Disposable feminine hygiene products are actually not sterile despite their brilliant white appearance. In fact the synthetics and plastics that they contain create a humid microclimate in this warm, damp area, in which germs and fungal infections such as thrush can easily breed.When women developS irritation problems such as thrush, vaginitis or soreness, they are usually advised by doctors and health specialists to wear cotton underwear. But, without thinking, they often continue to use their usual brand of feminine hygiene product or panty liner made from synthetic and plastic ingredients. Many women suffering from skin allergies, irritation, soreness and itching, find their symptoms are worse during their period because of the synthetic nature of their choice of feminine hygiene product.Cloth pads are softer on the skin and they allow natural airflow, which can help prevent thrush, vaginal rashes and related problems. Many women say that their cycle has shortened since they switched cloth menstrual pads. And others claim that their periods are shorter. I myself have found that I have a much less 'clotty' period (sorry for the graphic details of my inner workings, but if you have read this far you must be interested!) and i have less cramping, I don't know about you, but those cramps in the first few days are not somthing I will miss!Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but sometimes fatal disease. Tampon-related TSS was identified in 1980 when a number of deaths were directly linked to a particular brand of super-absorbent tampon, subsequently withdrawn from sale. In 2001, a 13-year-old British girl died of tampon-related TSS after using tampons for the very first time throughout her period. TSS has been linked to the use of super-absorbent and newer, less absorbent tampons made of viscose rayon, both with and without cotton. It is also more common in younger people whose immune system is less mature.Most sources agree that the best preventative solution is to use sanitary pads at night to give the body a rest.The risks of TSS are not the only reason for considering minimising tampon use. Vaginal dryness and chronic vaginitis have also been clearly linked to tampon use. The Boston Women's Health Book Collective recommends a simple experiment to visually grasp the immediate effects that tampons have on a woman's body. Simply take a tampon and dunk it it into a glass of water and observe the many fibers that remain in the water when the tampon is taken out. The same effect takes place in the vagina, only the remaining fibers are then secured in place by the next tampon…and so on .Another concern with tampons is their effect on the body's natural flow of energy. According to many schools of natural healing the body's energy flows downward during menstruation. Tampons create anti peristaltic movements, disturbing this downward flow and the rhythm of the fallopian tubes. Women often experience this blocking of the natural downward flow of energy causes abdominal discomfort and cramping, which they do not experience when they use menstrual pads.And finally Prevention magazine warns, "Tampons cause friction and irritation to the vaginal walls and interfere with the natural cleansing flow of mucus." One of the recognised causes of cancer is repeated irritation or tissue trauma. There is much speculation but we are not aware of any conclusive research linking tampon use and cancer. There are certainly a range of possible causes for the increase in feminine cancer in the past decades. But we do know that one in 138 women will be diagnosed with cancer of the cervix during their lifetime. And we do know that tampons (especially those that expand lengthways) cannot help but rub against that soft and tender area. I prefer not to take the risk, do you?.
