A Call to Action: Research and Transparency for Menstrual Health Product Manufacturing

Written by our founder, Olivia

Many of you may know that LUÜNA’s existence arose from my own frustration and anxiety upon discovering that the synthetics in my pads and tampons had caused a decade of recurring yeast infections—an uncomfortable and costly-to-treat issue that I had wrongly attributed to my own body, rather than considering the products I was using.

Therefore I celebrate further research into the impact of menstrual products. On a personal level, I also deeply understand from my own previous experiences the distress of finding out information about period products you rely on every month.

Below I address questions raised by our community in light of the new California Berkeley study and aim to provide reassurance regarding the high standards of care, comfort, and safety under which we operate.

Findings of a New Study Into Tampons

A new California Berkeley study making headlines found traces of metals in 24 unique types of tampons across 14 brands purchased across the US and Europe. This has caused understandable alarm with substances like lead and arsenic included in the findings.

Theories linked to the Berkeley study suggest these substances may be the result of additives like antimicrobial, odor control, agents - which we do not add to our tampons - or systemic environmental pollution such as that in the soil or air.

For context around tampon regulations, the FDA classifies both scented and unscented tampons as a class II medical device (or “moderate to high risk”), meaning they do require special regulatory controls.

You may be thinking, if there are regulatory controls in place, why are studies like this still sparking alarm? Across the entire spectrum of health issues, regulations adapt as science and research evolves. When it comes to women’s health and menstrual health, it is a sad truth that most areas still lack comprehensive funding and research (this is a part of the ‘gender health gap’). 

With this in mind, more research and funding into menstrual health, including product safety, is something we have always advocated for both as a company and as people with periods who use these products every month.

How Should We Interpret This Study as Tampon Users?

As women and menstruating people, whose bodies have historically been overlooked in science, we deserve clarity, balance, and accuracy in reports on new findings. This has been missing in much of the discourse around the new study.

I suggest reading work by OB/GYN and physician Dr. Jen Guenter and scientist Dr. Andrea Love, who have both carried out extensive breakdowns of the study and its findings.

They provide important context for those who are concerned about this specific study or wish to understand previous research on tampons more deeply. Key points include:

• As Dr. Guenter highlights, previous studies do not show higher blood levels of metal in those who use tampons, compared with those who do not. Like the Berkeley study though, these reports should not be taken as definitive. They are however important to mention alongside these new findings.

• As Dr. Love highlights, the method used in the Berkeley study used 70% nitric acid combined with 180F heat to extract the substances. “This is nowhere near reflective of the conditions in the vagina and as such… if they didn’t determine what would realistically leach out of tampons during real-world use, they certainly can’t make any statements related to potential absorption of those compounds.”

• Further to the point above, the Berkeley study itself states "this study does not provide information about potential bio-accessibility of tampon metals and thus we cannot estimate health risks (if any) from tampon use."

I stress here, my highlighting the study's limitations does invalidate concern caused. While the study itself admits to being 'exploratory,' it is a much-needed step in the right direction and will undoubtedly spark further funding and research.

But we must strive for accuracy, nuance and context when it comes to information around our bodies. Beyond the analysis linked above, this Allure article is also balanced, as well as this New York Times piece.

Our Approach to Product Sourcing

It was switching from synthetic to organic cotton period products that eliminated my physical discomfort and changed my relationship for the better with my period.

Yet beyond solving tangible symptoms for myself and others, organic cotton is grown without the same toxic fertilisers and pesticides used in conventional cotton farming, thus reducing the risk of contamination. It was this that compelled me to work only with leading organic cotton period care manufacturers for LUÜNA. 

As such, our tampons are certified to the Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS), the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibers, including ecological and social criteria, backed up by independent third-party certification of the entire supply chain. We work with a world-class manufacturing partner in Spain, who adheres to the Quality System Regulation set by the FDA.

As mentioned above, theories linked to the California Berkeley study suggest that intentional additives like antimicrobial/odor control/agents and lubricants could constitute potential sources of metals. None of them are added to our tampons during the manufacturing process. 

What of the systemic environmental exposure? GOTS has strict regulations for the presence of chemical substances that could pose a potential health and safety risk. It sets limit values for several chemicals, including heavy metals. Our manufacturer relies on third party testing to analyse raw cotton fibres for heavy metals. The results our manufacturer obtains comply with GOTS limit values. 

So What Next?

On a regulatory level, the FDA is currently reviewing the study to determine whether it must take any regulatory action using the study. 

As a brand, this is not the last you will hear from us on this topic. We will be sharing updates on the FDA review and further research as it evolves. Our goal is for you to trust LUÜNA as a source of unbiased information and truth as more research is released.

Additionally, it’s important for you to know that we selected our manufacturer not simply because they meet existing regulatory standards, but because of their commitment to act swiftly as research evolves.

As such, we will keep you updated on any further information or action that may come from this study. I deeply trust in their commitment to, and capability of, staying at the forefront of regulatory changes if and when these take place.

Lastly, in a social media-dominated world with many conflicting voices, we suggest finding a range of objective (those not selling products or pushing agendas for clicks) scientific voices and publications. I feel those included in this article are a good place to start but if you have others to share, please drop us a DM on our socials so we can circulate these as well.

A few more things about our tampons you may like to know:

• Certified Organic Cotton absorbent core, which has been grown without using chemical herbicides, fertilisers or pesticides.
• Cardboard Applicator with soft round end-tip for easier insertion.
• We do not use perfumes or fragrances.
• Organic Product Certified by ICEA under GOTS regulation.
• Vegan product not tested on animals.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via hello@luuna-naturals.com