for their products, and providing list of ingredients that they use to make their products. Chlorine free organic cotton tampons and pads, washable pads ,and menstrual cup are the safe alternatives.

Get to know the underlying cause of the vaginal irritations and frequent vaginal infections, rather than using an easy fix like over the counter anti itch creams. For maintenance is recommended to use the natural based creams or suppositories with probiotics.

Be Aware of Marketing Traps:

Some bands on the package state "Elemental Chlorine Free Bleaching" which means they have not used chlorine gas bleaching process, but it does not mean it is Chlorine free, as they often use other types of chlorine in the bleaching process.

Hygiene products made from recycled cotton or other fabrics are not making the products any better, as it does not mean that they are free from pesticides and diaxin.

Articles and products featured by Health Palace are collected from a variety of sources and are provided as a service by Health Palace. These newsletters, while of potential interest to readers, do not necessarily represent the opinions nor constitute the advice of Health Palace. Presented materials are only for information purposes and do not intent to treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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34.Conventional Feminine Care Products: A Women’s Issue With Toxic Implications

35.Synthetic blend cheaper to produce: http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/10/wh...

36.Blend has higher capacity to absorb liquid than cotton: www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/behind_th...

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