Even NPR got sucked into „Tampon-gate“. They had a fairly long take on this…yet again, misplaced focus. Lead in tampons as opposed drinking water which actually gets absorbed and does real measurable harm…
"The levels of lead (and arsenic and cadmium) in tampons are exceedingly low and less than are found in many things people assume are healthy, such as bottled water, green tea, and supplements. This does not mean I think it’s “okay” to ingest lead, which several people accused me of on Instagram. This means we need to put exposure risk in perspective."
Scare tactics are not reserved to the use of tampons. Women who suffer from menopause related issues (vaginal, moods, skin, muscles etc.) are being denied treatment based on the WHI study. Also ageism is applied when women were denied estrogen therapy soon after menopause. Once the issues are evident there are not enough physicians well versed in menopause treatments as well as thyroid issues which makes matters much worse.
You are quite correct in that certain grifters are milking the fear mongering for all its worth. It would be interesting to test the levels of lead, arsenic and cadmium in all the supplements, 'nutriceuticals' and 'foodceuticals' (gag) these rip off merchants sell.
This question isn’t about lead in tampons, but it got me thinking when you mentioned chiropractors, naturopaths & influencers. I have a 36 yr- old friend with secondary infertility who frequents these providers. Husband’s sperm count tested normal on a home testing kit. She was told that the DUTCH urine testing is more accurate than blood work throughout cycle for providing accurate hormone levels. Is this correct? I suffered with infertility for four years before becoming pregnant, thankfully our insurance at the time covered infertility physicians and treatments. I only had blood drawn for hormone testing but that was almost fifteen yrs-ago, so I wasn’t sure if this was something new. They don’t have much extra $$ to see an infertility specialist and insurance hardly covers any of it. She mentioned provider also talked to her about food allergies and inflammation preventing pregnancy. These comments had my “alert bells” ringing, but thought I’d ask the expert before saying anything. :) Thanks!
Experts don't recommend the DUTCH test, and we only recommend blood tests for infertility work up, so you had good care. I am not aware of any data linking food allergies with infertility, but I'm not an infertility expert. Here is some info about the DUTCH testhttps://vajenda.substack.com/p/dirty-estrogen-and-the-dutch-test
So, the 100s probably 1000s of dollars spent on dubious claims by providers who have zero training in reproductive health is not considered wasted? It might be worth your while to suggest spending less money with „alternative prividers“ and spend saud money to possible get real answers and solutions.
I don‘t mean to sound snarky or sarcastic, i do feel for your friend, but sometimes people make really stupid choices about how and where to spend their limited resources. And i include myself in this..
I agree with you and, it’s really hard and delicate when someone is so attached to the “wellness industry” providers. I can relate because I was as well. Wasted so much time and money on acupuncture, supplements and meditation trying to get pregnant. However, it does become more complex when fertility experts, in my case, dx’d me with “unexplained infertility.” When there is no “medical” reason, it’s a huge opening to latch onto all these unscientific treatments & testing. When we moved to a different state and had insurance coverage for infertility, I was able to work with a fertility doctor who looked at things differently and did find the medical reason. I was able to become pregnant with very little intervention with my first, and no intervention with my second. He also lost his medical license for molesting patients in his office and while under anesthesia, of which I was X 2 with him. Infertility is mentally and physically painful and exhausting. It leaves women extremely vulnerable in a multitude of ways. I will definitely talk to her though.
Im curious, what was the point of all this "theres (whatever boogyman bad thing) in tampons"? Sell wellness products? Sell other menstrual products? Or just that general "dear god, women are putting things in their vaginas!" type background misogyny and fear mongering?
You write all the best lines….
“…vaginas aren’t filled with nitric acid, and they can’t bake something at 180o C for over 60 minutes. At least mine can’t.”
(Note to self - stop reading The Vajenda while drinking coffee…also, check vagina temperature…)
Even NPR got sucked into „Tampon-gate“. They had a fairly long take on this…yet again, misplaced focus. Lead in tampons as opposed drinking water which actually gets absorbed and does real measurable harm…
Never mind NPR. MedPage Today got sucked into it too.
It was just so...ridiculous
I put in a comment re: the study you mentioned that showed no absorption, but, not as eloquently as you've stated.
FFS.
"The levels of lead (and arsenic and cadmium) in tampons are exceedingly low and less than are found in many things people assume are healthy, such as bottled water, green tea, and supplements. This does not mean I think it’s “okay” to ingest lead, which several people accused me of on Instagram. This means we need to put exposure risk in perspective."
Scare tactics are not reserved to the use of tampons. Women who suffer from menopause related issues (vaginal, moods, skin, muscles etc.) are being denied treatment based on the WHI study. Also ageism is applied when women were denied estrogen therapy soon after menopause. Once the issues are evident there are not enough physicians well versed in menopause treatments as well as thyroid issues which makes matters much worse.
You are quite correct in that certain grifters are milking the fear mongering for all its worth. It would be interesting to test the levels of lead, arsenic and cadmium in all the supplements, 'nutriceuticals' and 'foodceuticals' (gag) these rip off merchants sell.
This question isn’t about lead in tampons, but it got me thinking when you mentioned chiropractors, naturopaths & influencers. I have a 36 yr- old friend with secondary infertility who frequents these providers. Husband’s sperm count tested normal on a home testing kit. She was told that the DUTCH urine testing is more accurate than blood work throughout cycle for providing accurate hormone levels. Is this correct? I suffered with infertility for four years before becoming pregnant, thankfully our insurance at the time covered infertility physicians and treatments. I only had blood drawn for hormone testing but that was almost fifteen yrs-ago, so I wasn’t sure if this was something new. They don’t have much extra $$ to see an infertility specialist and insurance hardly covers any of it. She mentioned provider also talked to her about food allergies and inflammation preventing pregnancy. These comments had my “alert bells” ringing, but thought I’d ask the expert before saying anything. :) Thanks!
Experts don't recommend the DUTCH test, and we only recommend blood tests for infertility work up, so you had good care. I am not aware of any data linking food allergies with infertility, but I'm not an infertility expert. Here is some info about the DUTCH testhttps://vajenda.substack.com/p/dirty-estrogen-and-the-dutch-test
I had a feeling, thank you!
So, the 100s probably 1000s of dollars spent on dubious claims by providers who have zero training in reproductive health is not considered wasted? It might be worth your while to suggest spending less money with „alternative prividers“ and spend saud money to possible get real answers and solutions.
I don‘t mean to sound snarky or sarcastic, i do feel for your friend, but sometimes people make really stupid choices about how and where to spend their limited resources. And i include myself in this..
I agree with you and, it’s really hard and delicate when someone is so attached to the “wellness industry” providers. I can relate because I was as well. Wasted so much time and money on acupuncture, supplements and meditation trying to get pregnant. However, it does become more complex when fertility experts, in my case, dx’d me with “unexplained infertility.” When there is no “medical” reason, it’s a huge opening to latch onto all these unscientific treatments & testing. When we moved to a different state and had insurance coverage for infertility, I was able to work with a fertility doctor who looked at things differently and did find the medical reason. I was able to become pregnant with very little intervention with my first, and no intervention with my second. He also lost his medical license for molesting patients in his office and while under anesthesia, of which I was X 2 with him. Infertility is mentally and physically painful and exhausting. It leaves women extremely vulnerable in a multitude of ways. I will definitely talk to her though.
Im curious, what was the point of all this "theres (whatever boogyman bad thing) in tampons"? Sell wellness products? Sell other menstrual products? Or just that general "dear god, women are putting things in their vaginas!" type background misogyny and fear mongering?