How Tampons & Pads Might Be Hurting Your Fertility — And What to Use Instead

Dr. Alyssa Brooks McPeak
Sep 17
3 min read

By: Dr. Alyssa McPeak

When you’re trying to conceive, every detail matters — what you eat, how you manage stress, even the products you use during your period. Most women don’t think twice about tampons or pads, but research shows that these everyday products can expose you to chemicals that disrupt hormones and may negatively affect fertility. The good news? You have healthier, non-toxic options — and making the switch could improve your periods, your hormone health, and your chances of getting pregnant.

What’s Really in Tampons & Pads

Conventional tampons and pads are often made with bleached cotton, rayon, synthetic fibers, dyes, fragrances, and plastics. Independent studies have found concerning substances in them, including:

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like phthalates, parabens, phenols, and VOCs.
Dioxins (from bleaching processes), which are linked to hormonal disruption.
Heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium, detected in tampon samples.
PFAS (“forever chemicals”) used in some pads for leak resistance.

Why this matters: the vaginal wall is highly permeable. Substances can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the liver’s normal detox processes. That means even small exposures can have outsized effects.

How Exposure Adds Up Over Time

The average woman uses about 20 tampons or pads per cycle. That’s:

240 per year (based on a 28-day cycle).
9,600 over 40 years of menstruation.

Now, imagine each product carrying trace levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals or heavy metals. One tampon won’t make you infertile, but repeated exposure — month after month, year after year — can create a cumulative chemical burden in your body.

This “toxic load” can:

Disrupt estrogen and progesterone balance.
Interfere with thyroid hormone function.
Contribute to inflammation in the uterus and ovaries.
Impact egg quality, ovulation, and implantation.

When you’re trying to get pregnant, lowering these hidden exposures is one way to support your hormones and fertility naturally.

Non-Toxic Alternatives

Thankfully, healthier menstrual products are widely available today. Here’s what to consider:

Reusable Options: Menstrual Cups & Discs

Made from medical-grade silicone (safe, durable, non-porous).
Can be worn for up to 12 hours before emptying.
Lasts years — reducing waste and exposure.
Some women even use a cup or disc post-intercourse to keep sperm closer to the cervix (anecdotal, but popular in fertility forums).

Organic Disposables

Tampons and pads made from certified organic cotton.
Free from fragrance, chlorine bleaching, and PFAS.
Better for your body and the environment.

Reusable Pads & Period Underwear

Made from organic fabrics, washable, and chemical-free.
Great as backup or for lighter flow days.

Benefits for Periods & Fertility

Women who switch often report:

Less irritation & cramping — no harsh fibers or fragrances.
Healthier vaginal environment — balanced microbiome, fewer infections.
Lower toxic burden — reducing the accumulation of metals and EDCs.
More comfort & confidence — cups/discs hold more and leak less.
Potential fertility support — less inflammation and hormone disruption can only help when trying to conceive.

Our Favorite Non-Toxic Brands

Here are trusted brands we love and recommend:

Saalt — medical-grade silicone cups & discs, PFAS-free.
Cora — cups, discs, and organic tampons/pads.
Flex — high-quality discs and silicone cups will pull-tab.
Pixie Disc — popular disc option, hypoallergenic silicone.
Natracare — organic cotton tampons and pads.
The Honey Pot — eco-friendly, organic tampons and pads.
Period Underwear — leak-proof underwear.

Bottom Line

Over your lifetime, you’ll use thousands of menstrual products. Each one may expose you to tiny amounts of hormone-disrupting chemicals or heavy metals. While the dose in a single tampon may be small, it’s the cumulative effect that can disrupt hormones and potentially impact fertility.

Switching to non-toxic options like organic disposables, cups, or discs is a simple, powerful step you can take to protect your hormones, improve your cycle health, and support your fertility journey.

✨ At Find Your Fertility, I believe that what you put in and on your body matters. Making conscious choices about your menstrual products is one more way to honor your body and nurture your future fertility.