so...
back when i was a women's studies minor a DU, i wrote a final paper about the vilification of women's natural body processes - specifically, menstruation and breast feeding. what i found out in my research (secondary to my topic) is that most commercial tampons are treated with a chemical called dioxin. dioxin has been implicated in endometriosis (which, by the way is rising in incredible numbers). the reason tampon companies can get away with it is that the trace amounts of this chemical left in the tampon is considered harmless. --- here's the catch --- dioxins NEVER leave your body - they just build up - so a trace amount over the life of your period is - A LOT. your vagina has probably the most permeable membrane of your body - and dioxin NEVER leaves! for the love of all that's holy ladies - please use organic tampons ( i have no info on pads so if you use those do your own research)
even knowing this i resisted organic tampons for years. why? because my short-term convenience over-rode my newly gained knowledge. i look back and i think - what? so ask yourself what you are willing to risk?
ok - so here's my major deviation. i have used organic tampons for years now. but this month i am attempting sea sponge tampons. is there a reason i need to throw away tampons - even organic ones - every month?
so i am one day into my cycle, with favorable results so far. but it is usually the "dammit i bled through!" day on two or three so i will keep you posted
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TMI but I haven't needed to use tampons in a few years what with being pregnant and breastfeeding. Anyway, so a few years ago when I last checked, they had "natural" tampons or organic ones at Trader Joe's and also Whole Foods. But I think they were just cotton and didn't seem that different from my old OBs. Where are you getting these sea sponge ones?
ReplyDeleteI looooove my diva cup. No trash, no leaks...
ReplyDeleteIt takes some time to get used to, but it's freaking AWESOME.
ms. B - i am not sure you can put TMI in a post or response where you pre-warn we will be discussing periods! also, the organic ones aren't any different from your usual OB tampons except that there is no dioxin left from the bleaching process in organic tampons. yes, they are still regular old cotton tampons - just less toxic to you.
ReplyDeleteand ash - diva cups are also awesome! and i don't know - i may switch to those for part of my "monthly" - as the sea sponges are great but at the height of the flow - you have to change pretty often. and i am not so "open" that i am OK washing my alternative menstrual catcher in an open public restroom
i am drawn to the the sea sponges over diva cups because i love the thought of using a tampon that just - ya know - grew... but i am open to possibilities :)