Menstrual Cups vs Tampons and Pads - Part 2
Menstrual Cups vs Tampons and Pads - Part 2
In Part 1 of this series, we talked about all the risks that come with using mainstream brands, as well as an alternative that will be safer for you and the planet! In the second part below, we’re going to cover pads; and what we as women need to be aware of before using them...
Pads
If you thought pads might be a safe alternative to tampons, it’s, unfortunately, the opposite. Pads actually seem to be stuffed with an even more volatile combination of toxic chemicals! Below are a few that have been found:
Acetone - Sound familiar? Yeah, that’s nail polish remover. Would you ever willingly put that anywhere near your vagina?? Bet not! Acetone can not only harm the nervous system in large amounts, but it can also dry out your skin, causing it to become cracked and inflamed. Not a vibe.
Cellulose Tissue - This is a plant-based material that is extracted using sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. These two chemicals are highly caustic and toxic to people.
Sodium sulfide also reacts very badly to acids, by creating hydrogen sulfide… Not comforting when you think about how our natural discharge alone can be quite acidic at times.
Sodium hydroxide is terrible for your eyes and skin, and is particularly dangerous for mucous membranes… You know, like the vagina! If you’re unlucky enough to be allergic to it, however, it can cause burns and even hair loss.
Chloroethane - A known carcinogen (for mice) that can also be irritating your skin. I don’t know about you, but if it causes cancer in ANY living thing, I wouldn’t want it near me!
Chloromethane - This is a gas that is released by pads. It can impact both the nervous and reproductive system. This is even riskier for any woman that’s looking to have babies.
Chloroform - Known for being a knockout drug, this chemical can cause rashes when it comes in contact with your skin. It can also cause damage to your liver and kidneys.
Styrene - Another known carcinogen. It also causes fatigue, headaches, concentration issues, and general feelings of being unwell (malaise). You can also find it in styrofoam containers and cigarette smoke. Gross.
Wood Fluff Pulp - This sounds nice and natural, but it’s actually bleached with chlorine many times. Chlorine is found in a diluted form in swimming pools, but it’s still very poisonous to humans.
These are just a few of the ingredients you can find in ordinary pads. Pretty scary, right?? Just like tampons, even though these chemicals might only be present in “trace amounts,” you are exposed to much more over your lifetime with monthly uses of multiple pads. So what’s a girl to do then??
Luckily, there are actually quite a few much safer options to use instead of pads! You can wear period panties, or use washable cotton pads that are like a fabric version of the pads we talked about above. Both of these are also much better for the planet, so a big bonus there, too! Here is another great article about how you can detox your period with these.
However, there is one more thing I want to talk to you about! Read Part 3: Menstrual Cups for the final part of this series!
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