Next Month, Go Natural

The average woman uses 20 tampons per menstrual cycle, and she will menstruate for approximately 40 years. That’s 240 tampons each year, or 9,600 over her lifetime.

So listen up ladies: There’s a whole lot of shady things we don’t know about our period products, and you deserve the facts on the products you’re going to use so frequently. Here’s why natural sanitary products are something you need to prioritize.

A Collection Of Chemicals

There’s an argument to be made that what you put on your skin is just as crucial as what you consume. Skin is highly permeable, especially the delicate skin in and around the vagina. Enzymes in the stomach can at least partially break down unwelcome chemical compounds, but products on the skin can absorb directly into the bloodstream, even accumulating in the body over time.

Feminine hygiene product manufacturers don’t have to disclose the ingredients because they’re considered medical devices, but turns out they contain plasticizing compounds like BPA and BPS, which disrupt embryonic development. The synthetic rayon makeup of pads and tampons traps heat and dampness, which can lead to yeast infections. Tampons and pads are also laced with pesticides and GMO cotton, and if you use the fragranced variety, you’re also getting polyethylene (PET), polypropylene and propylene glycol (PEG). These compounds are linked to hormone disruption, cancer, birth defects and infertility.

Also consider the stark white color of most pads and tampons. They’re doused in chlorine bleach, which creates dioxin, a toxic chemical byproduct that studies have proven collects in the body’s fatty tissues (and it seems likely it would, after 9,600 exposures). One EPA report says there is no safe level of exposure to this chemical, and it has been linked to suppression of the immune system, disruption of the endocrine system, abnormal tissue growth in the reproductive organs and abnormal cell growth throughout the body.

Awesome Alternatives

If the chemical cocktail in your usual brand of pads or tampons is sounding unappealing right about now, don’t worry. There are plenty of companies catering to periodconscious consumers. And although a few of these products may seem a little weird at first, keep an open mind. They’re all better than abnormal tissue growth from your monthly dose of dioxin.

Cloth Pads

Glad Rags offers organic cloth pads with two inserts to customize the product to the absorbency you need (gladrags.com, $18.99). They don’t contain any of the harmful chemicals of standard feminine hygiene products, and because they’re reusable, they’re great for the environment and your bank account. All you have to do is machine wash them in cold water, dry them on low heat and then store them flat so they’re ready for the next use.

Organic Tampons

For those who like their status as tampon users, organic cotton tampons are the way to go. Brands like LOLA (mylola.com, $10) and The Honest Company (honest.com, $6.95) make tampons from 100 percent cotton without dyes, fragrances or chlorine bleach, and their applicators are BPA-free.

Many brands still use plastic applicators, which take a huge toll on the environment. If you’d like to benefit your body and Mother Earth, opt for something like Free & Clear Organic Tampons from Seventh Generation (seventhgeneration.com). They’re bleached without chlorine and eliminate plastic packaging (which doesn’t make using them any more difficult, we promise).

There are many other options out there for purchasing organic tampons. We suggest a quick internet search to find a company that suites your needs.

Menstrual Cups

DivaCup produces the most well-known menstrual cup, a rubbery, cup-shaped product inserted into the vagina that can be worn up to 12 hours. Simply remove, empty the contents, rinse and reinsert for 12 more hours of leak-proof protection and no crazy compounds. DivaCups are available on amazon.com, walgreens.com, cvs.com and target.com.

Ruby Cup is a similar menstrual cup, but every online purchase includes a donation of one Ruby Cup to a female student in Africa (rubycup.com, $32-$40). That means no toxins in your body or hers, and she won’t have the financial burden of tampons or have to miss school while on her period.

Period Panties

Thinx offers period panties in six styles (shethinx.com, $24-$38 depending on the type) that absorb up to the same amount as two tampons, and you can wash them like normal underwear and reuse them. They’re antimicrobial, leak-resistant, moisture-wicking and absorbent. No crazy chemicals inside your body, and no purchasing a new box of tampons every month.

Beware Menstrual Sponges

Often touted as a wonderful, natural alternative to tampons, menstrual sponges are sea sponges inserted to absorb flow. This ancient method seems great, but a study by the University of Iowa found the sponges, because they’re sea creatures, contained sand, grit and bacteria. They can also harbor mold because they’ll be spending considerable time in a warm, damp environment. Although they don’t contain any of the harmful chemicals in standard products, use sponges at your own risk.