Sanitary products are a staple item in households all over the world. On average, a woman uses between 11,000 to 17,000 sanitary napkins in her lifetime but, for cultural reasons, the quality of the various brands available to Iranian women are rarely discussed in public.
A few days ago, however, a tweet in Persian broke the silence about the low quality of some tampons and feminine hygiene products in Iran – and its potentially harmful effects on women’s health.
On Monday, May 17, a Twitter account under the name of New Niniban – which appears to belong to a gynaecologist – posed the question: “Do you also have problems with meshed sanitary napkins? Or is it just those who visit me who have been injured after them? It’s like a grater.”
The replies to this tweet were no less painful. Many respondents said they had suffered from vaginal infection, itching and inflammation after using Iranian-made, textured sanitary napkins. Several pointed out that the top layer of Iranian-made napkins are plastic, which scrape at the skin and smell bad after a while, while plenty asserted that they would buy foreign-made brands if they could afford them.
The problems did not appear confined to meshed sanitary napkins, either. Across the board, 59 people – 58 women and one transgender man – took part in a follow-up survey by IranWire on Instagram about the issue and 29 said they suffered from pain, inflammation, itching and burning after using Iranian-made sanitary napkins.
The next question in the survey asked users about the quality of these products. Of the 42 who chose to answer, 17 said they were unhappy and the quality of sanitary products had recently deteriorated. Seven of them described their experience as “awful” and one wrote: “In the past year Iranian products have become garbage.”
Another 14 of the respondents, though, reported a positive experience with Iranian-made products. Eleven said that some brands were good, others not, and it depended on the brand.
Does Low Quality Cause Inflammation and Itching?
These submissions indicate that at least some Iranian-made sanitary napkins are of a poor quality. But IranWire spoke to two gynaecologists that had a different view.
One specialist practicing in underprivileged areas of southern Tehran – we’ll call her Sheida – told IranWire: “Burning and itching symptoms are either caused by a fungal infetion, which usually has nothing to do with the sanitary napkin or is a result of allergy. A person can be allergic to anything, including their underwear or laundry detergent.
“Everyday millions of Iranians use sanitary napkins and some people might be allergic. It’s up to the individual to choose a brand that does not causes problems for them. During menstruation the pH of the vegina changes and aggravates any fungal infections, but many assume it’s related to the sanitary napkin.”
A gynecologist who practices in a city in West Azerbaijan, who asked to be named as Dr. Mahmoudi, had a different opinion. “So far I’ve not come across severe infections or inflammation caused by sanitary napkins, but it’s possible that a person could suffer from itching and burning, or urinal infection.”
She emphasizes the importance of the quality of the raw material that goes into these products: “Many of these issues can be prevented if the raw materials used are new, natural and plant-based. Sanitary napkins are made up of different layers but we only see the top layer. In the middle layer they use absorbent powders or scents to cover up bad smells. These are all chemicals, and they can cause problems for some people.
“If the sanitary napkin is not made up of quality raw material, it can cause the infection of the lower part of the reproductive system in women because it directly touches the skin, in an area that is constantly subject to perspiration and liquid discharge. And, of course, blood is the richest source of food for bacteria.”
What Are the Best Sanitary Napkins?
One of the most common types of sanitary napkins in Iran are cellulose-based products. Cellulose powder or gel inside the sanitary napkin absorbs the liquid so that the napkin can function longer.
Cellulose is a plant-based alternative to the petrochemical-based superabsorbent polymers commonly used in sanitary napkins. As a hydrophilic substance, it effectively absorbs liquid to help prevent leaking and staining. What’s more, it is biodegradable, unlike petrochemical-based polymers that usually are not and pollute the environment.
But the damage done by these polymers is not limited to the environment. “Sanitary napkins with absorbent powders have given more freedom to women because they need to be changed less often, but they also pose a lot of danger to the reproductive system,” says Dr. Mahmoudi.
“Some of these chemicals are treated with dioxin to make them more absorbent. But dioxin increases the risk of cancer in the lower parts of women’s reproductive systems. We must therefore be very careful with which products we choose. Cellulose products are both safe and more absorbent. Plastic fibers in sanitary napkins for night use might lead to infection, especially in the early days of one’s period when bleeding is heavier. For this reason, sanitary napkins made with cotton are better.”
What to Do?
Sheida says changing napkins often can reduce the risk of infection: “Wearing clean and spacious linen shorts can also help prevent fungus growth. It’s not easy to find napkins that agree with one’s body so one should look for products that are not scented and use less chemical ingredients.”
She believes that menstrual cups are a good choice, too, provided they are cleaned and disinfected vigorously to prevent infection.
The conclusion was that both Iranian consumers and manufacturers must pay real attention to the raw material used in making sanitary napkins. Our micro-survey on Instagram found close to half of respondents had had unhappy experiences with these essential items – on top of the usual pain and encumbrance of getting their period.
This article was written by a citizen journalist in Tehran under a pseudonym.
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