What's in your tampon? Manufacturers urged to disclose contents of feminine care products

With very vocal women's health advocates expressing their opinions across various social media platforms, consumer products manufacturers are now under pressure to disclose the ingredients of their feminine care products or risk public boycott, reports The New York Times.

"I think it's really messed up that Procter & Gamble's putting chemicals in feminine products and not letting anyone know about it," says Stephanie Phillips, one of the protesters who attended a rally organized by Women's Voices for the Earth in front of the company's corporate headquarters in Cincinnati.

In a 2013 report entitled Chem Fatale, the group explained the importance of disclosing the ingredients of feminine care products.

"Products intended for use on or in an incredibly absorbent part of a woman's body are  marketed and sold with little to no data assuring the ingredients they contain are safe. Ingredients are determined 'safe,' operating under the premise that they are used on ordinary skin just like other cosmetic products."

As a result, potentially harmful chemicals such as carcinogens, reproductive toxins, endocrine disruptors, and allergens are easily absorbed by the body.

The report has a list of chemicals to look out for and and their potential health effects.

For instance, fragrances found in feminine washes, pads, and, wipes may contain allergens that can trigger endocrine disruptions while pesticide residues found in the cotton used in tampons might be a potential cancer risk.

The public clamor seems to have paid off. P&G and Kimberly-Clark has released ingredients of their feminine hygiene products online. P&G has diclosed its inclusion of synthetic materials in their products while Kimberly-Clark has listed the ingredients found in its tampon applicators.

Moreover, P&G has agreed to meet with Women's Voices for the Earth for an initial dialogue.

"We had been trying to get a meeting with the company for a couple of years and they hadn't been responding to our requests," said Erin Switalski, the group's executive director. "If we aren't able to get a dialogue, then we have to use some of these public pressure tactics to get these meetings to take place."

P&G and Kimberly-Clark believe that the concerns are unwarranted. The companies have assured the public that their products have undergone extensive testing before reaching stores and are safe to use. They have also expressed support for product transparency.

"Everything we do starts with the consumer," said P&G spokesperson Damon Jones. "It's a balancing act - sharing enough to be helpful, but not too much that it is confusing."

The U.S. feminine care products industry is valued at $3 billion, with P&G and Kimberly-Clark accounting for the biggest share of this market. Tampons and menstrual pads are the most popular products, used by approximately 70 to 85 percent of women.