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No Fibre Loss
Natracare organic cotton tampons do not have an issue with fibre loss
Our tampons, including the string, are made from only 100% organic cotton, a wavy-construction fibre that easily interlocks.
Natracare championed the issue of fibre loss back in the 1990’s as a result of concerns raised both by users of tampons and nurses.
Nurses conducting smear tests reported having to remove shed tampon fibres from around the cervix before being able to obtain a clear smear sample.
What is fibre loss?
Try the dip test at home.
Fibre loss is the issue small fibres falling away from the tampon. You can use the dip test as a method to see this in action. Take your average store tampon and dip it in a glass of water, preferably alongside a natracare tampon. Then wait a short while.
With many brands of tampon you will notice small fibres falling away from the tampon after just a few minutes. This is because most tampons are made with rayon or a cotton/rayon mix. The structure of Rayon fibres are short and straight, so they easily slide apart from each other.
Tampons made with rayon can shed in the vagina during use. Apart from the hygienic concerns of fibres remaining in the vagina, there are also implications for bacterial colonisation which can contribute to vaginal infections. Rayon in tampons has also been linked with Toxic Shock Syndrome.
Tampons wrapped in plastic
Solving a problem with another problem
Manufacturers, who at first denied the fibre loss issue, quickly placed a veil over tampons. An over-wrap material made from plastic is wrapped around tampons to prevent fibre loss.
Plastic is heated to melt the overwrap and form a seal over the tampon core. This reduces some of the fibre loss but does not eradicate it. Additionally it creates an unnecessary form of single-use plastic. Polypropylene is made from crude oil meaning conventional tampons do not biodegrade.
Today, the average tampon is made with plastic, rayon and GM cotton.