I can’t help but wonder if Mr. Cutlett, or someone like him, was the genius that came up with the tampon. It’s all pretty and white and fluffy. It comes in a little flowery, pink, plastic package and essentially removes us ladies from any contact with our body and the filthyness that is The Period. Am I wrong on this? It’s gross right?
No, it’s not gross! It’s not necessarily something you want to frame and hang on your wall, but it is what makes us ladies. We are an all inclusive package that comes with tummies, hips, bums, boobs, an occasional bout of The Crazies, and for the most part, we also get our periods. We are all very careful about how we dress up the hips and bums, attempt to hide the tummies and struggle to lift and squeeze the boobs, but how much thought do we give to a product we use on a monthly basis in the absolute most intimate of regions?
Have you actually thought about what is getting inserted into your vag for 3-7 days out of the month?
It wasn’t until my first class in nutrition school, Nutrition And The Environment, that I actually gave it any thought at all. I decided to write my term paper on just that, the chemicals used in the processing of conventional tampons. And wouldn’t you know it, I discovered that they seriously were like Toxic Sticks of Death.
Consider this: The average woman, menstruating for five days a month for 38 years will use approximately 11,400 tampons in a lifetime. With roughly 73 million menstruating women in America, the toxicity levels of commercial brands of tampons is a major concern.
Now because I like to stir the pot, as my grandma says, I wanted to find out what actually went into the ‘pon. I may have had better luck breaking in to Fort Knox. Ingredients are listed on nearly every product we buy these days but not tampons. Tampons, a product that requires contact over an extended period of time with one of the body’s most porous and highly absorbent mucous membranes, are categorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a ‘medical device’. Therefore, manufacturers are not required to adhere to the same labeling regulations as food, drugs or cosmetics.
As with toxicity testing for chemical residues in our food supply, testing on chemical levels in tampons is done by the manufacturer or private researcher with findings presented to regulating bodies for review. Essentially, the scientists researching whether or not tampons are safe are getting their paychecks from the people who make and sell tampons.
Proctor & Gamble, the manufacturers of Tampax brand tampons, are keen to keep secret the chemical-soup tampon recipe. Seeing that North American women spend an average of two billion dollars per year on these chemical laced commercial brand sanitary napkins and tampons, the truth about these toxic products will not be revealed anytime soon.
My question of course, is what are they hiding? You know that when someone starts trying to cover something up- something fishy is going down.
Alas- I never suggest you avoid something without first explaining why, and then offering an alternative. The Diva Cup, my sweet fertile ladies, is my top top top recommendation. It is fan-freaking amazing. Change it twice a day, no fuss, no muss. Yeah, you do have to get up into the bits a little more intimately than you might be accustomed to- but if you aren’t wanting to get up in there, why should you expect anyone else to either. Over the next couple of days, I will be sharing more info with you on the hazards of the ‘Pon all while giving you a chance to win win win A Diva Cup (plus a little bottle of the cleaning fluid)!
I will have you know, that I am not big on the branded giveaways, but I believe so strongly in this product that I approached Diva about it. The sweet peeps over at Diva Cup were so enthusiastic about my enthusiasm that they generously offered two Diva Cups to two lucky winners with many ways to enter.
1. Post a comment here = 1 entry
2. Post this contest on your blog = 2 entries
3. Follow Diva Cup on twitter = 1 entry
4. Follow me on twitter = 1 entry
4. Post this contest on your Twitter = 1 entry
5. Join the Diva Cup Facebook group = 1 entry
6. Join Making Love In The Kitchen with Meghan group of Facebook = 1 entry
7. Post the contest on your Facebook Status = 1 entry
Wooopty woo! That is 8 possible times you can be entered to win this life changing little health building feminine hygiene miracle product.
Over the next few days, I will be sharing info from my research paper, Tampax Tampons: Toxic Sticks of Death. If you prefer, you can download the entire document with references, at no charge, here.
I have been using the diva cup for 5 years (wow has it been that long already). I am currently on my second cup (the first was lost somewhere while moving). I have also been responsible for ‘converting’ at least 4 women to the cup. I learned about it in my first year women’s studies class. Where I learned about the toxicity of tampons, (along with menstrual pads). My women’s studies professor actually had been using the Keeper for over 20 years. I love this little cup and will never go back to disposable pads or tampons! (please don’t include me in the contest since I already have and love my cup I don’t really need a second one)
yeah baby! i want chemical free lady bits.
It is so scary to think about what ‘pons do to our bodies and how people are deliberately complacent about the dangers. Meghan, I don’t think they have DivaCups here in Australia!! I am at work so I can ‘t access FB or Twitter but I will try and do that tonight so I can enter a few more times.
If I don’t win, I will happily send you the money and cover the cost of postage if you wouldn’t mind picking one up for me and sending it downunder.
Never thought us Aussies were this far behind!!
xx
Oohhh question! What about pantyliners? I wear them everyday in between monthly visits to remain fresh. Is there an alternative to this?
Thanks!
xx
Great, informative post and now I have read all these rave reviews of the Diva Cup…. I guess it’s time to get one!
First of all, I’ll hope I win your contest. I joined your FB group too!
Michelle S.
LOVE love love love LOVE my diva cup. LOVE!!! Serious love.
Seriously, I never would have believed it, but I actually forget that I have my period now… it’s been over a year and I couldn’t be happier!!!!
Looks like I came back at the right time! I would love to try a Diva Cup! I am so interested to hear your findings on all this and would love to hear more about your take on birth control… I know you’ve mentioned the Lady Comp in the past and I would love to hear more about it. I looked it up when you mentioned it and I can say it sounds good but is a lot of money to pay so I want to know as much as I can before investing!
Meghan,
Thank you so much for putting a link to your paper. I never use tampons because I was afraid of this very thing (toxicity), and have been too freaked out to try the Diva Cup, and now am living in a place where they don’t sell it (India), but it was sorta on my mental list of things to purchase when I go home next (It has been a year!!! That list is HUGE by now!). So, now you are forcing me to think about it again! Thanks for that. Sometimes we need to be shaken up to make a change!
Jennifer
I used another menstrual cup for a number of years. I have a very heavy flow and still needed to use a pantyliner or pad with the cup, had a number of problems with changing throughout the day (no, twice a day was not nearly enough, I can blow through a super tampon, maxi pad, and several layers of clothing in an hour at times), and ended up with a yeast infection that reoccurred every cycle until I stopped all internal protection for about a year. Note that yes, I did use the menstrual cup for about five years, so yes, I did know what I was doing as far as proper handling and insertion.
Great post! I love my Diva Cup.
I just made the recently made the switch to organic feminine products. After reading this I think I need to take it one step further:) Hopefully I can win one to try
I keep forgetting to try these things out – a friend of mine recommended it to me years ago and you know how it goes – always pushed to the back of the To Do List. However, I’m doing a serious toxic cleaning this month, and I think this should be an important part!
Great posts! Love your work!
man, i want one of those to replace of those toxic products.
its hard to believe what we have been putting up there.
emily
Okay I’ve looked at the Diva cups before – just a little scared and intimidated to purchase and use. Your post has me relooking at this as maybe this is definately the less scary option.
Thanks for all the great info!
I am looking forward to hearing more abou this. I thought the only alternative were organic tampons and pads! If I don’t win, I’ll still be purchasing and returning all my products!
I’d never really thought about what were in tampons before. Your paper was a real eye opener. Yikes! All those chemicals in places they shouldn’t be. I’ve been hearing great things about the Diva.
very enlightening. i’m convinced!
Amanda,
They don’t have DivaCups in Australia, there is only 1 cup brand that is approved for sale….can’t remember which but it’s not the Diva. Lunapads.com carries the DivaCup though and they ship all over the world, shipping is pretty reasonable too. Check em out (in case you don’t win!) http://www.lunapads.com/department.aspx?DeptId=4&
I use Gladrags. I’d love to try a Diva Cup.
I’ve been wanting to try out the Diva cup for a while now. This information is great motivation to just do it!
I am so excited to see this entry and part 2. I have a diva cup and realized if I only use it a year, I would get my monies worth in regards to savings compared to pads and tampons. Plus add keeping that stuff out of landfills and fertilizing plants, heck yea it’s worth it.
Wow! What great info. I am going to get the Diva Cup’s as soon as possible. I think they are a win win situation to your monthly reminder that you are a lady!
*eek* gotta get me one of these pronto!
ive never tried this….but there is always a first for everything
I’m so convinced! I’ve heard that some of the chemicals they use in tampons are to make you bleed more, thus need more tampons!
I posted on my blog (and a pic of your sauce!
It won’t be up until tomorrow morning though!
I’m so glad you’re writing about this! I just made the switch from disposable pads to reusable ones because of a challenge I put to myself & family to reduce are waste. A lot of people have suggested the Diva cup I’ve just been to chicken to try it, but I’d love to win one!
I haven’t used tampons in probably 6 years because the nastiness that is them.
I follow you & diva cups on twitter @easyecotogo
I’m a fan of your FB page.
And I plan to write about this hopefully the contest is still going!
Great article! I actually went out to buy one of these yesterday, but they didn’t have the right model. Hope I can win one here! Thanks!
1. Post a comment here = 1 entry
2. Post this contest on your blog = 2 entries
3. Follow Diva Cup on twitter = 1 entry
4. Follow me on twitter = 1 entry
4. Post this contest on your Twitter = 1 entry
done!
I first heard about the diva cup through dionne (http://codenamemama.blogspot.com/) and since then i have been doing my best to win one, as i cannot afford one right now.
why? because ifter reading about what i place so close to me, and learning how bad it really is, and being inspired to be greener, i just believe it is the way to go.
not only do we deserve it, as our bodies are our temples, we are helping the earth, our home, to heal from the aches and bruises we have given her.
thank you for this give away.
I learn more and more every day from your blog! Please consider me entered in your drawing. Thank you thank you!
wow! what frightening information. I’m all for the cup, but it seems a bit intimidating. How many out there are currently using it? Any encouraging pointers or comments to help us newbies?
Thanks
That is so nice you are giving away a Diva Cup, I have wanted one forever but it is such a big investment.
I am very interested in trying a diva cup…I use far too many tampons and I often wondered about the impact on my body.
I joined your Facebook group
I became a fan of the diva cup facebook group
I’m leaving a comment and
I am posting the contest on my blog!
Thanks so much for the eye opening info!
I have been wanting to get one of these every since I had my baby… but spending $40 on something that i’m not confident i’ll be able to get in comfortably has been the issue. thanks for all the info.
also i’ve joined the facebook groups/fan (Jamie Hunter)
and i’ve followed you and divacup on twitter (@bashtinyourhead)
I spent months educating myself about alternatives when I found the diva cup. I was skeptical, but now as a happy owner, I”m happy to see others are joining the band wagon!!
Would love to win a divacup. I have been hearing about this for a little while now and was wanting to pick one up. it would be great to win one.
I would love to win one too. I was recently looking at the LadyCup. Anyone know which is better?
Hey Meghan
once again you’ve got my content mind all a twitter.
I read your articles last week and just about went into my own toxic shock!
I downloaded your entire paper on it too and have been just absorbing…haha all the information.
I would love to win a diva cup. I can’t even for the life of me fathom using one more tampon. (of course I have a full box)
I have never seen them here in the States..and I wonder why though!
Thanks again for so much more to think about!
i’d love a diva cup haha!
I have wanted to try one of these but never willing to pay the money in case I hated it.
[...] Speaking of that time of month…anyone catch Meghan’s articles Toxic Sticks of Death? [...]
After reading this, I found a nutrition store that carries the Diva Cup and bought one. That first day, I was so nervous that I’d put it in wrong, or that it might slip and I’d have an oops moment during dinner with my sis. But by the end of the night, it had earned my trust, and I was hooked. By the end of the week, I felt a shift in my mindset similar to what others have described. I became at peace with my cycle and started to view it as a beautiful, natural part of being a woman, rather than an icky monthly pain-in-the-arse that contaminated my body for 5-6 days and had to be disposed of like toxic waste. It was surprising to say the least. Not to mention I am actually spending way less on this than I was on tampons. It kinda helps balance out the extra money I spend on recycled products and organic/local food! Thanks again for the insight and advice.
[...] GREAT! I bought it about three or four years ago based on concerns about tampons and their toxicity for my body, their high cost, and their environmental impact, and I’ve never looked back [...]
Do it!
They aren’t too expensive… pays for itself in a couple months
Consider how much you pay for tampons and the fact that one of these lasts a long time, provided that you don’t kill it like I did.
It sure is- but if you stay over la toilette- it all goes where it’s supposed to go and you can rinse any remnants out in the sink. I am no Diva Cup expert- so I’ll let them answer the Q’s http://www.divacup.com/en/home/faqs/
ADRENAL SUPPORT!!! will be doing a blood sugar balancing program in the next month or so… this’ll address that.
ps – 5 entries for me please
1 posted comment
2 joined divacup on twitter
3 follow meghan on twitter
4 follow meghan on facebook
5 posted link to competition on twitter.
Cheers big ears.
I will write about birth control in a couple weeks for you
I can’t totally explain the technicalities of the device for you other than what you have probably read about already but all I can say from a user’s perspective is THANK GOODNESS I’ve found this device! I know it cost us a fortune but with almost half a decade of experience with it already, I can tell you it’s worth every penny.
Anyway, I still want my DIVA CUP so 1 entry for me here Meghan!
Try the pantyliners at http://www.partypantspads.com/. Nice soft cotton flannel in different sizes even.
Thanks so much Tressa!
My roommate has a Diva Cup! She has been preaching about this thing forever and trying to convince me to buy one. I think this is a sign! I need the diva cup:)
Yay! I have been meaning to get one of these for months now and would love to win one. I am glad to see all the positive comments. A couple years ago I switched to the less toxic kind of tampons from the whole foods store and cloth pads instead of disposables (PIMPs) but have been intending to move towards a Diva, Moon Cup or similar. Anybody tried the sea sponges?
Post a comment here = 1 entry = yep
Follow Diva Cup on twitter = 1 entry = yep
Follow me on twitter = 1 entry = weeks ago
Post this contest on your Twitter = 1 entry = covered
Join the Diva Cup Facebook group = 1 entry = done
Join Making Love In The Kitchen with Meghan group of Facebook = 1 entry = ages ago
Post the contest on your Facebook Status = 1 entry = yep!
7 entries for me please Meghan! I’d post the contest on my blog but, well, it’s a dog blog … a bit OT
Sorry, too many smilies!