Menstruation Danger and Choosing Safe Sanitary Napkins

Are you aware of the Danger during menstruation?

Many women feel tensed up and depressed during menstruation. During menstruation, the skin of women’s sensitive part is the most vulnerable. Women are prone to many types of bacteria and viruses during menstrual period, as much as 107 types of bacteria residing on the surface per cubic centimetre on a common sanitary napkin, when used for as short as 2 hours. Such sanitary napkin is tested to facilitate growth and multiplication of bacteria and harmful viruses after continuous use.

A woman will use an average of 15,000 pieces of sanitary pads within 30 to 40 years in her entire lifetime. Sanitary napkins have become a necessary “friend” of women, however sometimes; this “friend” may create more trouble if not treated well.

Surveys and studies have shown 73% of the women would feel itchiness and pain on certain areas of the skin during menstruation. These are commonly caused by sanitary napkins which are not air-permeable. Most sanitary napkins nowadays are relatively cheap, and are made from bleached and recycled papers. Redness and itchiness during menstruation are clear indicators of allergic reaction to man-made fibres.


What is common Sanitary Napkins made of?

Now, a wealth of evidence has shown tampons and sanitary towels can be the cause of minor irritation in many women and may lead to serious health problems. Discarded pads are also a major environmental and health hazard.

Common sanitary napkins are classified as Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), are disposed right after use. However, some manufacturers have the tendency to use recycle paper as raw material to save on the cost of production.

Large amount of chemical agents are required for recycling process to bleach, sterilize and remove odour from used papers. Such absorbent materials used in these sanitary napkins are chemical agents meant for industrial purposes which may affect the reproduction organ of women.

Symptoms of infection during menstruation cycle:
- Slight fever and headache
- External vaginal inflammation
- Itchy skin
- Cervical inflammation
- Endometrial inflammation
- Excessive white discharge
- Searing heat or pain in the lower abdomen
- Reproductive tract infection

Women whom suffer from reproductive tract infection, their health will be greatly affected.