The Truth About Tampons

Scary headlines have been around for decades. Be careful what you believe.

- BY LAUREN STREICHER, M.D.

Tampons changed the game for people who menstruate when they hit stores in the 1930s. An early tagline, “Tampax Makes Life Worth Living,” was a bit of an overstatement, but tampons were clearly a welcome alternative to messy washable rags and pads. By the 1970s, roughly 70% of menstruating people used them.

Tampons continue to be a widespread—and safe—option for women, but panic erupts every so often about their potential links to heavy-metal exposure and infection risk. Keep reading to find out the facts regarding these concerns.

THE CONCERN

Tampons aren’t “pure” enough.

In the last few years, 100% cotton organic tampons have gotten more popular because of heavy marketing by organic-tampon companies that use buzzwords like “biodegradable,” “organic,” and “all-natural” to make women feel good about putting “foreign objects” into their most private parts. The result of these marketing campaigns is that a significant number of women pay extra for organic tampons under the misconception that these are healthier than other tampons.

THE REALITY:

Absolutely no scientific data shows that organic tampons are any safer or “purer.”