You’re used to thinking about what’s in the food you eat. Maybe you read the labels to check the ingredients so you can avoid too much salt or lots of preservatives. Your period products, including tampons and pads, have ingredients in them, too.
You’ll also use a lot of them. The average woman will use about 11,000 menstrual products over the course of a lifetime. That’s a lot of tampons and pads. It also adds up to about 5 years of exposure to whatever chemical ingredients are in the products you buy. If you have a heavy period, you’ll go through even more tampons and pads than the average person.
Tampons and pads are generally considered safe to use. They’re made mainly of cotton or rayon. Sometimes they have both. But you might wonder or worry about whether tampons may have metals or other harmful chemical contaminants in them. Tampons and pads also can have antimicrobials, fragrances, and other chemicals in them that keep them from sticking.
There isn’t much evidence, but it’s possible that the chemicals in period products could get into your body. The skin in your vagina and vulva is more absorbent than in other parts of your body. This part of your body has lots of blood vessels. So chemicals in period products could get into your body without breaking down. If you’re worried about what’s in the period products you’re using, there are some steps you can take to reduce your exposure.
What Are Chemicals in Period Products?
Even though period products could cause chemical exposures, it turns out not a lot was known about what was in them. Recently, that’s started to change. One recent review looked at 15 studies measuring chemicals in menstrual products. Overall, the studies show that period products do have chemicals in them. These include:
- Phthalates
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Parabens
- Phenols
- Fragrances
- Dioxins and other dioxin-like compounds
They say more study is needed. For example, there isn’t a lot known about what’s in newer products.
Phthalates in Period Products
Multiple studies looked at phthalates in tampons, pads, or panty liners. The studies looked at products sold in different parts of the world. They found certain phthalates were highest in pads from countries including:
- United States
- Japan
- South Korea
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- Germany
One reason people worry about phthalates is that they can act as endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can act like hormones in your body. Sometimes they might block or get in the way of your body’s natural hormones. Since period products like tampons are placed inside your vagina, it’s possible that phthalates or other chemicals could get into your system.
Dioxins in Period Products
Dioxins are another chemical people worry about in period products. Studies have found dioxins in pads and tampons. The amounts can vary. For example, one study measured more of one dioxin in regular absorbency tampons than in super plus tampons.
Dioxins aren’t put into period products on purpose. They’re a byproduct of manufacturing. For example, dioxins are made when you bleach materials like paper or cotton. Like phthalates, dioxins also act as endocrine disruptors.
Volatile Organic Compounds in Period Products
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that can turn into vapor in the air. Many products have VOCs in them, including period products.
VOCs can get into water sources, including groundwater and drinking water. They can affect the quality of the air you breathe. If you’re around vapors from VOCs, you could have:
- Irritation in your eyes, nose, or throat
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Damage to organs, including kidneys or your liver
Some VOCs have been linked to cancer.
Fragrances in Period Products
Your period products also may have substances in them to give them a scent. You can reduce your exposure to fragrance chemicals by using period products that aren’t scented.
Environmental Phenols and Parabens in Period Products
Studies also have found phenols and parabens in many pads, tampons, and panty liners. For example, Bisphenol A (BPA) was in more than 92% of tampons. It also was in 69% of panty liners and 72% of pads.
BPA is an ingredient used in many plastics. You can find it in food packaging, toys, and other products. Along with other chemicals in period products, BPA acts as an endocrine disruptor.
Metals in Period Products
A 2024 study found toxic metals in multiple tampon brands. The study looked for levels of 16 different metals including:
- Arsenic
- Barium
- Calcium
- Cadmium
- Cobalt
- Chromium
- Copper
- Iron
- Manganese
- Mercury
- Nickel
- Lead
- Selenium
- Strontium
- Vanadium
- Zinc
The study found varying levels of metals in tampons. But they found detectable levels of every metal they tested. The amount varied depending on many factors such as whether the tampons were organic or not. It also varied if they were a name brand or store brand and the country where they were made. But none of the tampons had predictably lower levels of metals. For example, tampons that weren’t organic had more lead. But organic tampons had more arsenic. The studies showed zinc had the highest levels.
It isn’t clear why tampons have metal in them. It’s possible the metal gets absorbed into the cotton used to make them. They might be part of other ingredients used to color or whiten tampons. More study is needed to find out if metals in tampons can get into your system. But the findings show tampons might lead to metal exposure for anyone who has periods and uses tampons.
PFAS in Period Products
Many period products and their packaging also have per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in them. PFAS include thousands of compounds used to give products nonstick or water-resistant properties. They’re found in lots of products, not just period products.
PFAS also are called “forever chemicals.” That’s because they don’t break down easily. They’ve been linked to health conditions, including cancer. It isn’t known if PFAS in period products can get into your skin.
Toxins in Menstrual Cups and Period Underwear
More people are using reusable period products including menstrual cups and period underwear in place of tampons and pads. These products reduce waste. They might also lower exposures to chemicals, including toxins. But because these products are newer, they haven’t been tested as much to find out whether they have harmful chemicals in them.
What Are Health Concerns of Period Product Toxins?
There’s not a lot known about the chemicals in period products or how they affect your health. But period products do have lots of chemicals in them. Over your lifetime, you could have lots of exposure to any chemicals in those products. Evidence is limited. But because of the way period products are used, experts say they could play a role in certain health conditions, such as:
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids
- Adenomyosis
Endocrine disruptors found in period products can have many health effects. These may include effects on:
- Fertility
- Puberty
- Nervous system function
- Immunity
- Cancer risk
- Respiratory Problems
Keep in mind that these chemicals are in many products, not just period products.
Tips to Reduce Toxin Exposure From Period Products
It’s hard to know exactly what’s in your period products. One reason is that some substances aren’t added as ingredients. They may be contaminants or byproducts. But there are some ways you can try to reduce your exposure to toxins, including replacing your regular single-use tampons and pads with reusable or less toxic alternatives, such as:
- Organic cotton tampons or pads
- Silicone or medical-grade menstrual cups or disks
- Reusable fabric pads
Some countries label tampons and pads to show that they don’t have any fragrances, perfumes, formaldehyde, or other chemicals in them. They can’t have phthalates either. Avoid products that have been bleached with chlorine and those that are scented. Choose products with labels that tell you they’re free of phthalates or other endocrine disruptors. Choosing products with less plastic also may limit your exposure to certain chemicals.
Ask your doctor if you’re not sure which tampons or pads to use to limit your exposures. The FDA offers these tips for using tampons safely:
- Use tampons according to the directions on the label.
- Wash your hands before and after you use them.
- Don’t use tampons when you’re not on your period.
- Change your tampon every eight hours or more often.
- Use tampons with the lowest absorbency you need.
- Stop using tampons if you’re noticing pain or other symptoms.
- See a doctor right away if you have signs of toxic shock syndrome (TSS), including sudden fever, fainting, or vomiting.
