Latest news with #tampons
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Radio hosts slammed for crude joke about women using tampons: 'How is this allowed to go to air?'
Australian radio duo Jimmy Smith and Nathan Roye have been slammed after making an immature joke about women using tampons live on air. The 2Day FM stars were presenting their breakfast radio show when Jimmy read out a joke from a book. 'Two tampons were walking down the street. Which one said hello first?' he asked. His co-host Nath questioned: 'I don't know, which one?' 'Neither - they were both stuck up c**ts,' Jimmy responded, leaving one of the show's producers shocked. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'Producer Lolo, do you think you should buy the book after hearing something like that?' Nath asked. 'My soul just left my body,' the stunned producer said, to which Jimmy responded: 'Did your tampon?' Listeners flocked to the radio station's Instagram page to express their outrage at the joke. 'Sorry love you guys.. not a cool joke,' one person wrote. 'Cringiest sh*t on radio, stop calling me,' another said while a third added: 'How is this allowed to go to air?!' Jimmy and Nath were confirmed as 2Day FM's breakfast hosts back in January alongside Emma Chow. The trio gained 0.5 per cent of the breakfast market share in the latest radio ratings. The station finished at 4.5 overall - up by 0.2 - as it gains ground on Triple M's overall 4.9 market share. Triple M recently suffered a brutal blow in the third radio ratings survey of 2025. The survey showed that Beau Ryan, Aaron 'Woodsy' Woods and Cat Lynch's Sydney breakfast show continues to lose listeners. The trio, who lost 1.5 per cent of the market share in survey two, dropped another 1.5 in the latest survey, bringing them down to a 4.4 market share from a previous 5.9.
Health Line
10-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Yes, You Can Use Tampons If You Have an IUD — Here's How
Although tampons and intrauterine devices (IUDs) enter the body in the same way, they don't end up in the same place and shouldn't affect each other. According to Dr. Elle Rayner, an obstetrician, gynecologist, and the founder of The Maternity Collective, people with an IUD can 'absolutely' use tampons. 'Your IUD sits inside the uterus, whereas a tampon is inserted into the vagina, so neither will interfere with each other,' Rayner explains. But it's best to avoid using tampons immediately after your IUD is inserted. 'You're advised to use pads for 48 hours [after],' says Dr. Deborah Lee, a sexual and reproductive healthcare specialist at Dr Fox — Online Doctor and Pharmacy. 'You shouldn't insert anything into the vagina during this time to minimize the risk of infection.' Just how likely is the risk of displacement or expulsion? It's 'very rare' for people to report dislodging an IUD with a tampon, notes Lee. And there isn't much research into it either. What's believed to be the first study in this area found no evidence between tampon use and higher rates of early IUD expulsion. However, more research is needed to fully explore the potential effects of period products on IUD placement. Using a menstrual cup, for example, may increase the risk of expulsion. Of course, other factors can make expulsion more likely, says Lee, including: having heavy, painful periods not having delivered a baby vaginally insertion immediately after a surgical abortion or delivery of a baby the skill of the inserter What exactly causes this? There isn't much evidence — either anecdotal or scientific — to prove that tampons can cause IUDs to move around or fall out. Theoretically, the only way this could happen is if you accidentally catch the strings of the IUD when pulling out your tampon. Your IUD strings shouldn't be long enough for this to be an issue, though. Plus, your tampon strings hang outside your body, meaning you shouldn't have to reach inside to remove it. If your tampon doesn't have a string, take care to only pull at the portion of the tampon closest to the vaginal opening. Is there anything you can do before or after IUD insertion to prepare? Before booking an appointment for IUD insertion, it's a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional about any period-related concerns. For example, your healthcare professional can help you choose the best type of IUD for your body. Hormonal versions tend to make periods lighter or stop them completely, meaning you may not need to use certain period products as much or at all. Doctors can also recommend alternative menstrual products if you have a tilted uterus. Although it's possible to use tampons with a tilted uterus, some people find them difficult to insert. Don't forget to let your IUD inserter know which period products you're likely going to be using, too. 'They may recommend trimming the [IUD] strings a bit shorter to reduce the chance of displacement,' Rayner says. When can you start using a tampon? In the first few weeks after IUD insertion, 'there's a slight increased risk of vaginal infections,' Rayner says. To reduce the risk of infection, some experts advise avoiding tampons for the first month. Depending on the timing of your periods, this may mean you'll need to use different products, like pads, for your first period after getting an IUD. Lee also notes that 'it may be sensible to delay using tampons' until after your IUD follow-up appointment. This is generally recommended 6 weeks after insertion, as 'the highest risk of the IUD being expelled is in the first 6 weeks after fitting,' Lee explains. Is there anything you can do to minimize your risk of complications? Checking that you can still feel your IUD strings after each period will help reassure you that your IUD is still in place. As your cervix can change position throughout your menstrual cycle, it's also a good idea to feel for the strings at different times of the month to determine their location. Of course, if you've had your strings cut short, this may be difficult. Below, Lee explains how to check that the strings are still in place: Wash and dry your hands. Remove your underwear and sit down comfortably on a chair or the edge of a bed. Insert your second and third fingers in your vagina and feel downward and backward, then upward and round the bend, and you should find your cervix. (It's hard and rubbery and said to feel like the tip of your nose.) Feel for the strings. The IUD threads feel like pieces of fishing twine — hard and metallic. Don't worry about whether you can feel one thread or two. As long as you feel them and they seem the usual sort of length, that's all you need to know. Are there any signs to watch for? The easiest way to know if your IUD has fallen out is if you notice it. It could fall into the toilet, for example. 'The worst case scenario is an unnoticed expulsion,' Lee says. 'If you're really unlucky, the first you know about it is a positive pregnancy test.' That's why checking the strings after each period can be important. If the entire IUD has dislodged, you may even be able to feel the coil or plastic stem protruding from the cervix. 'If you're worried you can't feel your strings, or you feel [the IUD] may have become dislodged or fallen out, it's important you get checked to confirm straight away,' Rayner says. 'If you're using an IUD for contraception and you have had unprotected sexual intercourse, you may need emergency contraception,' she adds. 'If it's incorrectly placed or not in situ, you could be at risk of unplanned pregnancy.' You should also use an alternative method of contraception until a healthcare professional has checked your IUD. Try not to panic if the above happens. 'Most often, the threads will be there,' Lee says. 'They may have tucked themselves around the cervix and are lying flush with the surface, so [it may] just not be very easy to feel.' According to Lee, 'If the threads can't be found, [the doctor] will send you for an ultrasound scan to see if the [device] is in the uterine cavity.' But she says, 'If this is the case, the IUD can be left alone until time for removal.' In rare cases, Lee continues, 'Absent coil threads mean the IUD has perforated, meaning the device has passed through the wall of the uterus and into the pelvic cavity. You'll need a laparoscopy — keyhole surgery — to remove it.' Are there any alternatives to consider? If you're uncomfortable with the idea of using tampons, there are plenty of other period products on the market. Some people find menstrual cups and discs more comfortable than traditional tampons. However, one recent study did find a potential link between menstrual cup use and copper IUD expulsion. Therefore, the only completely 'risk-free' products are ones that don't require insertion, such as pads and period underwear. But again, risks with tampons are very, very low.
The Independent
30-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Toxic pesticide levels in tampons 40 times higher than allowed in drinking water
A toxic pesticide linked to cancer has been found in tampons at levels 40 times higher than the legal limit for drinking water. Researchers found traces of glyphosate at high levels in menstrual products, according to a report by the Pesticide Action Network UK (Pan UK), the Women's Environmental Network and the Pesticide Collaboration. It is the world's most commonly used herbicide and in 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified it 'probably carcinogenic'. Researchers have also linked glyphosate to other serious health conditions such as Parkinson's. High levels of the pesticide in tampons is concerning because these chemicals can be absorbed through the vagina directly into the bloodstream. In 2024, Pan UK tested 15 boxes of tampons from UK shops and supermarkets across a range of different brands for traces of pesticides. Despite testing on a small scale, glyphosate was found in one of the boxes, at 0.004 mg/kg - 40 times higher than permitted levels of glyphosate in drinking water. It is thought the toxic pesticide ends up in tampons due to the weedkillers used to grow cotton. About 300 pesticides are used in cotton production globally and roughly a third of these are classified as Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs), such as glyphosate. Researchers at Pan UK say these pesticides used in cotton production pose a major risk to the environment, harming pollinators and other wildlife or contaminating water and soil. Josie Cohen, the interim director at Pan UK, told The Guardian: 'We urgently need to reduce our overall toxic load and shouldn't have to worry about glyphosate and other highly hazardous pesticides in our period products. 'This is a blatant gap in health and safety regulation that the government urgently needs to address.' Previous studies have shown period products can contain a variety of other chemicals including phthalates, dioxins, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (known as 'PFAS' or 'forever chemicals'), and heavy metals such as lead and arsenic. These chemicals have been linked to increased risks of reproductive and hormonal diseases such as endometriosis, infertility and cancer researchers warn. Currently there is no specific regulations for period products in the UK, making it the responsibility of the manufacturers to ensure the product is safe. Pan UK has suggested a regulation scheme and testing should be implemented to ensure they are free of chemical residues. It added that manufacturers should also disclose all the ingredients and additives found in period products so that customers can make informed decisions.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Urgent warning to British women as scientists discover toxic pesticides in UK TAMPONS at 40 times the drinking water limit
They're the product that many women religiously reach for at certain times of the month. But scientists have issued an urgent warning to British women after discovering toxic pesticides in tampons at 40 times the drinking water limit. Experts have tested 15 boxes of tampons from UK retailers across a range of popular brands including Tampax, Lil Lets, Superdrug, Tesco and Boots. Analysis revealed one sample, which has not been named, contained 0.004mg/kg of glyphosate – a toxic chemical that is the world's most popular weedkiller. While it may seem a small amount, the UK and EU maximum residue level for drinking water is 0.0001 mg/kg. The WHO has previously dubbed the chemical as 'probably carcinogenic to humans' – meaning it is likely linked to cancer. It has also been linked to the development of Parkinson's and other serious health conditions. Amy Heley, Public Affairs Manager at the Pesticide Collaboration, said: 'If this level of glyphosate is deemed to be unsafe in the water we drink, why is it allowed to appear in our period products?' 'Our investigation reveals that women, girls and those who menstruate may not be protected from exposure to harmful chemicals. 'And yet, most people remain completely unaware that this is even an issue.' Pesticides end up in period products after being used to grow cotton, which is the main ingredient in tampons. Unlike when ingested through food or water, chemicals absorbed via the vagina directly enter the bloodstream, bypassing the body's detoxification systems. Helen Lynn, Environmenstrual Campaign Manager at the Women's Environmental Network, said: 'Women, girls and people who menstruate deserve full transparency about what's in their period products. 'It is scandalous that pesticides linked to cancer, as well as other toxic chemicals linked to reproductive and hormonal diseases, can show up in period products. 'Consumers deserve robust regulation that guarantees the safety of these products.' In the US, the link between glyphosate and cancer has played out publicly in the courts, with thousands of lawsuits being taken against pesticide company Monsanto. They are the manufacturers of Roundup, of which the active ingredient is glyphosate, and thousands of plaintiffs across the US have been awarded damages for their diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma - a type of cancer. In 2020, Monsanto agreed to pay almost $11 billion to settle most Roundup cancer claims, and additional trials are expected to resume this year. Previous studies have also detected traces of heavy metals such as lead and arsenic in some tampons. Josie Cohen, Interim Director at Pesticide Action Network, said: 'We were genuinely shocked to find glyphosate in tampons sitting on UK shelves. 'This harmful chemical is already impossible to avoid since it's sprayed by councils in streets and parks and contaminates much of our food and water due to its overuse in farming. 'We urgently need to reduce our overall toxic load and shouldn't have to worry about glyphosate and other Highly Hazardous Pesticides in our period products. 'This is a blatant gap in health and safety regulation that the government urgently needs to address.' The report suggests a handful of recommendations for the UK Government, including the introduction of robust regulation for period products with a testing scheme in place to ensure that they are free of pesticide residues. THE SAGA SURROUNDING THE SAFETY OF GLYPHOSATE Glyphosate is an herbicide first registered for use in the US in 1974. It is marketed either as a salt or an amber-colored liquid with no smell. Monsanto markets glyphosate as part of the pesticide Roundup. Several studies found that high doses administered to laboratory animals caused cancer, although the evidence is 'limited' when it comes to humans. In March 2015, the World Health Organization ranked glyphosate a Group 2a carcinogen, a substance that probably causes cancer in people. In 2017, California added glyphosate to its proposition 65 list, which requires Roundup to carry a warning label if sold in California. Monsanto has vehemently denied that its product causes cancer and says and more than 800 studies that have established its safety. Yet more than 4,000 plaintiffs have filed lawsuits - 800 over the past year - claiming Monsanto made them or members of their family sick.
