As a certified Arvigo® practitioner and Level 1 self-care teacher of The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy®, I talk to many women about their menstrual cycle and how it affects their lives and their fertility.
One part of our discussion includes asking what type of feminine hygiene products they use. They will often ask if it matters and I think it is an important topic to seriously consider.
If you are experiencing fertility challenges and have done some research into possible causes, you may have come across the concern that plastics that are estrogen mimics in our bodies are a concern. So you may avoid using plastic for food, but have you stopped to consider your menstrual products?
“Let’s talk about how conventional tampons and pads are manufactured. A single sanitary napkin can contain enough plastic to make four plastic bags. Chemicals within the plastic include potentially toxic chemicals, pesticides, and petrochemicals. That’s quite a chemical concoction to put in contact with the most sensitive skin on your body.” Source: (https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/dirty-secrets-feminine-hygiene-products/)
The vaginal wall is lined with permeable mucous membranes, which protects the body from bacteria. These membranes also easily absorb chemicals, so placing a cotton or rayon or blend of material that may or may not be toxin laden into that tissue seems risky. The vaginal membranes are filled with blood vessels, which allow any chemicals they are exposed to, to be easily absorbed into your bloodstream.
“The average woman will use between 16,000 and 24,000 tampons in her lifetime, depending on how long her body menstruates. Without the ability to rid these toxins absorbed topically, they accumulate over a lifetime.” Source: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/dirty-secrets-feminine-hygiene-products/
I often wonder why endometriosis and fibroids seem more common now more than ever. One idea that it’s from estrogen dominance caused by exposure to pesticides and plastics. Using conventional feminine hygiene products could be an additional frequent exposure for several days every month!
I think it’s also important to consider the environmental impact of throwing away tampons and pads, since most have plastics in them. One option is to use a menstrual cup or reusable pads or at the very least choosing organic pads and tampons. Menstrual cups are mostly made of silicone and cost about $30 initially but you can continue to reuse it for quite a while before having to replace it, so it’s also economical in the end.
The way we take care of ourselves can have a big impact on our reproductive health and fertility. The hygiene products we use can either harm us or help us!
Choose wisely.
https://greendropship.com/blog/organic-feminine-hygiene-products-superior/
https://www.today.com/health/how-safe-your-tampon-t112885
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/dirty-secrets-feminine-hygiene-products/