This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Toronto chapter.

When it comes down to dealing with the monthly gift from Mother Nature, our main goal is to slap on a product that will soothe the pain, relieve the discomfort, and package the waste in the most mess-free manner and get on with our day. But let’s face it: do most of us even know what we are exposing ourselves to? Every woman should know what we are putting near the most sensitive part of our body, so here’s the rundown:

The skin is the number one form of protection on the human body and on the vagina, it’s at its thinnest. This thin layer of skin is the only thing seperating your body from harmful toxins that can be easily absorbed into your bloodstream, enabling them to spread throughout your body and seep into your organs. This is why it is important to pay attention to the ingredients in your pads, tampons (which can leave behind fibres when removed) and other sanitary products which may include pesticides, plastic, rayons, and fragrances.

Doctor Mercola of Illinois, previously named “top Ultimate Wellness Game Changer” by Huffington Post, warns women: “To give tampons and pads that pristine, ‘clean’ white look, the fibers used must be bleached. Chlorine is commonly used for this, which can create toxic dioxin and other disinfection-by-products (DBPs) such as trihalomethane.”* Studies show that dioxin* collects in your fatty tissues, and according to a draft report by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), dioxin a serious public health threat that has no “safe” level of exposure!”

In addition, Mercola reveals that a popular brand on the market has released “The Frequent Forever Pad”** which has “mostly undisclosed ingredients” that “create lots of black smoke and thick residue — indications that the pad may contain dioxins, synthetic fibers and petrochemical additives.”*

(** Name of product changed)

If anything, these products are anything BUT sanitary.

Here are some of the symptoms and side effects the chemicals in them cause:

Rashes and Itchiness and other forms of irritation
Bacteria growth (as a result of very little air flow)
Toxic Syndrome
Immune System Suppression
Abnormal Cell Growth
Cancer in Bladder and Uterus
Irregular menstration
Infections

Here are some better alternatives of feminine sanitary products that ladies are encouraged to switch to. These products are created with the delicacy of the female vagina in mind and use less chemicals – or even none at all.