ALLERGY AND PERSONAL HYGIENE: SANITARY PROTECTION
Tampons are made of a blend of cotton and viscose. Some brands are treated with glycerol which is a mild solvent. Sanitary towels are made of wood pulp, with a lining of some type of plastic to provide waterproofing. Most brands are bleached with chlorine, although it is now possible to find unbleached and non-chlorine bleached products. Most will contain formaldehyde to provide wet strength, and some brands are perfumed.
If you are chemically sensitive, it is probably better to avoid tampons unless you absolutely have to use them. The vagina, being a mucosal area of the body, absorbs chemicals very readily. You are more likely to react to a tampon than to a sanitary towel. Boots own brand are not treated with glycerol and may be a better choice if you have to wear tampons.
Some brands of sanitary towels are better tolerated than others by chemically sensitive women. Try using Simplicity towels to see if they suit you, or Boots own brand towels.
The Green Catalogue (address above) sell disposable sanitary towels in non-chlorine-bleached pulp, and 100 per cent cotton non-chlorine-bleached tampons. They also sell re-usable sanitary towels in unbleached cotton with absorbent felt of viscose and polyester and a waterproof backing. These may not be tolerated by some women but could be worth a try.
If you can use none of these, try using a pure cotton muslin nappy, usually sold for babies. These are usually non-chlorine bleached. Fold the nappy, and pin it to your pants if necessary. Cut the nappy in half or smaller if it is too bulky. Boots and Mothercare sell these.
Some other women successfully use vaginal sponges if they have a light flow. Buy a tiny natural sponge – sold usually for applying cosmetics – and place high in the vagina. Remove and rinse several times a day. Rinse it thoroughly and keep very clean between periods.
Another option is to use a contraceptive cap to collect the blood. You will need your doctor to fit a cap for you. Insert the cap without spermicide and empty it frequently. This works well if you have a light flow, unless you are sensitive to the latex of the cap.
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