Health & Fitness

Why It's a Good Idea to Ditch Your Tampons

Why It's a Good Idea to Ditch Your Tampons

The tampon was designed to make a woman's life easier. Making her able to swim, move around and go through the day without worrying about blood stains. It was designed to fit perfectly inside the vagina and it absorbs every single drop of blood. Though many scientists claim that the tampon isn't as safe as people might think it to be. Bellow I'll state the two most important reasons (there are more) which scientists have agreed on that it is in fact a dangerous thing to insert a tampon.

Tampons are made with certain chemicals which is linked to health risks.

Tampons belong to the growing list of potentially hazardous personal care products. Amongst many other chemicals, tampons contain Dioxins. The World Health Organization calls dioxins “highly toxic” and categorizes them as a “known human carcinogen.” Other chemicals are chlorine and harsh pesticides. The fact that the vagina itself is naturally very absorbent makes this all extra terrifying.

"Unlike something you swallow, substances you place inside your vagina may not go through the body’s typical elimination and metabolic processes, says Ami Zota, an assistant professor of environmental health at George Washington University. Instead, tampon chemicals are absorbed by the vaginal mucosa, and from there are able to pass almost directly into your bloodstream.

Zota’s research shows fragranced feminine care products may raise a woman’s exposure to phthalates, a class of suspected endocrine disrupters some research has linked to developmental issues like lower IQs and higher rates of asthma."

That's not all ladies, tampons also increase the chance of getting cancer, obesity, brain disorders and reproductive issues due to certain chemicals which are called endocrine disruptors. (Recent reports from Europe pegged the healthcare costs of these chemicals somewhere north of $200 billion.)

You're basically inserting that tiny white thing inside and what your vagina does is absorbing all those dangerous chemicals into your body, unlike a pad.

"Studies have shown that hormone chemicals, like estrogen especially, will be absorbed vaginally at 10-80 times the rate that the same dose would be absorbed orally," notes Scranton. So it isn't hard to believe that any pesticides and chlorine present in the cotton used to make your tampon would be quickly absorbed through your vagina, too."

Take into consideration that FDA (Food and Drug Administration) doesn't regulate the ingredients used in tampons as well.

Why It's a Good Idea to Ditch Your Tampons

Meet Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Although it's rare, it does happen and the results of TSS (aka tampon disease) are plain horrible. Small parts of the fiber of a tampon could break off inside your vagina and I don´t need to explain how sensitive (for infections) and how broody it is inside the vagina. It could be the breeding place of bacteria caused by those small parts of fiber. Those bacteria, called Staphylococcus aureus, could get into your bloodstream and cause toxins. These toxins are so harmful, it could lead to losing limbs or even death. The longer a tampon is inside, the higher the risk to develop this dangerous bacterial infection.

Why It's a Good Idea to Ditch Your Tampons
Model who lost both of her legs because of TSS caused by a tampon (those are her feet dying off yes)
Model who lost both of her legs because of TSS caused by a tampon (those are her feet dying off yes)

Yes, it is rare but it happens and many realize too late what's going on. No one gives someone the warranty that they won't be the next one. This young model nearly died from it and was just in time in the hospital. She didn't expect it either nor knew about it's existence.

Anyways

These are the two most important reasons to ditch it. There are more reasons you can find on the internet. Whether you will ditch it or not is completely up to you. If you're not ditching it, I at least hope you'd be careful and read about the symptoms of TSS, because you never know.

Good day!

Why It's a Good Idea to Ditch Your Tampons
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