A guide to nontoxic period products ✦
Every day, approximately 800 million women menstruate.
American women spend more than $2 billion dollars on period products each year. On average, a woman will use about 15,000 pads or tampons during her life.
Despite the fact that half the population use them on a regular basis, the FDA still doesn’t require manufacturers to disclose the ingredients.
Because they're classed as "medical devices", there are hardly any FDA regulations around their ingredient safety.
Moreover, most of chemicals that end up in those products are entirely unregulated by the FDA & EPA — and little real research has been done on potential health risks.
Conventional pads & tampons — even some of the ones marketed as “clean” — are regularly found to be filled arsenic, lead, hormone-disrupting pesticides & dioxins.
Thinx, who previously marketed their period underwear as "PFA-free", was recently found to actually contain quite a substantial amount of PFAs. And they're not the only ones.
All of those toxins right next to our very absorbent, sensitive vaginal tissue on a regular basis? That can lead to some serious issues.
〰 Body Literacy 101: our vaginal tissue is full of blood vessels & lymph glands, which allow for chemicals to directly & easily transfer into our circulatory system.
Many women even report heavier & more painful periods when using conventional period products — not to mention the long-term health risks that come from regular exposure.
Ummmm okay, so do we just have to free-bleed!? 🩸
No! Though I’m not one to knock free bleeding, we have options — we just have to choose carefully.
And in order to choose carefully, we need to understand what the potential risks are & how to watch out for them.
Tampons, Pads & Pesticides
Conventional pads & tampons are full of endocrine disrupting, allergenic & straight up carcinogenic ingredients: pesticide residues, dioxins from the bleaching process, furans, unknown fragrance chemicals, adhesive chemicals, & plastics (as found in a study by Women's Voices For The Earth).
Regular exposure is linked to rashes & vaginal irritation, increased cramps & PMS, heavy &/or irregular periods, endometriosis, fibroids, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, & cancer.
The sad truth is that there are tons of brands marketing themselves as clean, while actually being full of plastic.
Tips for choosing pads & tampons:
Always choose organic!
Look for unbleached & fragrance-free
Opt for materials like hemp & bamboo
Watch out for plastic (& if you're opting for tampons, always look for BPA-free or biodegradable applicators)
Consider reusable pads
The best pad & tampon brands:
Menstrual Underwear & PFAs
PFAs are endocrine-disrupting chemicals often found in apparel, body products & nonstick pans. And now, many brands of menstrual underwear.
They're known as "forever chemicals" because they don't break down very easily (or at all), & can accumulate in our bodies (& in the earth).
Research is showing more & more just how toxic they are, & they've been linked to all sorts of health issues, like...
hormone dysregulation
endometriosis fibroids
heavy menstrual bleeding
thyroid dysfunction
fibrocystic breasts & breast tenderness
fertility problems
cancer
immune dysfunction
liver damage
developmental delays in children
Tips for choosing period underwear:
The number one thing to look for in period underwear is transparency! Look for brands that are regularly tested by independent parties, & who make the results of those tests readily available to you. Also look for full disclosure of all materials including fabric and treatments, as well as their manufacturing practices
You also want to look for organic, natural materials like organic cotton, hemp & bamboo. Also avoid nanomaterial silver, as well as antibacterials or antimicrobials.
The best period underwear brands:
Rif Care. Very cute, comfortable, and free of PFAS. Plus they’re Latina+AAPI owned. Get 15% off with code MOONBEAM.
Ruby Love. Cute, comfortable, & founded by a Black woman. They also make period swimwear!
Aisle. Their products are regularly tested & confirmed to have no detectable levels of PFAS. Plus they're size inclusive, ranging from XXS - 5X
Saalt Wear. Ethically made, incredibly comfortable, & actually cute. I reach for the TENCEL comfort boyshort every month!
Modibodi. Cute & made primarily with bamboo! Some of their underwear are biodegradable. They also make period swimwear & activewear.
Period.co. No detectable PFAs, plus they’re the most affordable options I’ve come across at just $12 per pair.
A note on cups
Menstrual cups are often touted as being the best, most convenient sustainable options. But here's something a lot of folks don’t realize (my old self included):
Internally inserted period products like the menstrual cup (& even tampons) can actually put a lot of pressure on our pelvic floor & contribute to cramping.
This is especially true for those with existing pelvic floor tension, inflammation (for example, from endo) and/or uterine misalignment.
This doesn't mean they're an issue for everyone! If you use a menstrual cup and love it, amazing. But if you're already dealing with cramping, it might not be the ideal choice for you.
Letting your blood flow down & out can do wonders for your body.
Want to try one out? I recommend Saalt, The Honey Pot, or Lunette.
〰
SOURCES:
Are Your Menstrual Products Hazardous To Your Health? by Dr. Aviva Romm
Hormone Intelligence by Dr. Aviva Romm
Chem Fatale by Women’s Voices For The Earth
Period Products: What’s in Them? from Made Safe
Everything Below the Waist by Jennifer Block
