So in all this controversy why has there not been wide spread publication about the issues surrounding tampons and pads?  On occasion we receive the chain letter via email explaining about the dangers of dioxin or another claiming that tampons contain asbestos (they do not), which makes a woman bleed more and increases her need to buy product.  It’s hard to know who to believe especially when the FDA has over and over again put the responsibility of testing these intimate products to the manufactures and then downplay the research of FDA and independent researchers.  

There are several groups of women coming together to reach out and educate other women about the dangers of tampons and to teach them about less well known alternative products.TampAction is an eco-feminist group that strives to create an environment and build a community that promotes a positive body image through the education of whole body health and promotes sustainable menstrual products and the deconstruction of taboos regarding women and women’s health.  The White Wash campaign aims to educate women and to get women to boycott bleached feminine products  There are several options, many which are more convenient than the traditional products we buy at the grocery store.There are disposable organic products such as those manufactured by Organic Essentials and Natracare, reusable cotton pads made by Glad rags and our personal favorite, The Keeper.  The Keeper is made for women by women and distributed by women.It is a rubber cup that sits below the uterus and collects the blood internally.You simply dump out the blood and reinsert it.It also helps you to make less of an impact on the environment,  

Whatever you decide to use for your feminine needs, it is important that we educate ourselves and the women in our lives.We need to take a deeper look at just how dangerous using these products is and do our own research to make decisions as our government is not doing that for us.We need to empower other women to do the same.