If you’ve ever peeked at the ingredient label on a box of conventional sanitary pads, you might find it lacking details about what’s inside the pad itself. The absorbent material is in constant contact with your skin. Maybe you’ve wondered what’s actually in there. But hey, it’s just cotton, right? Wrong. It turns out that most standard pads are made with synthetic materials and toxic substances, including petroleum. Knowing the hidden toxins in products can help you make the best choice for your body.
What Are The Dangers of Petroleum in Your Incontinence Pad?
Commercial incontinence pads sometimes include petroleum-based and other toxic materials that have been processed using chemicals like chlorine and contain dioxins, fragrances, and other harmful substances.
Petroleum is a very toxic chemical when inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Exposure to petroleum increases the risk of brain impairment, asthma, disabilities, certain cancers, the proper functioning of the reproductive system, and hormone imbalance. It is essential that the absorbent materials you are exposed to be completely safe.
Others Dangers Of Using a Non-Toxic Incontinence Pad Include:
A Higher Risk of Vaginal Infections:
Plasticizers like BPA and synthetic linings in conventional sanitary and incontinence pads can increase the risk of exposure to bacteria and yeasts. A moist environment can serve as a breeding ground for bacteria. In a humid environment, these microbes multiply rapidly and cause vaginal infections. These germs can enter the bloodstream and cause a severe septic shock if left untreated. Vaginal infections can progress into Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, which can harm a woman’s reproductive ability. Both BPA and BPS are also linked to the disruption of embryonic development.
Poor Female Reproductive Health:
Sanitary napkins are known for being associated with a beautiful fragrance. However, the price you pay for a scented panty liner is not worth it. Sanitary napkins made from synthetic materials contain odor neutralizers and artificial fragrances. These cheap chemicals can cause serious irritations and allergies. Additionally, they can cause complications in reproduction, even resulting in infertility. Phthalates are compounds used to give sanitary pads a smooth finish. Experimental animals have shown that these compounds disrupt endocrine function and affect reproductive hormone levels. The super absorbent polymers used in sanitary pads are mostly petroleum by-products that claim to soak 30 times their weight. Ultra-thin sanitary napkins are desirable for women but pose a significant health risk.
Need more convincing? Here are five reasons to use incontinence pads without harmful chemicals and petroleum.
Non-Toxic Pads Are Better for You
Conventional incontinence pads are made with synthetic fibers and can contain genetically modified organisms and pesticides. Moreover, the cotton used by commercial brands is believed to be repeatedly treated with glyphosate (a highly toxic chemical that can kill certain weeds and grasses). If you don’t eat food that contains glyphosate and don’t use it on your lawn, it’s probably not a good idea to put it near your vagina. The skin around this area is highly absorbent. The substances that come into constant contact with your skin are absorbed into your bloodstream and distributed throughout your body.
Non-Toxic Pads Are Better for the Environment
Consider the number of pads you may go through in a year, whether for menstruating or to help with incontinence. Since conventional women’s hygiene products are not designed for recycling, reuse, or composting, they end up in landfills, illegal dumping grounds, and water sources. Unfortunately, they are often found on beaches and in the stomachs of dead seabirds, and when they break down in the ocean, they become microplastics that fish and other sea creatures eat.
Non-Toxic Pads Are Super Convenient
There are a lot of subscription services that will deliver non-toxic incontinence pads and menstrual pads discreetly to your doorstep. You will save a ton of money by bundling and subscribing.
Non-Toxic Pads Are Less Irritating
Conventional pads and tampons are typically made with fragrance. These fragrances can cause itching and irritation and can lead to inflammation and rashes. Yuck. You could be on your way to bacterial vaginosis and other infections if one of those scents reacts badly with your natural pH level.
The Bottom Line
Polluted sanitary products are a sure-fire way to get unwanted chemicals into the bloodstream, affecting hormonal health and fertility. Choosing a non-toxic incontinence pad will reduce toxic exposure and support hormone health and fertility. By using fully biodegradable and chemical-free incontinence pads, you are saving your body and the environment. Pads made from sustainable and natural components with minimal or no chemicals are the best kind of personal hygiene products. The main components of such products include sustainably forested, chlorine-free wood pulp, 100% biobased renewably sourced polyethylene, and non-toxic inks and adhesives. Additionally, the best products degrade quickly when disposed of, reduce carbon footprints, and release fewer chemicals.
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