1. Can Cause Even More Odor
Nothing worse than being on your period than smelling like you are on one. Blood naturally has an odor. You've probably smelled it before! Refinery29 spoke with Taraneh Shirazian, MD, about the causes of period smell. "While there is nothing wrong with the natural blood smell (and the likelihood that it is noticeable to anyone but you is very small), Dr. Shirazian says keeping the surrounding area as dry as possible can help reduce it if it's bothering you"(Refinery29). Tampons block the flow of air and hold menstrual blood. Between the heat of the body and the lack of air, the smell can become uncomforting and a bit embarrassing when there is bacterial buildup. Tampons and pads are more likely to cause this odor and not something like a menstrual cup. Let's also not forget about what happens once they are thrown away. To reduce the smell, change your tampons often and give your vagina a chance to breathe. Just remember what Dr. Shirazian says "A healthy period smell just shouldn’t be fishy"(Refinery29) and you will be fine.
2. Might Cause Cancer
Because the FDA considers sanitary pads and tampons as "medical devices", they aren't held up to the same standards that food or beauty products are. The FDA gives companies more freedom over the ingredients used in feminine hygiene products. Companies are also not mandated to list the ingredients on the label or disclosed to the general public. While many brands of tampons do list some of the ingredients on their package, full disclosure still isn't mandatory. Meaning the true deep dirty ingredients are kept a mystery. Over the years information has leaked about companies to using toxic bleaching agents, as well as recycled trash to create both pads and tampons. The build-up of some of these toxins has the potential to cause reactions in the body. Alexandra Scranton, WVE’s director of science and research, reports: "Tampons are used by up to 85 percent of menstruating women and may contain dioxins or pesticide residues linked to cancer, hormone disruptors, allergens and irritants from fragrance"(Women's Voice's). While there are claims these toxins aren't dangerous since they are found commonly, studies have shown "Mucous membranes in the vagina and vulva rapidly absorb chemicals without metabolizing them"(Environ Health Perspect). Meaning they can build up instead of being cleaned out of our bodies. Efforts have been made to change the manufacturing of products, though many commercial tampons may still contain these chemicals.
3. They Might Make Cramps Worse
There is a growing number of women that believe that tampons make their menstrual cramps worse. They switched to menstrual cups and their symptoms subsided. There is no hard evidence saying that tampons will make your cramps worse and most health sites claim that tampons shouldn't cause them. Though with a list of semi-dangerous ingredients used in tampons, there are a number of possible chemicals factors. Tampons can sometimes cause swelling, which might result in cramps. If inserted incorrectly, they can bump into the cervix making the cramps appear to be more intense causing more discomfort. As well as the use of the wrong sizes can cause irritation in the vaginal walls. Check out this reddit thread filled with women who experience cramps from tampons. Hopefully formal research will be done to prove what these women are claiming.
4. Tampons Can Cause More Vaginal Infections
Even worse than being irritated is an infection. The body has its own ways of preventing infections but tampons can cause a disruption in some people. A healthy pH creates a barrier that prevents unhealthy bacteria and yeast from multiplying too quickly and causing infection. According to the CDC, "Bacterial vaginosis (usually just known as BV) is the most common vaginal infection in women ages 15-44"(CDC) and it happens when there are too much of certain bacteria in your vagina. Added ingredients such as scents can cause tampons to throw off your pH balance, leading to yeast and bacterial infections. If you have bacterial vaginosis, your doctor will likely give you a prescription for a topical cream or gel or a prescription for pills to restore the balance of bacteria. Changing tampons often can slow down the growth of bad bacteria
5. They Can Cause TSS
The possibility of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is something women hear about the moment they learn about tampons. TSS is an infection of staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria that can occur when you wear a tampon for too long (which is why they recommend no more than eight hours) and it can potentially kill you or paralyze you. TSS is fairly rare, (one or two out of every 100,000 women contract TSS) but that hasn't stopped women from being warned against it. You should probably be more worried about the chemicals and materials in your tampons than the rare possibility of TSS. Wendee Nicole interviewed Philip Tierno, a clinical microbiology and pathology professor at New York University and reported "In decades of research, Tierno has never seen a case of TSS with exclusive use of an all-cotton tampon. The bottom line, in his opinion: “Cotton is the best possible product.” However, all tampons can cause tiny tears in the vagina, which may provide entry for other chemicals or the TSS toxin" (Environ Health Perspect). Though remember that TSS can be caused by other factors at aren't menstrual related since it is a bacterial infection that enters the body from a break in the skin. Recommended guidelines to reduce the risk of TSS as reported by the NSH:
While researching this post, I couldn't help but feel sad that women are being harmed because of a natural bodily function. It's important to remember that if you are having issues to visit a doctor. Don't try self-diagnose your conditions. It could make things worse and cause you even more. Though don't worry, there are simple solutions to give you piece of mind when it comes to the products you use for your period.
Sources:
National Center for Health Research: http://www.center4research.org/tampon-safety/
Environmental Health Perspectives: https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/122-a70/
Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/vaginal-odor/basics/causes/sym-20050664
NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Toxic-shock-syndrome/
Refinery29: https://www.refinery29.com/2016/07/116837/period-blood-smell
WebMd: https://www.webmd.com/women/guide/understanding-toxic-shock-syndrome-basics#1
Women’s Voices for the Earth-http://www.womensvoices.org/2013/11/05/chem-fatale-report-highlights-dangers-in-feminine-care-products/
Disclosure:
The Information provided on this website is not medical advice and should not be viewed as such. By law, only a medical doctor can diagnose or give medical advice. As a basic researcher and blogger, my goal is to educate, so I provide information on skin, body and healthcare. If you have any condition that concerns you, please see a medical doctor. While most conditions are benign, some – can be deadly. If there is any doubt, please, please consult your physician.
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