What are TAMPAX Tampons made of?
What are tampons made of? TAMPAX tampons are made of the same materials that have been safely used in feminine care products for years. TAMPAX puts these materials together in our unique designs to give you trusted anti-leak protection and comfort.
What are the TAMPAX ingredients? The primary materials of TAMPAX tampons are cotton and rayon. Are tampons safe? Leading scientists at Harvard, Dartmouth, University of Wisconsin, University of Minnesota, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control have conducted extensive testing confirming that rayon and cotton are equally safe. In fact, they both have a long history of safe use. We do extensive safety assessments to make sure the millions of women who use TAMPAX each day can do so with confidence. We have our assessments reviewed by independent experts including physicians, scientists, and health authorities who oversee tampon safety. These experts have confirmed that our tampons and the materials used to make them can be used safely.
Ok, so here is the chart that shows the different parts, or components, of our tampons, what each component does, and the materials used to make them:
Tampon Components | Function | Material |
Applicator | Helps to comfortably insert the tampon | Cardboard made of tightly wound paper or plastic with pigments for color |
Absorbent Core | Provides protection by absorbing and storing menstrual fluid | Cotton and/or Rayon |
Thin Fabric around Absorbent Core | Helps with smooth removal; helps form the absorbent skirt on certain designs | Rayon and polyester or polyethylene and polypropylene |
String | Used to remove the tampon; also has a braid on certain designs | Cotton and/or polyester; Polypropylene braid |
Thread | Used to attach the string to absorbent core | Cotton-wrapped polyester or polyester |
Fragrance: Only on versions labeled as scented. All other versions do not include fragrance. | Provides a fresh scent | Fragrance ingredients like those found in other women’s products |
We Sometimes Get A Question About TAMPAX Ingredients And Are Tampons Safe? Yes, our tampons can be used safely. TAMPAX has helped millions of women to live their lives during their periods since we were founded in 1936. TAMPAX has always been there to protect you for your most important moments, and that protection begins with your safety and our hypoallergenic tampons. Our tampon safety assessments and TAMPAX ingredients have been reviewed by independent experts including physicians, university scientists, and health authorities who oversee tampon safety and they have confirmed that our hypoallergenic tampons can be used safely.
QUESTIONS ABOUT TAMPONS AND TSS
Because We Think It Is Important That Women Have The Facts About TSS, We Want To Share With You This Additional Information.
Do TAMPAX Ingredients Cause TSS?TSS is a rare but serious illness and the most up-to-date scientific information confirms that TSS is not affected by the ingredients currently used to make tampons. Regardless of what the tampon ingredients are, it is really important for you to know the signs and symptoms of TSS and what you can do to reduce your risk. Check out the information here or in the leaflet that comes in our tampon packs.
Additional information about TSS could be found at www.tssis.com
I Have Read That All-Cotton Tampons Have A Lower Risk Of TSS Or Even No Risk Of TSS. Is This True? No, this is simply not true. All tampons in the market today, even 100% cotton tampons, are associated with a low risk of TSS. The most up-to-date scientific information available today confirms that tampons made with rayon and tampons made with cotton have similar risks of TSS. Regardless of what tampon you use, you should be aware of the signs and symptoms of TSS. Remove the tampon and call a health care provider if you experience these symptoms while using a tampon. For more information read this article.
I Read That 100% Organic Cotton Tampons Are Safer Than Tampons With Rayon Or Other Synthetic Materials. Is This True? No; it is misleading as it may cause girls and women to think that they are protected from TSS by using all-cotton tampons. This may result in someone ignoring the symptoms of TSS and not seeking immediate treatment, which could affect the severity of the illness.
What About The Synthetic Materials In Your Tampons. Do They Increase My Risk Of Getting TSS? No, they do not. Our safety assessments of these additional components of our tampons have been reviewed by independent experts including physicians, scientists, and health authorities who oversee tampon safety. These experts confirm that our hypoallergenic tampons and the materials used to make them can be used safely.
Questions About Allergy And Fragrances In Tampons
Are Scented Tampons Safe? Won’t They Be Irritating And Make Me Itch Down There? Your safety is at the foundation of everything we do, so like our unscented tampons, our scented tampons can be used safely. We make sure the materials that are used in our hypoallergenic tampons, including the fragrance in our scented products, should not be irritating, cause itching, or cause an allergic reaction. Additionally, the fragrance used in our tampons meets the strict safety standards set by the International Fragrance Association, the world’s leading authority on fragrance safety. We recommend our unscented tampons for those who prefer fragrance-free products or who may already have allergies or sensitivity to fragrances.
Are Your Tampons Hypoallergenic Or In Other Words, Will They Cause Allergies? All of our products go through a rigorous safety evaluation to make sure they can be used safely and should not cause an allergic reaction
General TAMPAX Ingredients Questions
Are Tampons Safe? What Are Tampons Made Of? Why Aren’t Your Tampons Made Of 100% Cotton? TAMPAX tampons are designed to provide an optimized level of protection and comfort for each absorbency range (e.g., 6-9 g). Using both cotton and rayon helps us deliver hypoallergenic tampons that meet all of these needs. TAMPAX has been offering cotton, rayon, or blended cotton and rayon products since we were founded in 1936.
What Are Tampons Made Of? Do Your Plastic Applicators Have BPA (Bisphenol A)? No, they do not. TAMPAX plastic applicators are made with a plastic that does not use BPA.
Are TAMPAX Tampons Made Of “Superabsorbent” Material? No, our tampons do not contain any "superabsorbent" material.
Are Tampons Safe? Is There Chlorine Bleach In TAMPAX Tampons? No, production of the absorbent materials in TAMPAX involves only elemental chlorine-free purification processing.
Are Tampons Safe? Why Is Any Bleaching Done On TAMPAX Materials? Bleaching is the technical term for fibre purification. Purification of cotton and rayon is done to eliminate the impurities and clean the fibres. Whitening the fibres is a result of this process, but not its goal.
What Are The TAMPAX Ingredients? I’ve Heard Talk That Tampons Contain Toxic Amounts Of Dioxin. Is This True? No, the cotton and rayon purification involves an elemental chlorine-free process which does not cause the production of dioxin.
Is There Asbestos In TAMPAX Tampons? No, TAMPAX has never contained asbestos.