Major Side Effects of Pads and Tampons

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What are the side effects of tampons and pads?

Exercise at the gym regularly, eat healthy, and drink smoothies—you all know this drill. Women live in a world where being active and healthy is not only recommended, but is considered, and well, expensive at times. They have to check the nutritional value of the food they consume—check the cholesterol percentage and count the calories as there is a slight obsession to not only lose the extra weight, but to  eat organic and ensure they remain healthy.

With the craze to eat healthy and shed the extra weight, women often tend to overlook other vital factors that are at times considered unsafe and unhealthy. As such, how well do you know your preferred sanitary pads? Yet, there is a chance that you have been using the same brands of pads for a long time, maybe ever since you had your first periods.

Traditionally, girls have always listened to the recommendations provided by their mothers when it comes to purchasing the feminine hygiene products for their use. At times, there is a need to check whether the sanitary pads are safe enough before you can make your choice.

As a consumer, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are purchasing pads that will not harm you, or worse, end up killing you. It is the reason many women have made the decision to utilize organic menstrual pads, which do not have any plastic materials in them, menstrual caps, as well as menstruation panties. The following are some of the major side effects of pads:

Pads and tampons can cause cancer

Yes, sanitary pads can cause cancer. However, you should note that you do not just get cancer straight away. However, you should keep in mind the fact that you are using pads each month, and even though you are only exposed to low chemical contaminants that are in the pads at a time, with time, they can accumulate inside your body and this can in the long run threaten your reproductive health. As it is, the mere thought of having cancerous chemicals accumulate on your vagina is not only scary, but it is also sickening.

Important facts

1. The sanitary pads and tampons you use each month are primarily made from plastic materials. The chemicals used to manufacture plastic materials include BPS and BPA, which can complicate the development of an embryo. The chemicals, also known as plasticizers, can damage your organs when you are exposed to the chemicals for too long
2. Absorbent pads contain fiber, which has been known to cause cervical cancer. You should not that sanitary pads are not made from cotton alone, as they also contain cellulose gel.
3. Menstrual pads contain dioxin, which can lead to ovarian cancer
4. The sanitary napkins you use each month are intended to absorb wetness. It is the reason why apart from cotton, the napkins also contain a synthetic fiber also known as rayon. The synthetic fiber is deemed to be dangerous due to the fact that it contains dioxin. You will therefore find that when rayon gets bleached, it ends up releasing the dioxin.

Pads contain herbicides and pesticides

At this point, all women are aware of the fact that cotton is used when manufacturing sanitary pads. Like all other crops known to man, the cotton crop is also sprayed with herbicides and pesticides, which may cause harm, if they get to access your blood stream.

One of the potentially dangerous chemicals found in cotton is Furan, which stays on the crop until it is harvested. Therefore, imagine having Furan, a chemical contaminant inside your reproductive health system. Past experiments on animals have linked this chemical to cancer. Additionally, pesticides and herbicides have also been linked to infertility, thyroid function, as well as many other health problems.

Sanitary pads contain an environmental pollutant known as dioxin

Naturally, cotton is not ultra white. Given that many modern women prefer using purely white products — as it makes them feel that they are, putting on something clean and fresh, sanitary pad manufacturers have been known to use dioxin to assist them in bleaching the cotton.

What this means is that, unconsciously, women are paying a premium price for being concerned with neatness. Some manufacturers have in the past argued that they use very low dioxin levels when bleaching this cotton. However, according to recent studies by health experts, short-term exposure to dioxin has been seen to cause skin darkening, as well as alter the functioning of your liver.

In her lifetime, a woman may use as many as six thousand sanitary pads. You should therefore note that, if dioxin was to accumulate in your body, it could pose serious health concerns, as well as lead to diseases such as hormone dysfunction, ovarian cancer, diabetes, pelvic inflammatory disease, and immune system damage.

Pads can cause birth defect and infertility

The sanitary pads you use each month when you have your periods contain odor deodorants or neutralizers as all women hate the smell associated with blood–, which is understandable. Nevertheless, sanitary pad manufacturers will at times add chemicals in these scented pads, which may end up causing complications in the development of your baby’s embryo.

According to Dr. Axe, scented feminine hygiene products can cause irritation; hence, the need to ensure that one stays away from them, and uses non-scented products. According to Dr. Axe, scented feminine hygiene products can cause irritation; hence, the need to ensure that one stays away from them, and uses non-scented products. The scented products can cause yeast infection, which if not treated on time may lead to the development of other more serious health concerns.

Sanitary pads are prone to bacterial growth as well as many other infections

When you use sanitary pads for too long, you create a conducive environment for the growth of the staphylococcus aureus bacteria in the area surrounding your vagina. The bacteria is also known as the toxic shock syndrome. Some of its symptoms include diarrhea, dizziness, and fever.

The bacterium releases harmful toxins, which may cause an actual drop in your blood pressure levels. If this were to happen, it would be potentially dangerous, as it could mean that your blood would not be getting enough blood supply to function normally.

Sanitary pads are manufactured using synthetic materials that may cause blockage of wetness, and this can in return encourage the growth of bacteria in your vagina—compromising your reproductive health. It is the reason why many women often experience yeast infections as well as severe allergies.

Some women may assume that it is normal to have itchiness and allergies—this is a misconception. You need to understand that being a woman is not all about having your period each month or wearing makeup to look beautiful and appealing.

Lumps in the vagina

Another side effect that comes using sanitary napkins is that if they are worn for more than three hours, they can cause vaginal lumps, pimples and bumps, and this can lead to irritation, in addition to many other infections. As a woman, you need to exercise enough maturity—that will allow you to take control of your body, as well as manage your reproductive health in a responsible and mature manner. The woman’s body is often its weakest when she is menstruating. If proper measures are not taken during this phase, her health could end up being severely affected.

References;

1. http://ladyanionsanitarynapkins.blogspot.co.ke/2012/05/sanitary-napkins-silent-killer.html
2. http://www.boldsky.com/health/disorders-cure/2011/side-effects-sanitary-napkin-tampons-210311-aid0104.html
3. http://www.livestrong.com/article/108477-chemicals-sanitary-pads/
4. https://www.scoopwhoop.com/inothernews/are-tampons-and-ultra-thin-pads-bad/#.co5fhxfug