Plastic-Free Flow

Plastic hides in many everyday items, clothing, kitchen utensils, food and beverage containers and even in menstrual products.

Menstrual products are used from menarche (approximately 12 years of age) to menopause (approximately 51 years of age). This span of roughly 40 years is a period of time that highlights the active reproductive phase. Vaginal and vulvar tissues have a higher chemical absorption capacity compared to other skin tissues. During fertile life stages, exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can be persistent with gynecological and reproductive conditions, such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, and uterine fibroids (Cioni, Calvo & Eljarrat, 2025). During this period of time these chemicals mimic or block reproductive hormones, disrupting ovulation, reducing egg quality, accelerating ovarian aging, and potentially inducing menopause years earlier (Laws, et al., 2021).

Menstrual pads, along with their wrappers, wings and adhesives add non-biodegradable plastic—the equivalent of four plastic bags—to the environment with each use and take an estimated 500 to 800 years to decompose into microplastics. Plastic never completely breaks down, it becomes microplastics, then nano plastics and remains in our water and soil forever.

Phthalates are a group of chemicals that make plastic flexible, durable, transparent and increase longevity and are considered potential carcinogens. Phthalates do not chemically bond to plastic; therefore, they leak out into the environment, food, and into the human body. Phthalates are considered endocrine disruptors, chemicals that interfere with hormone signaling. Hormones help to control the reproductive system, fertility, developmental and puberty stages. Phthalates also negatively influence metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Menstrual pads are made up of three layers: the top sheet, used to acquire menstrual fluid; the absorbent core used to store menstrual fluid and the back sheet that prevents leakage of fluid from the pad. The presence of phthalates in menstrual pads and pantiliners are found within all three layers. Phthalates might also be used in menstrual pads and pantiliners in the fragrance additives between layers.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can also be found in menstrual products. VOCs evaporate easily, and are used in fragrances, absorbents, adhesives, and moisture barriers. The most well-known VOC is benzene, a human carcinogen that also exhibits negative reproductive effects (Upson et al., 2023).

Dermal contact with menstrual products is a significant exposure pathway for chemicals due to the increase of surface area and high mucosal membranes. This is of concern for the health of people who menstruate, as they are already exposed through other routes (e.g.; diet, air inhalation). Consequently, people who menstruate may suffer higher levels of exposure to these additives, increasing their vulnerability to the associated health effects. Negative health effects related to plastic exposure can be felt systemically.

Unfortunately, all commercial menstrual products had detectable concentrations of plastic additives. Current evidence shows that overall menstrual cups made from medical grade silicone have the lowest environmental impact (Fourcassier et al., 2022). One menstrual cup can last for years, making them easy on the pocketbook and the environment. Menstrual bleeding has long been overlooked in environmental and epidemiologic research, despite being a common and regular occurrence in the population.

Consideration of chemical exposure and environmental impacts is needed when choosing a menstrual product as the field of investigation continues.

Check out our Facebook page for a “Make Your Own Menstrual Pad” workshop this fall.

References:

Cioni, L., Calvo, J., & Eljarrat, E. (2025). Plastic Additives in Single-Use and Reusable Menstrual Products: Potential Implications for Human Health and the Environment.  Plastic Additives in Single-Use and Reusable Menstrual Products: Potential Implications for Human Health and the Environment | Environmental Science & Technology | ACS Publications

Fourcassier, S. et al. (2022). Menstrual products: A comparable Life Cycle Assessment. Menstrual products: A comparable Life Cycle Assessment - ScienceDirect

Laws, E., Neff, A., Brehm, E., Warner, G. R., & Flaws, J. A. (2021). Endocrine disrupting chemicals and reproductive disorders in women, men, and animal models. Advances in pharmacology (San Diego, Calif.), 92, 151–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.apha.2021.03.008

Upson, K., Shearston, J., & Kiomourtzoglou, M.A. (2023). Menstrual products as a source of environmental chemical exposure: A review from the epidemiologic perspective. Menstrual products as a source of environmental chemical exposure: A review from the epidemiologic perspective - PMC