If tampons kill hundreds/yr., maim thousands and cause infertility even when used correctly, why use them?

Question

Source: CDC - and yes, of course I am talking about TSS. CDC reports 283 cases last year of death, 60% when used PROPERLY... and many of the non-deaths resulted in damage to the vagina (maimed) and hundreds of other cases of infertility.

But I guess militant, angry tampon users don't want to face facts.

Answer 1

I'm a menstrual activist myself; however I do think you are being a little bit extremist.


Tampons, particularly commercial tampons are the most harmful out of over twenty menstrual options, the history and continued unnecessary manufacturing does make you wonder why people still use tampons...

TSS in the 1980's was by large the result of tampon manufacturers using super-absorbent materials in tampons without adequate testing, when women started contracting TSS and the link was made tampon manufacturers not only continued to sell these tampons but continued to promote them, it took the FDA to step in before the tampon ratification act was introduced – five years later the same company behind Rely [Proctor & Gamble – who also own Tampax], the tampon that caused much of the problems, tried to put the same harmful materials into diapers. It was a clear cut case, however only one woman managed to sue as P&G bought out all doctors so they would not support the law suits. Tampax and other commercial tampons still use materials that increase risk of TSS. TSS statistics are nothing on the actual number of women who contract TSS through tampon use, for it to be officially recognised in statistics the TSS case has to be diagnosed, reported, and then pass through criteria that only around a third of all cases pass.

In the 1990's paper pulp was bleached using chlorine gas bleaching, a by-product of which was dioxin, a highly dangerous toxin best known from Agent Orange. When it was made public people in their masses wrote in to complain, sanitary pad and diaper companies stopped using this bleaching process, tampon manufacturers did not, until again the FDA stepped in and the laws were changed to prevent the use of this bleaching method. Commercial tampon manufacturers still use bleaching and chemical treatment, this is totally unnecessary and puts women at risk of infection, there are laws protecting the companies so they do not have to tell customers what chemicals are used, for all we know the chemicals they use now may be just as harmful.

It is shocking, but the simple fact of the matter is that people do not know how harmful tampons are, it could be said to be common sense that putting a wad of pores material into a place that is moist, warm and full of bacteria is a bad thing, the same could also be said of putting chemicals into a major orifice of the body where it's walls are made up of delicate mucosa.

Fact is however because of taboos surrounding menstruation and women's sexual health it means most women are not aware of their bodies, and these issues are not even considered let alone looked into to the point where a person could learn these things – because lets face it, even though more and more people are aware of these issues the actual facts of history and politics, where the real horror lies, are hard to come by unless you really look.

Women are also simply unaware of their options, this is not just restricted to menstrual options but also in every aspect of their sexual health, for example birth control options, choices in emergency contraception, both of which are largely suppressed by social attitudes.

Look at some of your answers;

-People still believe that TSS is the result of misuse, when it is not at all, anyone can contract TSS, but tampons increase the risk significantly even when used correctly, commercial tampons increase that risk again – it's sad that these people almost seem to believe that those poor women who have contracted TSS almost deserve it, that they must have been using a tampon wrong, when in fact it is the blame of tampon manufacturers for putting those women at risk to begin with.

-The e-mail hoax still carries a lot of weight, because there was an e-mail claiming tampons contained asbestos and that e-mail was debunked people now think that any information given to them on tampon risks is a hoax, when in fact it is not. Of course the asbestos e-mail was a hoax, but what people don't realise is that due to manufacturing there have been worse things within tampons.

-People think it is either an option of pads or tampons, in fact either commercial pads or commercial tampons, there are over twenty different menstrual options, some in fact far more convenient than tampons, not to mention safer, cheaper, greener and more body-positive.

Fortunately more women are becoming educated about their bodies and the issues surrounding menstruation and menstrual options, menstrual cups have practically exploded and cloth pads are becoming very popular, there are many organisations working to see an end to commercial tampons and menstrual activists educating others to the issues involved.
It's a slow process, tampon manufacturers have much greater means to fight than menstrual activists do, and it does not help when even doctors remain ignorant of the issues involved to patient's health. Obviously there is some dent being made, for example in the UK tampon and pad manufacturers are now bringing out scented products, the UK escaped this for years compared to the US, many believe this is the result of manufacturers worrying about loss of sales through 'alternative' options, and only a few months ago menstrual cups started to be advertised on British television.


For those wishing for something to back up the claims;


http://www.spotsite.org
http://www.tamponalert.org.uk
http://www.seac.org/tampons
http://www.wen.org.uk/sanpro
http://bloodsisters.org/bloodsisters
http://www.life.ca/nl/46/maxi.html
http://www.frontiernet.net/%7Eruthb/Tampons.html

The Sanitary Protection Scandal: Sanitary towels, tampons and babies' nappies – environmental and health hazards of production use and disposal – Alison Costello, Bernadette Vally, Josa Young.
Whitewash: Exposing the health and environmental dangers of women's sanitary products and disposable diapers – Liz Armstrong, Adrienne Scott.
The Price of a Life: One woman's death from toxic shock – Tom Riley.
Soap Opera: The Inside Story of Proctor & Gamble - Alecia Swasy.
Capitalizing on the Curse: The Business of Menstruation - Elizabeth Arveda Kissling.
The Curse: Confronting the Last Unmentionable Taboo: Menstruation - Karen Houppert.
Everything You Must Know About Tampons - Nancy Friedman.
Women and Tampons: Index of New Information, With Authors and Subjects - Valerie J. Gibson.

Answer 2

This happens to very few. And it is suggested that you do not use them for all days...when your flow is light, use a pad or pantyliner....when it is heavy use a tampon for that particular heaviness (regular or super) never leave them in for more than 8 hours and never use a super tampon when your flow is not heavy. Trust me, you will be fine, the majority of women use tampons occasionally and don't have a problem.

Answer 3

well,used properly....that's relative.
u shouldn't leave a single tampon in for over 8 hours,or a rare effect will appear......
i don't use them at all,but i think i'm going to some day.
it's easier,safer ( u're not gonna leave bloody stains all over the place),and sea compatible.
there's always a rick.......u shouldn't use the computer because it's not healthy,but u still are.
and 2 min from now maybe u'll go outside and be hit by a bus....

tampons ! tampons !

Answer 4

If used irregularly then people won't get it - also if taken out more often and replaced with a new one. People use it to feel safer from leakage - you can't always rely on pads.

Answer 5

Tampons serve a useful and nesscessary purpose. The risks can be overcome.

Answer 6

maybe because some are not aware about that . ..and besides, more tampon users are not virgin anymore so they need not to worry about vaginal damage

Answer 7

It's bad enough we have to bleed but who wants to sit in it and slosh about?! (Slight exaggeration I know but you get my point)

Answer 8

What are your sources on this? Clarify so that we can answer more succinctly.

Answer 9

Used properly, they won't

Answer 10

maybe they like the feel of them