Conventional tampons swap to Menstrual cup

Why make the swap

• Why switch to menstrual cup

  A silicone cup is reusable and cuts waste.

• What's the concern with conventional tampons

  A 2024 study measured metals, including lead, in 30 tampons, organic ones included. The FDA’s follow-up found almost none leaches out, so the main reasons to switch are waste and cost.

• General information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor about fit, wear time or any symptoms.

• Good to know before you buy

  Most people take a few cycles to get comfortable, so wear a liner at first. Rare but serious: cups and tampons have both been linked to toxic shock syndrome. Follow the maker’s wear time. For tampons, use the lowest absorbency you need. Take it out and get medical help right away if you get a sudden fever, vomiting or diarrhea, a sunburn-like rash, or dizziness. The cup is silicone. There’s no well-rated natural-rubber cup yet. Organic tampons had more arsenic, not less, and period underwear has its own PFAS lawsuits.

• Sources (6)

  1. Shearston et al. 2024, Environ Int (opens in a new tab)
  2. FDA 2026, Toxicological Sciences: leaching 'negligible' (opens in a new tab)
  3. FDA: tampons, toxic shock syndrome symptoms and the lowest absorbency you need (opens in a new tab)
  4. FDA: menstrual cups, empty as the instructions say, typically every 8 to 12 hours (opens in a new tab)
  5. van Eijk et al. 2019, Lancet Public Health: menstrual cup review, including reported toxic shock cases (opens in a new tab)
  6. SHORDY listing: cups "can be used for up to 10 years if taken care of" (opens in a new tab)

  Health and safety facts on this page come from these sources. What a pick is made of comes from its maker's listing or website, as stated on the date we checked.