When it comes to getting your body ready for fertility, it's easy to focus solely on diet and exercise. While these are undoubtedly important, there's another crucial aspect you shouldn't overlook: detoxifying from harmful toxins. These toxins can be found not only in your food and environment but also in everyday products you use, including tampons.
Did you know that tampons, often made from cotton and rayon, are classified as "medical devices" by the FDA? Surprisingly, manufacturers aren't required to disclose all ingredients. Many mainstream tampons contain harmful substances like plastics, dyes, fragrances, phthalates, and parabens. These chemicals can enter your bloodstream through the vaginal walls, potentially causing serious health issues, including fertility challenges. Concerns include anovulation, impaired implantation, and fetal viability loss. Some chemicals can also disrupt hormones, affecting those trying to conceive or who are pregnant.
Additionally, a recent study led by UC Berkeley researchers analyzed 16 metals in 30 tampons from 14 brands, finding that metal levels varied by purchase location (US vs. EU/UK), organic vs. non-organic, and store vs. name brands. All tampon types contained metals, with non-organic tampons showing higher lead levels and organic ones containing more arsenic. While the study did not pinpoint exactly how metals end up in tampons, the authors noted that potential sources of contamination include contaminated water, air, soil, nearby pollutants, and the manufacturing process.
It’s important to remember that while metals have been detected in tampons, we don’t yet fully understand their potential health risks. Future research will investigate how much of these metals might leach into and be absorbed by the body. In the meantime, it's important to be mindful of the products we use daily and make informed choices to protect our health.
Just as we scrutinize additives in our food, we should be equally vigilant about the ingredients in our tampons. Here are a few options to minimize exposure to these potentially harmful substances:
These options offer superior comfort, are budget-friendly, convenient for travel, eco-friendly, and entirely TOXIN-FREE!
Small changes in your feminine care routine can significantly reduce toxin exposure and support your fertility journey. Want to learn more about the impact of menstrual products on fertility? Check out our blog post and podcast linked below:
Are your menstrual products hurting you?
How To Know If Your Menstrual Products Are Harming Your Fertility
Let’s connect and talk about how the Fab Fertile Program could help you and your partner achieve pregnancy success! Book your free 15 minute call here.
Marroquin J, Kiomourtzoglou MA, Scranton A, Pollack AZ. Chemicals in menstrual products: A systematic review. BJOG. 2024 Apr;131(5):655-664. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.17668. Epub 2023 Sep 24. PMID: 37743685.
Pizzorno J. Environmental Toxins and Infertility. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2018 Apr;17(2):8-11. PMID: 30962779; PMCID: PMC6396757.
Shearston JA, Upson K, Gordon M, Do V, Balac O, Nguyen K, Yan B, Kioumourtzoglou MA, Schilling K. Tampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s. Environ Int. 2024 Jun 22;190:108849. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108849. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38963987.
