Causes of Menstrual Cramps: Pt. 2

Women's health is a topic that gets overlooked way too often in society, including by most "doctors". You come in with a complaint only to be met with a prescription for birth control pills as if there aren't any other options. 

Today we'll discuss part 2 of possible causes of menstrual cramps. Click here to read or watch part 1.

Did you know that menstrual product companies legally DON'T have to disclose the ingredients used in their products? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies tampons, pads, menstrual cups, and similar products as medical devices, and therefore, companies are not required to disclose exactly what they use during manufacturing. So the question becomes...what's really in them?

Women's Voices for the Earth Director of Science and Research says, '“For example, whereas a handful of manufacturers voluntarily disclosed just nine basic ingredients in menstrual pads previously, we identified a list of 75 ingredients now known to be included in pads including colorants, fragrances, lotion ingredients and other additives. In addition, our study identified 45 different ingredients disclosed in tampons.”'

45 to 75 INGREDIENTS? And they only voluntarily listed 9?? In something you're putting DIRECTLY on your coochie??? Mind you, the product absorption rate for the genitalia is 100%. EVERY SINGLE THING you put down there is absorbed directly into your body.... So let's get into some of the ingredients discovered by the STAT Analysis Corporation.

Styrene: carcinogen (cancer causing)

Chloromethane: reproductive toxicant

Chloroethane: carcinogen

Chloroform: carcinogen, reproductive toxicant, neurotoxin

These companies are putting chemicals in our pads and tampons that are literally toxic to our reproductive systems. Yet we wonder why we keep getting diagnosed with uterine cancer, infertility, experiencing detrimentally painful period cramps and other reproductive issues. The products are the problem!!! The sicker you are and the longer you bleed, the more money they make.

So what does this mean for you?

Opt to buy chlorine free organic cotton pads, tampons, panty liners, and other vaginal care products. The HoneyPot Co. and The L Brand are great places to start. Be wary of those too, the brands advertised as "clean" aren't always as speckle free as they claim to be. However, I personally noticed a difference in my vaginal and period health once I switched from Always Pads and Carefree liners to The L Brand and eventually the HoneyPot Co. (which I'm still currently using). My period shortened an entire 2 days after my switch. I talk more about this in our YouTube videoWatch out for your vaginal washes too! Commercial soaps are laden with hormone disrupting chemicals and fragrances that can worsen period cramps and lead to a plethora of other reproductive issues with continued use. 

Always read your ingredients! A good rule of thumb is, if you can't pronounce it, DON'T USE IT. And if you'd never see the name outside of a chemistry class, run from it. 

A question I'd love all of you beautiful readers to sit on is this:

If companies have to make "ingredient-free" products to appeal to a more aware audience, like chlorine-free pads, fluoride-free toothpaste, and aluminum-free deodorant, what's the purpose of including them in the first place?

Disclaimer: The content presented in this article is purely for informational purposes, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. The content of this article is not intended to replace the advice of a licensed medical professional, but is for informational purposes only.

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