10 Organic Tampons for Leak-Free Periods Without the Toxins

Tampons get a bad rep, but do they really deserve it? Well, considering that they come with the risk of deadly toxic shock syndrome (TSS), are filled with bleach and other red-flag ingredients, and tend to have higher price tags because of many brands pink taxing them, it seems that they really do deserve most of the criticism they get.

Now that we're more aware of the stuff we're putting into our body (and let's not forget their insane environmental impact), those of us with menstrual cycles are opting out of tampons and grabbing other body- and eco-safe period products. But, recently tampons have gotten a cleaner, greener upgrade by brands going the organic route.

What To Know About Organic Tampons

"Organic tampons are biodegradable and better for the environment. They will decompose in a matter of months, whereas regular nonorganic menstrual products may take hundreds of years, if that, to break down," says Dr. Lucky Sekhon, OB/GYN, reproductive endocrinologist, and infertility specialist. "Regular tampons are known to contain types of bleaches (dioxin) and cotton pesticides in amounts that are not considered harmful — but these chemicals are known carcinogens."

On top of their epic biodegradability, Dr. Sekhon also notes that organic tampons are usually whitened with peroxide instead of harsh bleaches or chlorine. However, just because they're organic doesn't mean you can go longer without changing them — according to Dr. Sekhon, you're still at risk of getting TSS. So you should still change your tampon up to every eight hours regardless if it's organic or not.

"There aren't many studies comparing the safety of organic versus nonorganic tampons," Dr. Sekhon adds. "Since the vaginal lining can absorb toxins and chemicals, many who choose organic tampons do so to err on the side of caution."

If you'd rather make the switch for yourself (and for Mother Earth), take a look at our favorite organic tampons below: