Special Guest Blog Post By:
Ann Murphy is a certified holistic health coach with a background and degree based in Integrative Health. Ann Murphy writes as a contributor concerning a wide range of health, beauty, and lifestyle topics.
Culture | Sustainablility | Pregnancy | Parenthood | Shop 10% Off Period Care code: ANN10
Choosing Organic Feminine Products
Just as we have the option of choosing organic fruits and vegetables, women also have the beneficial option of choosing organic feminine products including organic pads to use during their period cycle.
What goes into and comes into contact with our body is important, and that doesn’t exclude the use of tampons and pads during a woman’s period.
Choosing organic feminine products means protection from certain chemicals and pesticides in regular cotton pads and tampons. These harmful Chemicals, Dioxin, Pesticides, Herbicides, etc. in the cotton and/or Ryon used for pads and tampons can be absorbed easily and quickly by the vagina.
Absorbing these chemicals can cause major disruptions in a woman’s endocrine system, which could lead to hormonal imbalance and prolonged or painful periods, and in the worst cases, it can cause Carcinoma Cancer. So, why aren’t we talking more about organic pads and what are the benefits of their use?
Chemicals Found In Non-Organic Pads
There is an unfortunate amount of hidden chemicals that can be found in women’s pads. Although feminine products are strictly regulated within the industry from containing too much of chemicals like asbestos, dioxin, and SAP “Super Absorbent Polymer”, that doesn’t mean that these still can’t cause negative effects even in small amounts.
The Absorbent Core of the Pads and tampons that aren’t made organically are also bleached/treated with chlorine to disinfect the fibers and give them their white appearance. Some Sanitary Pads and Tampons are mixed with artificial fragrances to help reduces the vaginal odor during Period Cycle. These artificial fragrances are harmful to the body and they cause yeast and allergy in the private parts of the body. Artificial fragrances have been studied to be a proven endocrine system disruptor, possibly altering the levels of the woman’s two most important hormones when it comes to menstruation: estrogen and progesterone.
In 2014, there was even a study done on the ingredients found in common period products that showed carcinogenic and reproductively toxic chemicals. These chemicals included:
- Styrene: carcinogen
- Chloromethane: reproductive toxicant
- Chloroethane: carcinogen
- Chloroform: carcinogen, reproductive toxicant, neurotoxin
- Acetone: irritant
Benefits of Using Organic Pads
Why choose organic pads over conventional feminine care products for your period? There’s a plethora of benefits, but the most important benefits are:
- Better contribution to the environment
- Products without any alarming chemicals
- Increased comfortability
Having the opportunity of choosing a product that is not only benefiting your body more but also benefits the environment and wildlife is a clear top-notch win.
Non-organic pads can take 800-1,000,000 years to decompose, versus organic pads which can take less than 2 years to fully decompose. This eco-friendly quality is also coupled with the fact that organic pads don’t contribute to the use of herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides that are used in traditional cotton farming. Here, you’re protecting yourself, the wildlife, waterways, and soil life.
Non-organic pads can sometimes be made with little to no cotton, leaving only plastic products within the material content. This results in an uncomfortable pad that can be irritating to the skin due to its rough texture.
Organic Sanitary Pads are made of organic cotton Top Sheet and Absorbent Core. These Pads allow the skin to breathe during their use because Cotton Fibers let the air flow through Pad’s structure.
So when it comes down to the choice of what pads to buy, it’s important to take into account your health, comfort level, and the health of the environment we all live to protect. Considering all of those points, our choice becomes clear.
