Conventional pads and tampons are usually made from cotton or bleached wood pulp blends and can contain rayon, glue and plastic. They often contain carcinogenic chemicals such as dioxins which harm both your body and the environment. Due to the highly absorbent, wet and porous environment in the vagina, these chemicals are absorbed straight into your bloodstream. In addition, the absorbent nature of a tampon creates a perfect breeding ground for bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureaus (Staph) which causes toxic shock syndrome. Tampons can also dry out and irritate the vagina, especially at the beginning and end of the cycle, causing irritation, discomfort and vulnerability to infection. Menstrual cups stocked by Sustainable Menstruation Australia are made from medical grade silicone, and as such do not absorb or emit anything to or from the body. This means cups can be safely left in for 12 hours at a time without causing dryness, irritation or infection. Medical grade silicone is hypo allergenic and so is perfectly safe for women with latex and rubber allergies. Some women also report shorter, lighter and less painful periods after successfully using menstrual cups for several cycles.
Do you know what chemicals are in your tampons?