Health :Is it time to go back to using cloth during periods?

Ever since a recent study revealed that some sanitary pads contain some cancerous elements, it has caused a lot of distress among many girls and women out there.The Pioneer’s Tejal Sinha contacted gynaecologists and also connected with a period activist to understand how sanitary napkins or pads can lead to cancer and what could be the best alternative.

For over two decades now, sanitary pads have been one of the most used and preferred period products. They have been replaced by other environment-friendly alternatives like menstrual cups, reusable pads, tampons, and period underwear, among others. However, a majority of women still use sanitary napkins across the world.

According to research published by the National Center for Biotechnology (NCBI), the results revealed a wide variation in the use of sanitary napkins across socio-economic and demographic factors. The use of sanitary napkins was significantly higher among girls with 8–9 (53.2%) and 10 or more (75.4%) years of schooling compared to those who had no formal education (26.4%). The use of sanitary napkins was higher among adolescent girls who did not work (54.7%) than among those who did work (40.8%).Adolescent girls reporting frequent exposure to mass media (OR = 2.10), belonging to the richest wealth quintile (OR = 3.76), and whose mothers had 10 or more years of education (OR = 2.29) had a higher propensity to use sanitary napkins than their counterparts. We found no significant role for community-level education of mothers on adolescent menstrual hygiene practices.

Meanwhile, another study stated that women in the reproductive age group should be provided with appropriate information about menstruation, and they should be told about the advantages of using sanitary napkins. Health sector functionaries should play a proactive role in the delivery of such information.

However, several studies highlighted the perils of these single-use products and cautioned that they not only harm the body but also the environment as they contain plastic.
Adding to the list of these studies is this new study by a Delhi-based NGO called Toxics Link. The study recently claimed that most sanitary napkins sold across India contain cancer-causing contaminants and even cause infertility in some women. The new study has been a cause of worry for thousands of women and girls around the world who have been relying on sanitary pads for years.

The study conducted by the NGO that’s part of the International Pollutants Elimination Network tested ten brands of pads (including organic and inorganic) available across India and found traces of phthalates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in all the samples. Both contaminants have the ability to form cancerous cells. Toxics Link found the presence of certain phthalates that are restricted according to European regulations.

We further connected with gynaecologists and also a period activist, who opines about what primitive measures can be taken now and an alternative for using sanitary pads.

Dr. N Sapna Lulla, Lead Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aster CMI Hospital Bangalore, shared, “The sanitary napkins or pads use various absorbing materials. Plasticizers are indeed commonly found in these products as well as cosmetics.This is done through touch or contact, or it is inhaled in situations where it inhibits cell activity and can cause cancer.This has been proven. So henceforth, this is the manner in which these pads can be a cause of cancer.

If not sanitary pads, you might consider menstrual cups or tampons as alternatives.But what if you’re not comfortable using them? Dr. Sapna said, “I would say going back to the age-old method of using cloth. You’re spending so much on these pads, and they are also not good for the environment. You are exposing yourself more to the probability of having yourself exposed to these sanitary napkins, even though acetone, dichloromethane, and chloroform are in them. All of these factors can affect the texture of the skin, cause allergic reactions, and have hormonal effects.In such situations, using clothes as we used to do before is the best alternative. Yes, hygiene needs to be kept in mind, as well as the fact that many of us might not be comfortable with it. Using organic pads is also acceptable because it can help to prevent these types of reactions.Furthermore, menstrual cups can be more environmentally friendly and practical.”

Seconding Dr. Sapna, Dr. Poornima Kinila, Consultant-Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Infertility, Aster RV Hospital shares, “On the clock one, we can use period pants. Then you have biodegradable or organic menstrual products, which can also be used. Menstrual cups can also be an alternative; however, not everyone will be comfortable using them. In such cases, using cloth can be a better alternative. But even in that, there might be questions that arise, like how frequently they have to change because of the heaviness of the flow, and what kind of cloth can be used? Girls and women need to be educated on this. If education is made widespread about the serious disorders that might be caused, this would help decrease fertility, PCOS, or even cancer-related issues.”

On the other hand, we spoke to Saloni Bhutra, founder of the Paddling Foundation and a period activist, who believes that the recent research is a single research study as of now and that the research has not been officially published. In fact, “why weren’t the brand names openly mentioned?” It has simply scared millions of people watching the news. Now many upper- and middle-class Americans have the option to switch instantly. But that’s not the case with the rural areas, which can create panic among them because of a lack of funds and how expensive organic products are.

Sharing about what alternative she would prefer to educate people with, she said, “In the first year of our NGO itself, we started distributing and raising awareness about cloth pads. The reason is that even if regular sanitary pads don’t contain elements that cause cancer, they might nonetheless lead to rashes and infections. We began encouraging people to use cloth pads. If you ask me, even I would suggest using cloth pads instead of a simple cloth. Not all cloth is a healthy material. Some cannot be trusted to be used on your body.So you can use cloth pads, which are solely manufactured for this purpose. When it comes to menstrual cups, they are not meant for everyone. Even when people say they are manufacturing organic pads, they are not revealing the products used in them.”

“There is a lack of awareness because most cloth pads are made by small businesses or nongovernmental organisations that cannot afford to advertise. Even if they do, there’s very little time given, and you cannot explain the whole thing, which can be misleading. When we’re on the ground, I know from personal experience that many people haven’t even seen cloth pads. They know about the age-old clothes to be used, but they do not know about cloth pads that are existing or don’t even know what menstrual cups are,” signed off Saloni, adding that no matter what menstrual product one uses, be it sanitary pads, cloths, or menstrual cups, no one has the right to shame them for it. It’s about their comfort, not forcing them to use a certain product.