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Summary: To understand the truth behind the tampon-cancer debate, Naija Feminists Media unravels the logic of the 2024 study by University of California researchers. This article clarifies and discusses the real health concerns of tampon use.
In a world where women’s health is shrouded in silence, myths, and stigma, misinformation travels faster than facts. Social media posts turned into health advice, and forwarded WhatsApp messages became doctors’ prescriptions. These claims don’t just spread. They stick.
For the African women and girls who live in societies where menstrual health is rarely discussed openly or considered taboo, unsolicited health advice can spark fear and confusion. Recently, the debate of tampons causing cancer has resurfaced online, leaving many women worried about their health.
While the anxiety is understandable, women need facts and evidence-based information to address their concerns and make informed choices about their health. Hence, beyond the fears, concerns, and misinformation, what is the truth? Do tampons cause cancer?
What are Tampons?
Tampons are menstrual products designed to absorb blood during your monthly cycle. They’re made of soft, compressed cotton or cotton blends and are gently inserted directly into the vagina. They must be changed every 4 to 8 hours to prevent TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome), and never worn for more than 8 hours. The tampon was invented by American Physician Earle Haas in 1931. But it was Gertrude Tenderich, a woman who bought the patent and founded the company Tampax, making the menstrual product commercially available. Initially, tampons were not widely used and were often stigmatised due to cultural taboos around menstruation. However, the popularity of tampons began to grow in the 1960s and 1970s, when women became more vocal about their desire for greater freedom and mobility during their periods.
Primarily, tampons are made of cotton and rayon, a cellulose fibre derived from wood pulp. However, studies have highlighted the presence of several other chemicals, including pesticide residue, dioxins from chlorine bleaching, and synthetic fibres. Importantly, the exact ingredients and chemicals in a tampon vary by brand.
The tampon-cancer connection
In 2024, a group of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, did a study on the ingredients used in tampons. They tested 30 tampon products from 14 brands and found trace amounts of toxic heavy metals in every sample, including Arsenic, Barium, Calcium, Cadmium, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Nickel, Lead, Selenium, Strontium, and Vanadium.
While the detected levels were low, the results are concerning because the vaginal mucosa, where tampons are used, is highly absorbent. However, the report did not establish a health risk of cancer development from tampon use, but it did call for more studies.
The health regulatory bodies, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), international health agencies and health experts noted that the study proved the presence and exposure of toxic heavy metals in tampons, but did not prove that these metals actually leach out of the tampon and are absorbed into the bloodstream in significant amounts.
They maintain that there is no established direct link between tampon use and cancer in humans, and the mere presence of a substance does not necessarily equal a health risk. In December 2024, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a literature review and a lab study on metals in tampon materials. The study found no safety concerns associated with tampon use or contaminant exposure. However, the lab study is still ongoing. In addition, there is no new research that concludes that wearing tampons increases the chances of getting cancer, including endometrial or cervical cancer.
The most common health-related issues linked to using tampons include:
- Toxic shock syndrome (TSS). TSS is a rare but serious condition caused by certain strains of bacteria. It’s often associated with tampon use, but it can affect anyone. It causes toxins to spread into your bloodstream, causing severe organ damage or death. Its symptoms include: dizziness, redness, nausea/vomiting, high fever, watery diarrhoea, redness in the eyes, and peeling of the palms and soles of the feet.
- Vaginal irritation. This is an itching or pain you feel when inserting a tampon, especially one with deodorant. In particular, tampons absorb natural vaginal moisture along with menstrual blood, which can cause dryness, itching, and irritation.
- Bacterial vaginosis. This is a bacterial infection that leaves you with a grey discharge and a fishy smell in your vagina. Tampons can cause this condition by changing the normal balance between good and bad bacteria in your vagina.
- Yeast infections: By altering the natural pH and bacterial balance of the vagina, tampons, especially scented ones, can increase the risk of bacterial vaginosis or worsen yeast infections.
- Allergic reactions: Some individuals may experience allergic reactions to the materials, fragrances, or dyes used in tampons.
- Foreign body retention: Part or all of your tampon can become lodged in your body. Sometimes you can remove it, but if your tampon gets beyond your cervix, see your doctor right away.
Preventing Tampon-Related Risks
Although the presence of heavy metals in tampons does not necessarily mean they are harmful, to allay fears of potential health risk, women and girls can select tampons from brands that disclose their materials, avoid fragranced products, or switch to other options like pads, cups, or discs.
To reduce the risk of toxic shock syndrome, women should also follow the basic guidelines of tampon use, wash their hands before and after inserting a tampon or other menstrual product in the vagina. Additionally, women should avoid wearing tampons for more than 8 hours, and if they experience any form of pain, discomfort, or an unusual discharge, they should consult their doctors.
Conclusion
The 2024 tampons study detected traces of heavy metals in 16 brands of tampons. The study does not conclude that tampons cause cancer. The researchers emphasised that more studies are needed to understand the actual risk.
