From scented tampons to hair relaxers, many personal care products used by women have sparked concern about long-term health risks, including cancer. While not all claims are supported by science, experts agree it鈥檚 worth being thoughtful about the ingredients we expose our bodies to. Jessica St. Laurent, MD, Director of the Endometrial 天美传媒 at Brigham and Women鈥檚 Hospital, and Marybeth Hans, PA-C, Clinical Director of the Breast Cancer Personalized Risk Assessment, Education and Prevention Program (B-PREP), help clarify what鈥檚 safe, what to avoid, and where science is headed next.
PFAS鈥攁lso known as 鈥渇orever chemicals鈥濃�攁re commonly used in products like food packaging, cookware, and even personal care items. These chemicals can build up in the body over time and are being closely studied for potential links to health issues, including cancer.
鈥淲hile we don鈥檛 yet have conclusive evidence linking PFAS to gynecologic cancers, the concern is real and worth paying attention to,鈥� says Dr. St. Laurent. 鈥淲e鈥檙e actively working to better understand how these chemicals interact with the body.鈥�
Recent headlines have raised concerns about PFAS in some menstrual underwear and reusable products. But when it comes to menstrual cups, we haven鈥檛 seen evidence of harm, Dr. St. Laurent says. 鈥淢ost cups are made of medical-grade silicone and are BPA-free,鈥� she says.
In fact, at the Gynecologic Oncology Laboratory, Dr. St. Laurent is leading a novel study that uses menstrual cups to help detect endometrial cancer earlier鈥攅specially for people with a high genetic risk due to Lynch syndrome. 鈥淭he idea is that instead of undergoing an uncomfortable biopsy, someone could use a menstrual cup at home, bring in the sample, and we could analyze it in pathology,鈥� she explains.
The samples may also help researchers grow uterine tissue models in the lab鈥攐pening doors to new treatments in the future. The research ensures that the silicone-based menstrual cups used are rigorously tested for safety.
While not directly linked to cancer, scented tampons, pads, and feminine wipes can irritate sensitive skin and cause other health issues.
鈥淭hese products can be incredibly irritating,鈥� says Dr. St. Laurent. 鈥淭hey often contain chemicals or fragrances that disrupt the natural balance of the vaginal area.鈥�
For better vaginal and vulvar health, she recommends using unscented, chemical-free products.
Douching may seem like a hygiene booster, but it鈥檚 not recommended. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no evidence that douching improves health鈥攁nd in fact, it can disrupt the vaginal microbiome,鈥� says Dr. St. Laurent. Some population studies have also linked douching to increased cancer risk, though the connection isn鈥檛 fully clear.
Talcum powder, on the other hand, has shown stronger links to ovarian cancer when used in the genital area. 鈥淥lder practices involved putting diaphragms into talcum powder before insertion,鈥� Dr. St. Laurent explains. 鈥淭hat kind of internal exposure is where the greatest concern lies.鈥�
External use, such as in face powders, is not considered overly risky.
There鈥檚 a lot of buzz about organic tampons being healthier鈥攂ut is it true?
鈥淭here鈥檚 no strong evidence that organic tampons are safer than conventional ones,鈥� says Dr. St. Laurent. 鈥淲hat matters more is avoiding products with unnecessary chemicals, fragrances, or dyes.鈥�
That said, growing attention is being paid to microplastics and how they might be absorbed through products like pads and tampons. While this research is still early, minimizing exposure by choosing plastic-free products may be beneficial.
Hair relaxers and straightening products are under increasing scrutiny. Several population studies have found a higher risk of endometrial cancer in people who use chemical hair relaxers regularly.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a clear pattern emerging in the data,鈥� Dr. St. Laurent says. 鈥淲hile we鈥檙e still learning about the mechanisms, the correlation is strong enough to raise concern鈥攅specially for women of color who are more likely to use these products.鈥�
You might have heard that deodorant, particularly those containing aluminum, can cause breast cancer, but the confusion around this may stem from guidance that women avoid using deodorant before a mammogram. 鈥淒eodorant can cause aluminum particles to show up in the mammogram, which can interfere with the results,鈥� explained Marybeth Hans, PA-C. She goes on to explain that 鈥渨hat women should be paying attention to, with any personal care product including deodorant, is what chemicals are in them that could affect health, specifically those known as 鈥渆ndocrine disruptors鈥� such as phthalates, parabens, and triclosan, which can interfere with or mimic estrogen.鈥�
Some people prefer natural deodorants, but natural doesn鈥檛 always mean better鈥攏atural products can still have ingredients like baking soda or essential oils that might irritate the skin.
There鈥檚 no quick fix to remove substances like PFAS from the body, but there are steps you can take to reduce exposure moving forward.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 change the past, but we can make more informed choices now,鈥� says Dr. St. Laurent. 鈥淐hoose simpler products, avoid unnecessary additives, and focus on what鈥檚 in your control.鈥�
The evidence isn鈥檛 always clear-cut, but when it comes to feminine care products, simpler is usually better.
鈥淲hile many claims out there aren鈥檛 backed by strong science, some concerns鈥攍ike chemical hair relaxers鈥攁re worth taking seriously,鈥� Dr. St. Laurent says. 鈥淵our best bet is to choose unscented, silicone-based, or minimal-ingredient products whenever possible.鈥�
Finally, it鈥檚 clear that much more research is needed. Many of the chemicals found in everyday personal care products have not been thoroughly studied for their long-term effects鈥攅specially on women鈥檚 reproductive health.
鈥淭here's still a lot we don't know,鈥� Dr. St. Laurent says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it's urgent that we invest in more studies that focus specifically on the products women use and how they affect the body over time.鈥�
for more information on limiting exposures to toxic chemicals.
For over a century, a leader in patient care, medical education and research, with expertise in virtually every specialty of medicine and surgery.
About BWH