Menstrual products (tampons, pads, panty liners)
Manufacturing residues (dioxins, glyphosate, phthalates)
⚪ A claim is circulating (social media, marketing) but available studies do not confirm it, and may even contradict it.
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In brief
are tampons safe: this page reviews Menstrual products (tampons, pads, panty liners) (Manufacturing residues (dioxins, glyphosate, phthalates)) — documented mechanism, everyday exposure situations and possible alternatives. Level of evidence: Unconfirmed claim.
- Where it's found
- Disposable tampons, sanitary pads, and panty liners.
- Suspected mechanism
- ANSES and the DGCCRF (French consumer protection agency) (2018) tested several products and detected traces of dioxins, furans, glyphosate/AMPA, phthalates, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, but at non-quantifiable levels in almost all cases. ANSES explicitly concludes there is no chemical risk associated with the use of these products, while recommending, as a precaution, that manufacturers reduce the number of detected substances. Toxic shock syndrome (linked to Staphylococcus aureus, in cases of prolonged use) is a real but infectious risk, not a chemical one, and is not linked to fertility.
- Suggested alternative
- No action is needed on the chemical front based on current data; sticking to the recommended wear time (under 8 hours) remains relevant for infectious risk, independent of this factor.
- Source
- ANSES, safety assessment of feminine hygiene products (July 2018); DGCCRF, analyses of tampons/pads/panty liners.
Frequently asked questions
Menstrual products (tampons, pads, panty liners): how is it linked to infertility?
ANSES and the DGCCRF (French consumer protection agency) (2018) tested several products and detected traces of dioxins, furans, glyphosate/AMPA, phthalates, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, but at non-quantifiable levels in almost all cases. ANSES explicitly concludes there is no chemical risk associated with the use of these products, while recommending, as a precaution, that manufacturers reduce the number of detected substances. Toxic shock syndrome (linked to Staphylococcus aureus, in cases of prolonged use) is a real but infectious risk, not a chemical one, and is not linked to fertility.
Where is Menstrual products (tampons, pads, panty liners) found in everyday life?
Disposable tampons, sanitary pads, and panty liners.
How can exposure to Menstrual products (tampons, pads, panty liners) be reduced?
No action is needed on the chemical front based on current data; sticking to the recommended wear time (under 8 hours) remains relevant for infectious risk, independent of this factor.
What is the level of evidence for Menstrual products (tampons, pads, panty liners)?
Unconfirmed claim. A claim is circulating (social media, marketing) but available studies do not confirm it, and may even contradict it.
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Related factors
Including a factor does not mean it causes infertility: it is simply worth monitoring, depending on its level of evidence.
Content last updated: September 14, 2026