It’s one thing to put toxic chemicals on your skin. But to put them right inside your body? Depending on their ingredients, you could be setting yourself up for a big chemical no-no . That’s why shifting to safe non-toxic lube should be just as important as buying non-toxic shampoo, soap, or skin lotion.

We’ve teamed up with Lubezilla, an online marketplace that sells water-based organic lubricants, to bring you the latest news on what’s in most lubes – and what shouldn’t be. Here’s the skinny.

What’s In Most Lubes – and Why Does It Matter?

Your vagina may be the most sensitive—and fragile—part of your body. Lubes can help reduce sensitivity by reducing vaginal dryness and friction, making it easier and healthier to enjoy sex. All good.

But vaginal skin is thin and highly absorbent. That means that chemicals in the lubricant can be absorbed by vaginal tissue. The pH, or acidity, of the lubricant affects the natural acidity of the vagina, too. It’s also possible that the vagina itself will react to the lubricant by releasing moisture out of the cells in the vaginal wall to compensate for the presence of the lube.

Women’s Voices for the Earth, which has issued a new report on safe, non-toxic lube, says that vaginal cells can “shrivel up in an attempt to dilute the foreign lubricant gel” when it is constituted so differently from normal vaginal secretions.

Using one kind of lube one time generally won’t create a problem. But as with other personal care products, its repeated use over months or years could dry out the vagina and add to the build-up of the lube’s chemicals in our bodies.

Women’s Voices looked at the research, including recommendations from The World Health Organization. They concluded that it’s best to choose lubricants that match the pH level of the vagina and that have low “osmolality” while avoiding lubes that contain 4 specific toxic chemicals.

Here’s what that means.

What’s pH? And that other thing…

The pH level generally refers to how acidic or alkaline a product is. The lower the number, the more acidic the products is. WHO says lubes should generally be in the range of 3.8-4.5.

Osmolality refers to a substance’s ability to draw moisture out of tissues and cells. If a lube has higher osmolality than normal, which is below 1200 mPsm/kg, the vagina can literally shrivel up because the moisture in vaginal cells is pulled out.

Bottom Line: Look for lubes with a pH in the range of 3.8 – 4.5, and osmolality levels below 1200.

4 Toxic Chemicals in Lube

“Harsh chemical ingredients found in lubricants can also be toxic to vaginal tissue” and the balance of microorganisms that naturally inhabit the vagina,” reports Women’s Voices.

The 4 chemicals to avoid in particular are:

Chlorhexidine gluconate – A disinfectant that can actually kill off lactobacillus bacteria, which keep the vagina healthy

Parabens, like methylparaben and propylparaben – You’ve seen – and avoided parabens before. In the vagina, they can irritate the mucous membranes and cause rashes. Ironically, though paraben-laden lubes are supposed to make sex easier, they could also lead to fertility problems and disrupt your endocrine system.

Cyclomethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, cyclotetrasiloxane – These chemicals are found in silicone-based lubricants. They’ve also been linked to reproductive harm and uterine cancer in animal studies.

Undisclosed flavors or fragrances – Beware the generic term “flavor” or “fragrance” or “aroma” in your lube. The chemical cocktails used to concoct flavors and fragrances could include carcinogens, reproductive toxins and allergens.

Women’s Voices recommends against choosing lubes that offer “warming,” “tingling,” or colors, since those could also contain unnecessary and questionable chemicals.

What Safe Non-Toxic Lube Can You Buy?

Lubezilla offers a couple of brands of lubes on its site that can be found on the Women’s Voices  comparison chart. Those include:

Durex Play Soothing (slightly outside the osmolality bounds, but within the ph limits)

Lubezilla also sells a line of organic, plant- and water-based lubes that the manufacturers say are free of parabens, glycerin, and petrochemicals, as well as added alcohol, silicone, fragrances and dyes, plus “pH balanced just for women.” Some of these even use stevia extract, a sweetener derived from the stevia plant, in place of synthetic flavors.

By the way, you can find more tips for non-toxic safe sex from Women’s Voices here.

Note: Paid sponsors enable us to bring you the expert product reviews and green living information you want at no extra cost to you. We never recommend products, services or manufacturers that don’t meet our criteria for environmental responsibility. Thanks.

The post How to Choose a Safe Non-Toxic Lube appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Do you curse your period? Apart from all the cramps and mess, do you hate how many tampons and pads you buy, use, and throw away?

We’re partnering with Intimina, a Swedish company, to introduce you to what may be the best tampon alternative you’ll ever find: the Lily Cup. (Don’t miss the special 15% discount offer below!)

It’s a menstrual cup you wear inside your vagina, sort of like a birth-control diaphragm if you’ve ever used one of those. The brilliance of the cup is that it catches menstrual fluid and contains it until you can dump it out.

What difference does it make? Take a look at this chart.  1 Lily cup can replace 1625 tampons!

Do the math:

4 tampons (on average)/day X 7 days (on average)/ month X 12 months = 336 tampons/year.

It would take you over 5 years to use as many tampons as one Lily Cup replaces.

You can actually calculate how many tampons you’ll use for the rest of your life — and get a sense of how much money you can save while generating a lot less trash – by using this handy “menstrual waste calculator.”

And keep this in mind: approximately 20 billion pads and tampons end up in North American landfills every year! The Lily cup could put a serious dent in all that trash!!

 Easy To Use, Easy to Clean, Easy to Carry

While tampons and pads absorb menstrual flow, the cup collects it.

You empty the cup into the toilet as needed, rinse it off if necessary (or not), and re-insert it.

It’s so flexible, it can be rolled as thin as a tampon for insertion.

There is no odor because the cup contains all the flow.

And the cup is easy to take with you, whether to work, on vacation, or when you’re out and about. It comes in a stylish case that looks like a compact that might contain blush or foundation.

At Big Green Purse, we’re all about shifting your spending to products and services that are better for you, better for your pocketbook, and better for the planet, too.

Lily Cup is one of those rare items that meets all three criteria. Give it a try, and let us know how you like it.

SPECIAL OFFER: 15% DISCOUNT

(click on the image below to get a special discount on all Lily product purchases)

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!

Do you love menstrual cups? Hate the idea of them? Want to give them a try? Please leave a comment below – we’d love to know what you think about them.

Note: Sponsors Like Intimina allow us to bring you the latest information on products and services that meet our criteria for health, safety, affordability, and environmental well-being. Our editorial opinions remain our own.

The post This May Be the Best Tampon Alternative You’ll Ever Find appeared first on Big Green Purse.

There are several different types of breast cancer. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America explains them clearly here. There are also many possible causes of breast cancer:

* Heredity plays a role in about 15% of women who get breast cancer. In other words, if your mother, sister, or aunt had breast cancer, you’re slightly more at risk for getting it, too.

* Long-term heavy smoking is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. You may believe that smoking only causes lung cancer. But it’s affects breast cancer as well.

* Toxic chemicals and endocrine disruptors in the environment are increasingly being linked to breast cancer and a variety of other health problems.  Endocrine disruptors are synthetic chemical compounds that mimic female hormones. They’re found in some plastics, feed that’s given to cows, and certain cosmetics and personal care products. Pesticides and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) could pose a breast cancer risk, too, says the American Cancer Society. (Here’s how you can avoid endocrine disruptors day-to-day.)

* Simply being a woman is the main risk factor for developing breast cancer. Men can contract this disease as well, but it is 100 times more common among women than men, since women have more of the hormones that promote breast cancer cell growth.

Early detection starts with you. That’s why self-exams are so important. Pick a regular day each month so it becomes a habit to give yourself a breast check-up. Here are three ways to give yourself a breast self-exam that both BreastCancer.org and the National Breast Cancer Foundation recommend:

Lying Down:

* Place a pillow under your right shoulder and put your right arm behind your head.

* Using your left hand, move the pads of your fingers around your right breast gently in small circular motions, covering the entire breast area and armpit. Use light, medium, and firm pressure.

* Squeeze the nipple; check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for your left breast.

Remember: If you notice anything at all that strikes you as unusual, set up an appointment with your health care provider. She will probably ask you to come in for a clinical exam, and possibly a mammogram. If you do have breast cancer, you will have found it sooner rather than later.

In Front of a Mirror:

* Visually inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides.

* Next, raise your arms high overhead. Look for any changes in the contour, any swelling or dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples.

* Now, rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Don’t be concerned that your left and right breasts don’t exactly match; few women’s breasts do. Look for any dimpling, puckering, or changes on each breast individually.

Again, if you feel or see anything that seems unusual, make an appointment with your healthcare provider.

In the Shower:

* As the picture above shows, using the pads of your fingers, move around your entire breast in a circular pattern. Move from the outside to the center.

* Check the entire breast and armpit area. Feel for any lump, thickening, or hardened knot.

* Check both breasts around the same time each month so you become familiar with your breast tissue and will be able to recognize anything out of the ordinary.

If you notice any changes, make an appointment to see your healthcare provider immediately.

I spend a lot of time here at Big Green Purse trying to raise awareness about ways to prevent cancer by reducing our exposure to toxic chemicals and pollution. But that’s only half the battle when it comes to breast cancer.

Stay well. Check your breasts!

RELATED POSTS

Report Links Breast Cancer to Environmental Factors

Shift Your Spending to Prevent Breast Cancer

Environmental Risks to Women’s Health

The post How to Do a Breast Self-Exam appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Conventional products may contain a mixture of rayon and cotton. Rayon has been implicated in Toxic Shock Syndrome, particularly for super-absorbent tampons. Cotton is highly pesticide-intensive; around 16 percent  of the pesticides used globally are devoted to growing cotton. Plus, to look as white as possible, conventional pads and tampons may be bleached with chlorine, a process that can create dioxin, a known carcinogen.

Says Nena Baker, author of The Body Toxic, “If you’re a woman who is concerned enough about pesticide-tainted cotton to buy organic cotton clothing, it seems to me that you would, and likely should, have equal or greater concern about a product that is used inside our bodies.”

Sheila Hollender, a co-founder of Seventh Generation, agrees. In fact, she says,

it’s why her company manufactures tampons and sanitary pads made from 100% organic cotton fiber. “Your choice of our chlorine-free products can help reduce the amount of chlorinated toxins released into the environment and help make the world a healthier place for your family,” she said when I spoke with her recently about Seventh Gen’s “Let’s Talk Period” campaign, an effort to educate women about how to make healthier tampon choices.

The U.S. Food and Drug Aministration (FDA) regulates tampons and feminine care products in the marketplace. While the FDA admits that conventional tampons contain trace amounts of dioxin,the agency believes the chemicals in tampons pose no risk.  Counters Sheila Hollender,  “The problem with the FDA’s position is that it doesn’t allow for the accumulative exposure over a 40-year use of tampons.” In other words,  we’re not subject to one slight exposure, but 11,000 or more.

GoodGuide, the online eco-rating system, claims that rayon is actually more environmentally-friendly than cotton, since it is more absorbent and therefore requires less material per tampon to do the job. Sheila Hollender acknowledges that “they have a point vis a vis rayon.” However, “they do not discuss the process that takes the wood pulp and turns it into rayon.  Chlorine dioxide is used to bleach the rayon fibers used in conventional tampons.  Furthermore, they don’t go into the issue of TSS” since their ratings do not evaluate tampons based on their actual health effects.

My recommendations?

1) Switch to a menstrual cup. You can skip tampons altogether by using a cup to catch your monthly discharge. The cup is as easy to use as a diaphragm is for birth control; you squeeze the rim to insert it, then pull it out and wash it in hot (but not boiling) soapy water so you can use it again. Depending on the brand, menstrual cups are available in latex or silicone and come in several sizes. MenstrualCups.Org offers a comprehensive overview of the plusses and minuses of using the cup, along with reviews of the brands available. Here’s one immediate benefit: a menstrual cup will save you a lot of money on throwaway tampons or pads.

2) Use organic cotton tampons.  When you do use tampons, stick to the precautionary principle and choose organic cotton.  Some brands to consider: Seventh Generation; NatraCare; Maxim.

3) Skip the applicators. Some applicators are plastic; others are cardboard. The best options are those without an applicator that you insert yourself, like o.b. tampons or Maxim.  I can tell you from personal experience, it is extremely easy to insert a tampon without an applicator. Just wash your hands with soap and water before inserting, and then again after. Another benefit of no-applicator tampons: they’re small and easier to carry in your purse, pocket, or wallet.

4) Buy fragrance-free. Most fragrances in personal care products are made from phthalates, questionnable chemicals that have been linked to a variety of health problems. You don’t need perfumed tampons; as long as you don’t have any leaks, there shouldn’t be any odor. If you do have a leak, the artificial fragrance won’t really cover it up.

5) Recycle the packaging. Like other products, buy packages that are made from recycled materials, and recycle them. Most feminine care products come in cardboard boxes which can be recycled with the usual newspapers and junk mail. The organic cotton tampons and pads come in packages made from recycled, post-consumer waste, a more eco-friendly option than a box made from virgin wood pulp.

6) Tell stores you don’t want to buy tampons made with cotton or rayon treated with pesticides. Especially if the store manager is male, he’ll quickly take down your name and phone number and promise to get back to you on your request for organic cotton tampons rather than stand in the store aisle and debate this issue with you.

7) Use reusable menstrual pads when convenient. Traditional sanitary napkins and panty liners get wrapped up and thrown in the trash. One reusable cloth menstrual pad, which consists of a foundation pad and an easy-to-remove liner, can last for five years. The downside is that they’re inconvenient if you’re not at home where you can easily launder them without much fuss. Though some women might choose to use menstrual pads all the time, another option is to use them at home, and then switch to a menstrual cup when you’re out and about.

Says Sheila Hollender of Seventh Generation, “Women can actually help change the way manufacturers make tampons and sanitary pads by choosing to purchase organic cotton pads and non chlorine bleached pads.

“Women have the power of the purse – should they choose to exercise it.”

For more tips on healthy and green personal care, click here.

The post Seven Ways to “Green” Your Period appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Conventional products may contain a mixture of rayon and cotton. Rayon has been implicated in toxic shock syndrome, particularly for superabsorbent tampons. Cotton is highly pesticide-intensive; 25 percent of pesticides used globally are devoted to growing cotton. To look as white as possible, conventional pads and tampons are usually bleached with chlorine, a process that can create dioxin, a known carcinogen.

Tampons, pads, and panty liners made from organic cotton are becoming increasingly available online and in the marketplace. If you’re going to use conventional products, choose those sold in the simplest packaging.

Options:

O.b. tampons come in a small box with no applicator. They’re compact and easy to use, and take up very little room in your purse.

Original-style Tampax are wrapped in paper and have a cardboard applicator that breaks down relatively quickly if they happen to get loose in the environment. They’re preferable to the Pearl brand, which has an almost indestructible plastic applicator and is wrapped in coated paper.

Natracare and Seventh Generation chemical-free, nonchlorine-bleached biodegradable pads, panty liners, and tampons are available from natural food stores and food co-ops, as well as online.

The DivaCup is worn internally like a birth control diaphragm. It may require emptying two to four times a day depending on your flow. This reusable option generates no trash, but is not quite as convenient as a tampon. Some women swear by it; others think it’s, well, pretty messy. Take a look and decide for yourself.

Want more eco-friendly personal hygiene tips? Click here.

The post Tampons- The Planet’s Most Extreme Case of PMS appeared first on Big Green Purse.

*Toss used condoms in the trash, not the toilet. The jury’s out on whether latex condoms are biodegradable. Regardless, they’re a better option than polyurethane. “French letters” made from lambskin will biodegrade, but they won’t prevent sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), so only use them with a partner you completely trust.

*Choose intimate personal care products that are phthalate- and paraben-free. Before you reach for perfume, lotion, or jelly, read the label. Look for plant-based products over synthetics.

* Play around in organic cotton lingerie. Need I say more?

*Illuminate your loved one with soy-based candles rather than low-level – but polluting – incandescent lights. Better yet, turn off the lights altogether!

* Don’t douche. Douching will not prevent pregnancy or protect you from STDs. It will simply wash away healthy vaginal bacteria, a practice that could cause infections in the reproductive organs.

And if you really want to keep your genes in your jeans, spend the day planting your spring  garden, cleaning out the nearest stream, or escorting a group of exuberant school kids on a nature walk. You’ll be too tired in the evening to do anything other than eat a yummy (organic, vegetarian) dinner before nodding off to sleep.

The post EARTH DAY COUNTDOWN BEGINS…with sex! appeared first on Big Green Purse.