Most tampons are composed of cotton and rayon. Rayon was traditionally bleached using chlorine gas, producing dioxins; however, modern bleaching processes have reduced dioxins to trace levels.
No matter if you opt for regular or organic tampons, their use will not reduce your risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS), which depends on absorbency and length of use.
What is Hormone-Free Tampons?
Daye’s all-natural organic cotton tampons have been developed with guidance from gynaecologists and feature biodegradable cardboard applicators or no applicators at all, free from dyes, rayon, chlorine and pesticides; additionally they come packaged in eco-friendly boxes for optimal use.
While tampon cores typically comprise cotton, many brands now utilize rayon or semi-synthetic fibres for easier insertion and removal, as well as to absorb chemicals used for fertiliser processing or fertiliser application. These materials also increase comfort for users while providing extra absorbency when used with fertilisers or processing chemicals.
Studies conducted recently discovered that one of the most widely available commercial tampon brands contain detectable levels of oestrogen, an important hormone. Researchers speculate this might be caused by what’s known as the “first uterine pass effect”, in which chemicals pass directly from tampon into the uterus without first being processed by metabolism.
Although this finding was widely publicized by media, molecular pharmacologist Ian Musgrave from University of Adelaide and gynaecologist Alex Polyakov say there should be no cause for alarm; as their concentration of oestrogen in tampons was very low and would need to be consumed over a prolonged period for any biological effects to appear.
Why Choose Hormone-Free Tampons?
Vaginal skin is especially susceptible to chemical absorption, making natural feminine care products particularly important. Traditional tampons are typically constructed of cotton or rayon (cellulose fibers derived from wood pulp), or both materials combined; FDA recommendations specify tampons should be free from dioxins (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and furans), metals, pesticide residues or herbicides.
Organic cotton tampons use elemental chlorine-free bleaching processes for bleaching to lower the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS), caused by synthetic estrogen accumulation in the bloodstream.
Organic tampons can help reduce waste: some brands feature biodegradable and recyclable cardboard applicators; while other don’t come equipped with one at all. But organic doesn’t eliminate TSS risk completely; its impact depends on absorbency level and duration of use – and the FDA advises changing tampons every four to eight hours with the lowest absorbency level possible.
How to Choose Hormone-Free Tampons
The feminine hygiene aisle can be dauntingly confusing. Many tampon brands use vague terms like ‘light’,’regular’ and ‘jumbo’ which can refer to different absorbency levels of their products. If you are new to menstruating, select the lowest absorbency tampon that meets your flow–be sure not to exceed recommended wear times to avoid Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).
Look for organic cotton, which is free from pesticides linked to hormone disruption and reproductive harm, when shopping for tampons. Look out for ones with minimal packaging – many organic tampons come equipped with reusable or cardboard applicators that reduce plastic waste while can still be thrown out when your period ends.
Look for credible third-party certifications like GOTS, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and Made Safe to ensure organic and chemical-free tampons. Unlike skincare products however, tampons don’t need to disclose ingredients by law, if this worries you then using Clearya can scan ingredients lists for hormone disrupting agents.
What to Look for in Hormone-Free Tampons
Look for organic cotton tampons free of chlorine, dyes, perfumes and other harmful chemicals. Check for certification by the Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS), which verifies their organic quality as well as ethical production methods.
Women often prefer unbleached tampons because bleaching leaves toxic dioxins behind in cotton fibers that have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption and reproductive harm.
Your preferred absorbency level should also play a part in making your decision. Dr. Erica Montes, an obstetrician-gynecologist and pH-D Feminine Health adviser, suggests starting off with the lightest tampon that works without leaking and gradually increasing absorbency over time.
Other factors to keep in mind when shopping for period products include applicator type. While some brands use plastic or cardboard applicators, other have none at all or none at all! Price and accessibility also matter greatly, which luckily New York state requires all tampon companies to disclose their ingredients (check Clearya to help detect toxics!). Therefore, more information regarding what you put into your vaginal canal the better it will be for both yourself and for future health!
