Between 52% and 86% of women in the U.S. choose to use tampons to manage their period flow—the equivalent of up to 10,000 tampons used throughout a single lifetime. But a new study has revealed some alarming toxins that are commonly present in tampons, putting the safety of this mainstay menstrual product in question.
In a study published in the August 2024 edition of Environmental International, scientists tested tampons from 14 different brands, purchased in the United States, England, and Greece—including organic varieties and different absorbencies. The researchers tested for 16 heavy metals: arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium, and zinc. 12 of these metals were found in all of the tampons tested—and evidence of all 16 metals were found across the entire sampled group.
As OB/GYN and Perelel medical co-Founder, Dr. Banafsheh Bayati, shared with Vogue: "The surprising factor is not that there are heavy metals in tampons but that we are only now aware of this fact."
So, how concerned should we be about this news?
This is not the first study to uncover toxins in tampons.
Other recent studies have uncovered endocrine-disrupting chemicals like parabens, bisphenols, and phtalates in tampons. One 2020 trial found that of commonly used items like deodorant spray, menstrual pads, and wipes, tampons contained the highest concentration of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, or DEHP—a manufactured chemical that's often added to plastics to make them more flexible. (The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has classified DEHP as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen," and the Center of Disease Control notes that it has been linked with fertility issues in animals.)
Do we know the full risk of these chemicals and heavy metals in tampons?
The short answer is "no"—there's no evidence of these toxins being present in unsafe amounts, because the scientists need to do further testing to understand how much is absorbed by the vagina.
"The researchers point out that further studies need to be done in order to determine if specific toxic metals such as lead, arsenic or cadmium are absorbed from the vagina through tampon use," reiterates Dr. Bayati. "The amount of possible absorption along with harmful effects would still need to be further evaluated."
That said, there are no "safe" levels of toxins like arsenic and lead—and the vagina is a very absorptive organ. "The concern arises when looking at specific toxic metals that pose heath risks—like lead, arsenic or cadmium as well as recognizing that the vaginal mucosa has a large surface area that is highly vascular and permeable," says Dr. Bayati. "As a result, the vagina allows for efficient absorption of chemicals. More importantly, this absorption enters the systemic circulation bypassing the liver for detoxification."
Do I need to change my menstrual routine?
While it's easy to feel panicked, Dr. Bayati advises to keep calm—and consider some simple changes.
"As a physician, I️ would advise my patients to control what they can," she says. "There are options to managing the menstrual cycle—diet and exercise, hormonal regulation, medications to reduce the amount of blood loss, as well as the use of menstrual cups and discs to limit the use of tampons. We do the best we can with the data that we have."
Why are we just learning this now?
Dr. Bayati says it best: "This study is incredibly important in highlighting the need to push funding for women’s health. Given that half the population undergoes menses and the popularity of tampon use, this study once again highlights the historical lack of knowledge when considering female health in the medical world."
As Dr. Bayati cites, news like this is why we've pledged $10 million to help close the women's health research gap, in partnership with organizations like the Magee-Womens Research Institute—the largest research institute in the United States focused solely on women's health and reproductive biology.
"We need to be aware and continue to push for such research," says Dr. Bayati. "Women’s health is historically underrepresented, understudied and underfunded. This is beginning to change and I️ applaud this research group along with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for their funding."
Learn more about our $10 million Perelel Pledge.
