MORGANTOWN, W.Va (WDTV) – Millions of women are going through a healthcare scare after some recent studies showed common and well-known tampon brands have toxic metals in them.
Information released by UC Berkeley in June said that tampons can contain metals like lead, arsenic and cadmium.
Gynecologists at WVU Medicine say lead and arsenic are classified as more toxic metals, and there are potential health risks that might come with exposure.
“We know from other studies that metals can have an effect on our body,” said Dr. Loren Custer, an OB-GYN at WVU Medicine. “[The] most common things that we see are issues in the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, even issues with dementia and cancer over long term exposures.”
The study didn’t address how concerned women should be, which is leaving a lot of questions unanswered.
Dr. Custer says at this point, researchers don’t know if the metals are being absorbed into our bodies, and if so, what concentrations would cause health issues.
Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives.
“There’s always pads. Unfortunately pads are going to be made out of the same types of materials as tampons, so more research is going to be needed on that as well,” said Dr. Custer. “There’s also menstrual cups, which is another option that are not made from cotton type products.”
If you want to keep using tampons, brands like August, Rael, Lola and Honey Pot have organic options that may be better for your health.
Women who are immunocompromised, sensitive to metals, or allergic to metals could also be at a higher risk, however Dr. Custer says more research is needed to be sure.
If you are concerned for your health, there are a few things you can do.
There’s a lot of information online right now about the study, so it’s important to make sure you get your information from an accurate source.
Follow the directions on your tampon packages and change them regularly to avoid getting toxic shock syndrome.
Dr. Custer says the best thing you can do is see a healthcare provider.
“I would encourage women to make an appointment with their OB-GYN or their healthcare provider to talk more about this study and find out more information that’s reliable and educational to make informed decisions for their health.”
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