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I decided to write this article not only because it affects me personally. The need to know if period products are safe impacts young girls and women everywhere. The worrying thing for me is that most period products don’t have any ingredients listed on them. How is a woman supposed to make an informed choice about her period health when there is no information about it?
Not only that, I want to highlight that you need to be careful when choosing period products. This is because even when companies claim that a period product is safe to use, this is not always true.
On this page you will find:
- Period products and the law
- Period products and you
- Period pants – the latest “craze”
- What are period pants?
- Are period pants safe?
- What you should look out for in safe period products
- Period products that you could consider
- Why so few period products are suggested
- Why is silver in period pants?
- Incontinence products
- Conclusion: Demand safe period products for women and girls
Period products and the law
In the UK period products are regulated under The General Product Safety Regulations 2005. Period products are not mentioned in this regulation, anywhere.
Things that I have noticed in this legislation:
- Companies have to tell people who buy their products enough information about those products. This is so that customers can assess the risks and avoid those risks. I ask again. If there are no ingredients listed on period products, how can I assess the risks?
2. Companies who make period products should make sure they are safe. I am not quoting because there is no mention of period products in the regulation.
3. Whether a product is safe does depend on who is using it. The law says that those of higher risk should be considered. One of the examples given is children. Girls who have their periods are children. Yet there are no labels or notices for them. It is quite difficult to find ingredients in period products. Young girls will not go looking for information.
4. It does say that if there are safer (period) products available, does not mean that others are not safe.
5. In terms of safety, the law defines “serious risk” as one that does not have to be immediate. Some period products have been found to have toxic chemicals in them. Women use period products for most of their lives. If this does not pose a “serious risk”, I don’t know what does.
What I get from this is that the law completely fails women and girls. Either it is not enforced properly or the companies avoid detection somehow. Either way, there is nothing good to see here.
I tried my best to do the research for you. I looked for period underwear without PFAs and silver.
Period products and you
I have every right to be concerned about ingredients in period products. Women and girls use period products internally and externally in such a sensitive area. Any harmful chemicals can so easily be absorbed (and they are absorbed) by your body. So why so little research and development has gone into this?
My guess is as good as yours.
Even when I searched “are period products safe?” the search volume is very low. I suppose if you don’t know, then you are not going to be searching.
This makes me very sad. So few women know about this.
Period pants – the latest “craze”
I say “craze” sarcastically. It is not. We are in 2024 and most shops are filled with those period pads. Full of plastic inside and out, and who knows what else.
Period pants are quickly becoming more popular. Brands claiming that period pants are reusable and so sustainable. They are better for the environment.
Are they?
I think this plays on women’s kindness and consideration for the environment.
Just keep in mind that companies are there to sell you something. That is their main aim.
What are period pants?
Period pants are much like regular pants. They have a thicker layer where you would normally have a disposable period pad. On the packaging period pants tell you how much blood they can absorb. They are usually good for the day.
You can buy period pants that suit your flow and age. You can buy period underwear
specially made for girls and teens.
In this video I talk about what are period pants , how to use them and how to look after them.
Are period pants safe?
Reusable period underwear does not necessarily mean it is safe. For example, in 2023 a period underwear brand Thinx settled a court case for $5million.
Thinx made women believe that their period underwear was safe and sustainable. This was easily done through marketing. It is surprising how much we are manipulated my marketing campaigns (but that’s for another day).
Anyway, Thinx period underwear had chemicals toxic to women and girls and the environment!
And if you ask me, $5million does not come even close to a reasonable compensation.
All of this means that you have to do your research before buying period underwear.
I would ask, why is it so difficult for women and girls to have access to safe period products?
A website wen.org.uk might have some answers. I quote “between 1941 and 1950 only one study was published about menstrual blood, with only 400 over the past several decades. This compares with around 10,000 studies on erectile dysfunction during the same timeframe.”
Knowing this makes me quite cranky.
What you should look out for in safe period products
This will be very simple for you. There are only 2 ingredients that can truly be considered as safe. Underwear without chemicals will include:
- Organic cotton
- Bamboo – natural and grows easily in the wild as well as in your garden (if you like)
- Yes, I did say two ingredients. You will find spandex in all period underwear as it is used for the stretchy waistband. Though only for the waistband.
If any of the period products do not have the above ingredients or if ingredients are not listed, please don’t buy them. You deserve better.
Period products that you could consider
Note: I am not affiliated with any of the products I highlight below. I have researched all of them. Some of the period products I have tried and tested myself too.
FLO Period Pads
Why I chose FLO
I chose this brand because it is one of a few period products, which are non toxic.
The pads are made from organic bamboo, non-GMO corn fibre, airlaid paper, plant cellulose, biodegradable backing layer, with a compostable plant-starch wrapper
Free from chlorine, bleach, latex, rayon, petroleum derivatives, phthalates, GMOs, perfumes, dyes and animal testing. Suitable for vegans.
Outer box is made from recyclable cardboard
They have varieties for night time, for light, medium and heavy flow.
WUKA Period Pants
These period pants are chemical free. At least that is what their website states. There is no fragrance used – often full of chemicals.
There is a full ingredients list on their website. I list this below:
- Organic cotton,
- Tencel Modal (made from sustainable beech trees) and
- Econyl (made from plastic waste from our oceans). Tencel Modal fibres are biodegradable and compostable
- No added antibacterial spray or silver treatment
- No harmful PFA
NIXI Body Period Pants
I have contacted NIXI body to ask about PFAs (forever chemicals) and silver. See below their responses.
I would consider buying NIXI Body period pants on the basis of the information I have received from the company.
Again, I base this on what the website sates. Feel free to do your own research.
Why so few period products are suggested?
I am disappointed to say that most period products did not meet my high standards. I suggest we should all have high standards when it comes to our bodies.
I have another reason for this.
A Which? study found a worrying level of silver in the most common period pants. I list them below for your information.
- Intima (Bodyform)
- M&S Period Pants
- Thinx
- Luna (Superdrug)
- Modibodi
- Airism (Uniqlo)
- Cool Period
My focus has been period pants. So I have not looked into period pads as much.
What I found is this: if a period product did not contain PFAs (forever chemicals), they contained silver.
Why is silver in period pants?
Manufacturers add silver to period pants as an anti-microbial. By this I mean silver is supposed to prevent the build up of bacteria or viruses. Silver is also added to stop odour.
Which? refers to a study where it was found that silver is “beneficial…in infected wounds.” Your period is not a wound. There is no justification for using silver in period pants or any feminine hygiene product.
Period blood does not contain any harmful bacteria. Just like your sweat, which has none either. This is a complete misconception.
To be clear, silver is harmful to your body. This is more important because the silver in period pants can easily be absorbed into your body.
And to rub salt into the wound (no pun intended) there is no research on the effects of silver on women when using period underwear. There is research into silver being used in food and feed products. Thanks to this research, silver has been banned for products that come into contact with food.
So why have women and girls been left out?
Oh, and there is no law as to how much silver can be added to period pants.
I know I have a lot to say, but I have no words for this.
Incontinence products
I cannot mention period products without talking about incontinence products. I think that the majority of people who use incontinence products are women.
I am not an expert, but I think that incontinence is quite common among women. This is because incontinence is often related to the long-term effects of childbirth.
The more children you have the more likely that you will suffer with incontinence. But remember, it does not have to be like this.
What can I do about incontinence?
Firstly, incontinence pads do not address the problem. If you do suffer from incontinence, have you tried pelvic exercises? Pelvic exercises strengthen your pelvic floor. Your pelvic muscle is just like any other muscle. If you exercise your pelvic muscles then brilliant! If not, why not?
Pelvic floor exercises can alleviate things like incontinence.
If pelvic exercises do not work for you, go see a doctor. Do not suffer in silence, as many women do. Just going and buying random products (probably with harmful chemicals in them) will not solve anything. You are just wasting money.
Are incontinence products safe?
Just like with period products, incontinence products do not list ingredients. When I was doing research, I found limited information about the safety of incontinence products.
What I did find is this:
Incontinence products contain fragrance (harmful chemicals).
The NHS suggests incontinence products if you are waiting for a diagnosis or for a treatment to work. If this does not apply to you, you should not be using them.
For the sake of clarity, if no ingredients are listed, do not buy the product.
That is my best advice.
Conclusion: Demand safe period products for women and girls
From my research I would advise to demand better from your period products. I would also advise the following:
- Read the product information. If no ingredients are listed on the period product, don’t buy it
- Contact companies to ask what is in the period pants they make. Ask about silver, fragrance, PFAs (forever chemicals), bleach and anti-microbial agents used. Ask for proof before you buy
You have a right to be demanding.
Lastly, I don’t recommend tampons for any woman. I don’t believe them to be safe.
I really hope that this article has helped you be more informed about your period care. Now you are empowered to make the safe and healthy choice.
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Why trust The Clear Sky?
I am an educator and l am passionate about providing people with information about the beauty industry so they can be empowered to make an informed choice when spending their money. I take time to research beauty products. I recommend beauty products that are non toxic, have natural ingredients and often plastic free.
With over a decade of personal experience using natural ingredients for skin, hair and body I also provide many beauty tips which are simple, innovative and sustainable.
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