Menstrual products (tampons, pads, panty liners)
Manufacturing residues (dioxins, glyphosate, phthalates)
Evidence level : Unconfirmed claim BathroomMechanism : Hormonal disruption burden
⚪ A claim is circulating (social media, marketing) but available studies do not confirm it, and may even contradict it.
- 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.
Map your everyday exposures in about ten minutes.
Take the questionnaireRelated 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