the saga of scented menstrual products

[balmofgilead.livejournal.com]

I don't know if anyone remembers, but awhile ago I posted about Stayfree now making some of their pads scented (or more specifically, "Now with odor neutralizers!" which turned out to be lemon scented). Yesterday I also saw that Always is starting to make scented pads as well - I have no idea why manufacturers have decided to revive the trend of scented pads, but I think it's a crummy idea.

Anyway, I wrote to Stayfree to share my concern about scented products. They replied with a standard email apologizing for my unpleasant experience and asking for my address so that they could refund the purchase price. I emailed them back explaining that my main wish was that they make *unscented* versions of all pads or at the very least make it more apparent from the packaging that pads are scented. They sent a standardized reply to that as well, assuring me that my financial compensation was on the way. I hope they actually read what I wrote at some point.

Today I received two coupons for any of their products costing up to $5. Somewhat ironic, but useful enough for me since I can use it for ob tampons, which they haven't managed to mess with yet (luckily!).

Just thought I'd share in case anyone else has been unhappy with the new scented pads. Perhaps if they get several letters, they'll reconsider.

Comments

[the-myth-eve.livejournal.com]

[cinex.livejournal.com]

After reading that first post, I found a box of Stayfree pads in my bathroom and decided to check and see if they were the same as the ones mentioned. Sure enough, they had the same "odor neutralizer" message on the package. I have to say that if I wasn't consciously looking for it, I wouldn't have seen that the pads were scented at all. I really hope that the people at Stayfree take the time to read your letter, and if nothing else, create packaging that explicitly states that the pads are scented.

[pirogoeth.livejournal.com]

I remember when Stayfree did a trial run with the scented pads. My mom and I hated it then and we hate it now. I don't WANT my vaginal area smelling citrusy!! Not only that, it reeks even more when you add menstrual blood to the mix. I switched to Always for the reason that I didn't want scented pads, and now they're doing it, too? Crap. :(

[rxredrocker.livejournal.com]

I can't find unscented Stayfrees at ALL anymore. What the hell? Aren't there women who are allergic to this stuff?

I, too, switched to Always because of the scent issue, and I'll be very angry if I can't find unscented pads in the future. [I'm not a Kotex fan, they don't sit right in my undies.]

[pirogoeth.livejournal.com]

I'm not exactly allergic to scented pads, but my vaginal area _is_ highly sensitive. I found out the hard way that I can't take bubble baths anymore when I had a run of bladder infections.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks Kotex doesn't sit right. I use their pantyliners sometimes, and it bunches up where it counts. x.o

[resilientpewter.livejournal.com]

always is still making unscented ones, last I checked (in may i believe), but they are more expensive than the scented kind - just be sure to read the labels.

[joliebelle.livejournal.com]

funny you say that you switched to Always. I switched to Stayfree from Always because they have this plastic mesh on their pads and it kept making my vagina angry.

[rxredrocker.livejournal.com]

I don't like the mesh either, but the smell in the others was really driving me nuts.

[cherryb0mb.livejournal.com]

i accidentally bought some scented pantyliners today. didn't noticed until i opened the package to use one. i suppose its partially my fault for not looking more closely, but it says "scented" so itty bitty!

[balmofgilead.livejournal.com]

when I was in a drugstore yesterday, it seemed that some varieties (e.g. ultrathin w/ wings) come only in the scented version and some come only in the unscented. I'm not sure if they're in the middle of trying to phase them in/out or if they're trying to make some bizarre compromise.

[sarapallas.livejournal.com]

Um, what's the point in making scented ones? [/confused]

[plunkybug.livejournal.com]

Go to your local health food store and they will probably carry a brand called Natracare which is organic cotton, so it is biodegradable, and is also unscented. There are also reusable cloth pads that have no scent too.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

The last time I bought them, Natracare pads were made from wood pulp. They cause a *nasty* allergic reaction for me. Their tampons are organic cotton, but the pads... *shudder*

Always added something recently (or my skin just gave up and refused to use them) which has made my skin incredibly angry. I haven't used them in a couple months and I'm still working on getting the rash to go away. I generally only use cotton flannel reuseable pads on my non-tampon days, but keep Always on hand if I'll be out all day or out of town. I hope the last vestiges of this rash heal soon.

[plunkybug.livejournal.com]

I started getting rashes with my periods so I started switching brands, but whatever it is that caused the rash is in all of them.

I haven't had a problem with the Natracare (thus far) which claim to be 100% coton, and am going to use them until I get some reusable pads (which is when I get the money to start buying some).

[figureinthefog.livejournal.com]

Your problem with most pads may be the same one I had- the acrylic acid polymer salts they put in them to "keep you fresh", meaning that they turn stuff into a nasty, irritating, carcinogenic goo "fresh gel" to keep you feeling dry. (as in, so dry your labia chap)

It's the same crap they put in babies diapers'. They used to put it in tampons, too, but there's a law against that now.

[plunkybug.livejournal.com]

I pretty much figured that whatever is was was the caused by overdrying the area. It probably is some nasty dangerous ingredient like those salts you mentioned. Can't wait to order my cloth pads!

[balmofgilead.livejournal.com]

Do you know specifically that the acrylic acid polymer is carcinogenic? That would be pretty disturbing. I couldn't find any studies on it so I'm curious to hear more.

[figureinthefog.livejournal.com]

3 years ago when I was expecting and wondering "are disposables really that bad?" I found a webpage that said the salts were carcinogenic, mutagenic, neurotoxic, and all sorts of other nasties, but I can't seem to find it today (my old computer is dead and I can't access my old bookmarks) or remember their sources. If I do find it, I'll be sure to post.
They've also been linked recently to asthma and other respiratory problems, and I'm pretty sure that article can be found on mothering.com somewhere.

I think I tracked down the article

[balmofgilead.livejournal.com]

http://www.mothering.com/9-0-0/html/9-3-0/9-3-diapers88.shtml
" And what about the material that makes "superabsorbent" diapers so absorbent? If you've ever used disposable diapers, you've probably noticed beads of clear gel on your baby's genitals after a diaper change. Superabsorbent diapers contain sodium polyacrylate, which absorbs up to 100 times its weight in water. Sodium polyacrylate is the same substance that was removed from tampons in 1985 because of its link to toxic shock syndrome.7 No studies have been done on the long-term effects of this chemical being in contact with a baby's reproductive organs 24 hours a day for upwards of two years."

They also express concern about dioxins, which can be carcinogenic with repeated exposure.

But in my mind, pads aren't totally analogous to diapers (far less skin contact, not soaked with urine, and only used by adults), and both are entirely different from tampons. It bugs me a little that they mention TSS: Toxic shock has to do with bacterial growth in the vagina, and just because a material provides a good breeding ground for bacteria doesn't make it unsafe to touch.

[jywelanjel.livejournal.com]

I tried writing them an e-mail and of course got the same standard response. Perhaps you could try writing them a real letter. I think I will. I always have more luck when I spend the silly money for a stamp.