Greetings!
Ever since the "Serious Message - TAMPONS ARE DANGEROUS!" email has been going around, a lot of women have been calling writing to us from around the world, asking questions about tampon safety. It seemed that a simple, plain language document that shows the health risks from tampon use would be a useful item to pass around. I have tried to accomplish this in a new fact sheet; your comments will be warmly welcomed.
We're also collecting stories about problems with tampons to publish and distribute to public health authorities. Have you had problems with tampons, or do you know someone who has? SEND US YOUR STORIES! I am always glad to have the honor of presenting our project in person! If your school or group is interested in organizing seminars or workshops, please contact our office (800.755.0212, or admin@biobiz.com).
We value your encouragement, your trust and support. This work can be so difficult and exhausting, so it's always nice to hear from women who care. Be well.
In health,
P.S. As always, please feel free to distribute this message to other women. If you want to publish it, please credit the wrtiter and give us a copy of the publication. ;-)
Dioxin, Chlorine, Rayon, Toxic Shock, Applicators, "Hidden" Risks
Dioxin is in the waste water from pulp mills that manufacture rayon for tampons with chlorine. Rayon made in the United States is almost always made with chlorine chemicals. In 1987, a scientist from the F.D.A. reported that the greatest risk of dioxin exposure was from menstrual pads and tampons. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) has reported that dioxin residues have been found on tampons made with chlorine-treated rayon fibers.
Dioxin is now PROVEN to cause many kinds of cancer in women and men, along with birth defects, and to disrupt the natural hormones in our bodies. Dioxin poisoning has been proven to cause to endometriosis. As of August 1996, F.D.A. had no plans to independently study health risks from dioxin in tampons.
Rayon fibers are "friable" (easily crumbled), and have a tendency to disintegrate when placed in liquids (like menstrual blood?). Rayon fiber isn't as absorbent as natural fibers like cotton (women know this from doing laundry!), and are treated with chemicals to make them "super absorbent." The treated rayon in "super absorbent" tampons can be so absorbent that it dries out the vagina, causing soreness and irritation. Independent research proves that rayon tampons boost the production of toxins that cause Toxic Shock Syndrome.
[*Note: Health Canada and the F.D.A. are investigating problems with tampon "under-absorption" and are considering telling women not to take tampons out "too soon" after inserting them!]
Women who use tampons are still getting Toxic Shock Syndrome. EARLY Symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome: Sudden onset of a fever of 102 degrees or higher; diarrhea; vomiting ; dizziness; muscular pain or weakness; suddenly feeling unwell (flu-like symptoms); headache; sore throat; bloodshot eyes.
ADVANCED Symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome: fainting; disorientation; skin rash resembling a sunburn, particularly on the palms and the soles of the feet; peeling skin; a rapid fall of blood pressure.
[*NOTE: If you think that you have ANY of the symptoms of TSS while wearing a tampon, immediately remove the tampon and consult a doctor. Tell the doctor your symptoms, how long you have had them, and when your period started. Take the tampon with you, in case your doctor wants to test it.]
The number of reported cases of TSS is less now than the time before the worst offender, 'Rely" tampons, was removed from the market. This is because more women were aware of the symptoms; less synthetic ingredients are used to make tampons now; women are using less tampons; more women use pads overnight; women are more careful to wash their hands before using tampons. Scientists have not been able to name the exact causes of TSS from tampons; however, most studies say that the composition (ingredients) of the tampon has something to do with Toxic Shock Syndrome. You could have a mild case of Toxic Shock Syndrome and never know!
No "clinical studies" of TSS from family doctors or emergency room medical staff, have been prepared for the public. Governments still depend on "epidemiological" research done by scientists. Almost all of this research is funded by tampon companies. Government health standards come from tampon research. If your body doesn't have 'antibodies' to the TSS toxin (a big risk for many young women, and for women who have had 'mild' cases of TSS), you have a bigger chance of getting Toxic Shock. Most doctors do not test women patients for antibodies to TSS.
ALL MAJOR TAMPON COMPANIES HAVE LOST TOXIC SHOCK LAWSUITS. NO CASES OF TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME INVOLVE ALL-COTTON TAMPONS!
Tampon applicators are an unnecessary environmental hazard. As far away as Antarctica, birds have been choked and killed by swallowing plastic applicators. Paper applicators are usually made with chlorine, creating more poisonous chemicals, including dioxin. Paper and plastic tampon applicators can CUT, PINCH and SCRAPE delicate vaginal tissue. Plastic applicators have even been know to be responsible to cause arterial laceration. Fibers from cardboard tampon applicators can become imbedded in tiny cuts in vaginal tissue. Rayon fibers from tampons can also implant themselves in cuts in vaginal tissue.
Women's knowledge about the safe use of tampons is NOT complete. For example, you should never wear tampons when water-skiing; they can be forced deep inside your body and need to be surgically removed! The safety of some of the "other" ingredients in tampons have not been proved.
Tampon companies that sell cotton tampons are still making rayon tampons. Using chlorine to make rayon for tampons is completely unnecessary. European countries like Sweden, after being forced by law, have been making non-chlorine rayon for years.
Tampons are believed to cause cervical dysplasia (also called pre-cancerous cells), cervical, ovarian and bladder cancer, to erode cervical tissue, and to aggravate "genital warts."
Tampons are known to promote yeast infections; some women get them every month after their period! Many women have reported allergic reactions to commercial tampons, and find that the reaction 'disappears' when they use non-chlorine cotton tampons.
Recent advertising encourages OVERNIGHT USE of tampons (up to 8 hours). Many younger women don't know about the 1980s tampon scare and may sleep with tampons in even longer. What's worse, is that if you're asleep, you may not notice the symptoms of Toxic Shock and have a chance to take the tampon out before the disease gets worse! TELL THOSE TAMPON COMPANIES TO STOP THIS DANGEROUS ADVERTISING!
My first reaction was to ask if terra femme came with applicators. I was worried about two things --- messing my hands and getting it in properly so that it wouldn't hurt.
First of all, I was worried about getting my fingers messed up. The truth was that it never really happened. It made me ask myself some questions about being afraid to touch myself, so I also learned an important lesson about why I was so upset about getting a little bit of menstrual flow on my fingers. But most important, I have a few new tricks that make putting the tampon in easy:
-First, read the instructions. It's really important to relax your jaw and open your mouth. (If you are tightening your vaginal muscles, you will feel it and can relax them). This works.
-While I was learning how to use Terra Femme I would keep a small prescription pill container nearby half-full of K-Y Jelly (lubricant) and dunk the tampon in it before insertion. This worked well.
-Finally, when these things were not enough, I pushed down with my vaginal muscles (keeping jaw relaxed and mouth open). This worked well. I can tell you that in the years I was using applicator tampons I have been pinched, scraped and even cut (badly enough to bleed for a day!). It is now possible to control where and how the tampons are inserted and placed much better than before.
But most of all, I "feel" better when wearing Terra Femme.
Bio Business/Terra Femme 78 Hallam Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6H 1W8
Tel: 416.539-8548 | Fax: 416.539.9784 | admin@biobiz.com
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