We have come a long way, ladies!
In the 1800s, American and European women DIY’ed their own menstrual products. They would use a piece of woven fabric or flannel to catch blood or use something called a “menstrual belt” which would be fastened to the underwear and the fabric attached to the belt would absorb the blood.
Fast forward to modern times and we have many more options:
- disposable sanitary pads
- washable sanitary pads
- tampons
- menstrual cups
- menstrual discs
- period underwear
Of course, way back in the 1800s, fabric was fabric and there was no modern “processing” done to it which would add anything artificial to the fabric. With chemicals and toxins added to our everyday products to make them more appealing to the eye, better convenience for use or more profitable for companies, it’s time to zero in on menstrual products, specifically “period underwear” and see what is added to these items that 1.8 billion women worldwide use every month.
Recently, there has been quite a bit of buzz surrounding PFAS (Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances). PFAS are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. PFAS are also known as “forever chemicals” as they are the most persistent, synthetic chemicals to date. Because of PFAS’ molecular structure, it is hard to break down in the body and they usually settle in your blood and organs, building up over time.
Here is an example of what a PFAS compound looks like:
They have been linked to
- decreased fertility
- high blood pressure
- cancer
- developmental delays in children
- hormone disruption
- high cholesterol
- weakening of immune system
PFAS can be found in:
- cleaning products
- water resistant fabrics like umbrellas, raincoats and tents
- nonstick cookware
- shampoo
- dental floss
- nail polish
- eye makeup
- stain-resistant coatings on carpets and upholstery
- fire-fighting foam
- paints and sealants
- fast-food packaging
- electronics
- candy wrappers
- pesticides
- microwave popcorn bags
- pizza boxes
- tap water
Last month, the FDA banned the sale of PFAS in “grease-proofing” substances which include fast-food wrappers, popcorn bags and pet food bags due to PFAS being linked to cancer and other negative health effects.
A victory? Yes, a small one. I will celebrate when PFAS are eliminated ENTIRELY from ALL products.
Now let’s talk about PFAS and menstrual products….
Consumer watchdog sites, Mamavation and Environmental Health News conducted a series of lab tests between 2020 and 2022 and found that 48% of sanitary pads, incontinence pads and panty liners tested were found to contain PFAS. Furthermore, 22% of tampons and 65% of period underwear tested also contained PFAS.
Leah Segedie, founder and editor of Mamavation, noted that out of the 22 products tested for PFAS, 13 of those 22 products were advertised as “organic”, “non-toxic”, “natural”, “sustainable” or “no harmful chemicals”.
As you can see period underwear had the highest percentage of PFAS. So what makes up period underwear?
Per Web MD: These absorbent underpants have multiple layers of microfiber polyester. They look like regular underwear, but they’re designed to keep moisture away from your skin as they soak up menstrual blood. The fabric in period underwear contains a moisture-wicking fabric made up of thousands of small filaments. These fibers trap blood or other liquid to keep it from leaking onto your clothes. The outer layer usually includes nylon and Lycra, and is then finished with a liquid-repellent film.
PFAS would be used in the “moisture-wicking” and “leak-proof” characteristics of the underwear since PFAS are used to resist liquids.
In 2020, a journalist, Jessian Choy, sent several pairs of Thinx, a popular brand of period underwear, to the University of Notre Dame Laboratory and they confirmed that their underwear contained PFAS. If you would like to read Choy’s reporting click here.
Thinx’s CEO at that time, Maria Molland, refuted Choy’s claims and said they used a toxicologist to review Choy’s findings and found there were “no detectable long-chain PFAS chemicals” and accused Choy of misleading consumers.
Thinx was also involved in a class-action lawsuit brought forth by Nicole Dickens in NY saying Thinx is marketed as a safe, healthy and sustainable choice for women when in fact they are contaminated with harmful chemicals such as PFAS; harmful to a woman’s body and the environment.
Thinx denied those allegations and claimed PFAS was never a part of the original design of the period underwear and will take precautions to ensure PFAS are never added to their products.
The settlement was resolved with Thinx reimbursing consumers who purchased their period underwear and promising to spend $$$ to make some marketing and product modifications. They denied any guilt.
If you would like to review the full court document click here.
As of today, the federal government has done NOTHING to protect us from PFAS; however, some states are choosing to pass legislations to ban (some are passed bans and some are pending) PFAS:
- Ban on PFAS in Food Packaging: CA, CO, CT, HI, ME, MD, MN, NY, OR, RI, VT and WA
- Ban on PFAS in Carpets/Rugs: CA, CO, ME, MD, MN, NY, VT, and WA
- Ban on PFAS in Cosmetics: CA, CO, MD, MN, OR and WA
- Ban on PFAS in Fire-Fighting Foam: CA, CO, CT, HI, IL, ME, MD, MN, NH, NY, VT and WA
Also for a list of retailers vowing to phase out PFAS from their products, click here.
So what’s a gal to do when choosing a safe, PFAS-free menstrual product?
If you prefer tampons, Mamavation suggested using these brands:
- Honey Pot
- Lola
- Live Better
- Natracare
- Seventh Generation
- Viv For Your V
- TOP
- OI Girl
- My Box Shop
If you prefer pads, Mamavation suggested using these brands:
- Le Fresh
- Live Better
- Livlit
- Lola
- Natracare
- OrganYc
- Sandis
If you prefer period underwear, Mamavation suggested using these brands:
- Lilova
- Aisle
- Bambody
- Innersy
- Bali
- Modi Bodi
- Revol
- Saalt
- June
- Period
- Intimate Portal
If you prefer a menstrual cup, good news….no PFAS are found on these cups (made of silicone), but Mamavation did suggest some brands based on the quality and durability of these cups:
- Lena Cup
- Eva Cup
- Sckoon Cup
- Diva Cup
- Lunette Cup
- Moon Cup
- Daisy Cup
As women, having a menstrual cycle is stressful enough and we don’t need to be endangering ourselves even further. It is imperative to read labels and, if you are wanting to make a difference, to contact your state representatives and address your concerns about PFAS.
Until next time…..see you later, ovulator!
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