A tampon is “a mass of absorbent material, primarily used as a feminine hygiene product.” The word tampon originated from the medieval French word “tampion,” which literally means a piece of cloth to stop a hole, stamp, plug, or stopper. Let’s break this down. The average woman menstruating for five days a month and approximately 40 years will use about 12,000 tampons or pads. With this being said, I think it’s important we know EVERYTHING about them. I mean we are inserting or placing them in direct contact with our lady parts!
First, let’s talk about the history of tampons and pads so you get a better sense about how they got to be.Women have been creating their own “absorbent material” for thousands of years. In the 15th century B.C., Egyptian women used papyrus, while women in Africa got creative with moss. Cellulose bandages were used by nurses in World War I. Women have always been inventive when coming up with ways to best manage periods. In the 1920s, Lillian Gilbreth, one of the first female engineers, was on a mission to create a better sanitary pad. While working at Johnson & Johnson, she recognized that the best ideas would come from women themselves…shocking! So why is it that men were the leaders when innovating products for women? I guess we will never know but research shows that women had been altering the pads to accommodate their needs. Research also shows that patents related to tampons granted since 1976 show that three of every four of the inventors behind the patents were men. And because men lead the tampon/sanitary pad movement, women were stuck with the “period belt,” which is essentially a jock strap with a sanitary pad between the legs. If you are having difficulty imagining it…click here . Long story short, men should not have been involved in the creation of women’s products.
Tampons are considered a Class II medical device by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). What does this mean? It means that manufacturers do not adhere to the same chemical regulations or labeling regulations as foods, drugs, or cosmetics. Testing chemical levels of tampons is done by the manufacturer of a private researcher. So you may be asking…so what are tampons made of?!…
Tampons are made of cotton, rayon, and other synthetic fibers. Cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world. In fact, most cotton products are now genetically modified and sprayed with glyphosate, which is then passed on to the product. According to a new study at the University of Plata in Argentina, about 85% of tampons and other cotton products contain glyphosate. The World Health Organization has ruled glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic.” In the meantime, countries like France have placed restrictions on glyphosate in order to protect human health. All of this information should be taken with a grain of salt, until more research is conducted, but it is important to note that the feminine hygiene industry does not disclose the ingredients put into pads or tampons (scary). Since 1997, legislation has tried to pass a bill that would require companies to be more transparent and disclose the complete makeup of tampons and pads. This would require companies to clearly label not only the fabric used, but also any contaminants, fragrances, preservatives and dyes. This continues to be a work in progress and the take away is, who knows what is actually in tampons, and we deserve to know. Why would we insert a tampon coated with fragrance when we do not drink perfume? The vaginal mucosa is highly permeable and absorb anything that is inserted, and this area has a direct correlation with the internal organs.
One way to work around this is by purchasing organic pads and tampons so that you KNOW the only ingredient in them is 100% cotton. Here are some alternatives to the more commonly known Playtex and Tampax brands.
Organic Tampons (Cora): A great brand of organic tampons is called Cora. Cora tampons are 100% organic with a BPA-free applicator. There are other organic brands like Seventh Generation, but they do not have an applicator for easy application and comfort. Cora offers regular and super and comes in a sleek nondescript black box so it can be stored in the open. To make it even edgier, the company provides a small, vegan leather clutch for carrying tampons in handbags. The tampons are packaged individually in a geometric black and white pattern that are inserted in black tubes that look like lipstick holders.
Taken from: https://cora.life/
Organic Pads: It is important to make sure you read the materials/ingredients to make sure they are in fact 100% organic. Honest pads are a good option. Make sure to stay away from anything scented. Scented pads are the devil due to all the chemicals involved in making your period blood smell like roses. The chemicals involved with making pads or tampons fragrant are linked to hormone disruption, dryness, and possibly infertility. But more importantly, synthetics and plastic restrict air flow and trap heat/dampness, cultivating a wonderful place for yeast and bacteria growth in the vaginal area. If you don’t like the smell and prefer not to get a yeast infection, check out the Thinx underwear (see below).
Taken from: https://www.honest.com/bath-and-body/cotton-pads
Menstrual Cups: Menstrual cups or period cups are more popular than ever these days. They are small insertable silicone cups made from non-toxic, non-absorbent and flexible materials like silicone. A popular brand is called diva cup. They are priced at about $30 to 40$ a cup and they can be used for up to 10 years making them eco-friendly. Some women notice additional discomfort due to the difficulty with inserting/removing the cup, but women did notice a decrease in odor with using them.
THINX: “Period panties for the modern women.” This is probably one of the cooler inventions. Sexy looking underwear with a built in pad, it’s a modern day miracle! THINX provide a great alternative to women who have difficulty with inserting a tampon due to pelvic pain. And believe it or not, you can get all sorts of different styles of underwear from thongs to boy shorts. They are made of four bits of tech that makes them anti-microbial, moisture wicking, absorbent, and leak resistant. You can wear them all day depending on your flow.For example, the hiphugger holds up to 2 regular tampons worth of blood and can back up one tampon and a menstrual cup on heavy days. Whereas the thong only holds ½ a regular tampon worth of blood, making it a great alternative for spotting. Also, they are great for the environment and 100% organic cotton. To reuse, simply rinse immediately after use, cold wash (waiting until laundry day is fine) and hang dry. This is also a great alternative for women that have any pelvic floor dysfunction.
Taken from: www.shethinx.com
The Tampon Tax: Also, did you know there is a LUXURY TAX on TAMPONS. Currently, the only states that do not include a tax are Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota. On average, women in California pay about 7$ per month over 40 years of tampons and sanitary napkins. These products are a basic necessity that should not be taxed. If rogaine is not taxed, why are tampons?!
Resources:
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/PatientAlerts/ucm070003.htm
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/10/07/menstrual-cups-review_n_8253760.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nina-m-lozanoreich-phd/it-pays-to-bleed_b_9234412.html
http://www.womensvoices.org/feminine-care-products/detox-the-box/always-pads-testing-results/
http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/13/health/whats-in-your-pad-or-tampon/
FAQ
What are pelvic floor muscles?
The pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that run from the coccyx to the pubic bone. They are part of the core, helping to support our entire body as well as providing support for the bowel, bladder and uterus. These muscles help us maintain bowel and bladder control and are involved in sexual pleasure and orgasm. The technical name of the pelvic floor muscles is the Levator Ani muscle group. The pudendal nerve, the levator ani nerve, and branches from the S2 – S4 nerve roots innervate the pelvic floor muscles. They are under voluntary and autonomic control, which is a unique feature only they possess compared to other muscle groups.
What is pelvic floor physical therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized area of physical therapy. Currently, physical therapists need advanced post-graduate education to be able to help people with pelvic floor dysfunction because pelvic floor disorders are not yet being taught in standard physical therapy curricula. The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center provides extensive training for our staff because we recognize the limitations of physical therapy education in this unique area.
What happens at pelvic floor therapy?
During an evaluation for pelvic floor dysfunction the physical therapist will take a detailed history. Following the history the physical therapist will leave the room to allow the patient to change and drape themselves. The physical therapist will return to the room and using gloved hands will perform an external and internal manual assessment of the pelvic floor and girdle muscles. The physical therapist will once again leave the room and allow the patient to dress. Following the manual examination there may also be an examination of strength, motor control, and overall biomechanics and neuromuscular control. The physical therapist will then communicate the findings to the patient and together with their patient they establish an assessment, short term and long term goals and a treatment plan. Typically people with pelvic floor dysfunction are seen one time per week for one hour for varying amounts of time based on the severity and chronicity of the disease. A home exercise program will be established and the physical therapist will help coordinate other providers on the treatment team. Typically patients are seen for 3 months to a year.
What is pudendal neuralgia and how is it treated?
Pudendal Neuralgia is a clinical diagnosis that means pain in the sensory distribution of the pudendal nerve. The pudendal nerve is a mixed nerve that exits the S2 – S4 sacral nerve roots, we have a right and left pudendal nerve and each side has three main trunks: the dorsal branch, the perineal branch, and the inferior rectal branch. The branches supply sensation to the clitoris/penis, labia/scrotum, perineum, anus, the distal ⅓ of the urethra and rectum, and the vulva and vestibule. The nerve branches also control the pelvic floor muscles. The pudendal nerve follows a tortuous path through the pelvic floor and girdle, leaving it vulnerable to compression and tension injuries at various points along its path.
Pudendal Neuralgia occurs when the nerve is unable to slide, glide and move normally and as a result, people experience pain in some or all of the above-mentioned areas. Pelvic floor physical therapy plays a crucial role in identifying the mechanical impairments that are affecting the nerve. The physical therapy treatment plan is designed to restore normal neural function. Patients with pudendal neuralgia require pelvic floor physical therapy and may also benefit from medical management that includes pharmaceuticals and procedures such as pudendal nerve blocks or botox injections.
What is interstitial cystitis and how is it treated?
Interstitial Cystitis is a clinical diagnosis characterized by irritative bladder symptoms such as urinary urgency, frequency, and hesitancy in the absence of infection. Research has shown the majority of patients who meet the clinical definition have pelvic floor dysfunction and myalgia. Therefore, the American Urologic Association recommends pelvic floor physical therapy as first-line treatment for Interstitial Cystitis. Patients will benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy and may also benefit from pharmacologic management or medical procedures such as bladder instillations.
Who is the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Team?
The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center was founded by Elizabeth Akincilar and Stephanie Prendergast in 2006, they have been treating people with pelvic floor disorders since 2001. They were trained and mentored by a medical doctor and quickly became experts in treating pelvic floor disorders. They began creating courses and sharing their knowledge around the world. They expanded to 11 locations in the United States and developed a residency style training program for their employees with ongoing weekly mentoring. The physical therapists who work at PHRC have undergone more training than the majority of pelvic floor physical therapists and as a result offer efficient and high quality care.
How many years of experience do we have?
Stephanie and Liz have 24 years of experience and help each and every team member become an expert in the field through their training and mentoring program.
Why PHRC versus anyone else?
PHRC is unique because of the specific focus on pelvic floor disorders and the leadership at our company. We are constantly lecturing, teaching, and staying ahead of the curve with our connections to medical experts and emerging experts. As a result, we are able to efficiently and effectively help our patients restore their pelvic health.
Do we treat men for pelvic floor therapy?
The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center is unique in that the Cofounders have always treated people of all genders and therefore have trained the team members and staff the same way. Many pelvic floor physical therapists focus solely on people with vulvas, this is not the case here.
Do I need pelvic floor therapy forever?
The majority of people with pelvic floor dysfunction will undergo pelvic floor physical therapy for a set amount of time based on their goals. Every 6 -8 weeks goals will be re-established based on the physical improvements and remaining physical impairments. Most patients will achieve their goals in 3 – 6 months. If there are complicating medical or untreated comorbidities some patients will be in therapy longer.
Comments
Does anyone else’s symptoms get worse during their period? My feelings of urge definitely are worse then.
Menstrual cups would be way too painful to insert.