Umy works to bring menstrual equity conversations into her community to help end period stigma!
Umyeena Bashir is WVE's California Intimate Care Organizing Fellow at WVE and a graduate student at the University of San Francisco studying Organic Chemistry. Umy is passionate about researching period health and educating others on these issues.
What is in period products?
C&EN News by Cheryl Hogue A recent New York right-to-know law has led to ingredient disclosures across much of the US. But health advocates say... Read More
New Bill Will Help Close Significant Gaps in Menstrual & Intimate Care Product Safety
Because of lack of government oversight, companies can even get away with not disclosing dangerous chemicals contained in these products. In fact, there is no federal law that requires manufacturers of menstrual care products to disclose any of the ingredients used in these products.
TAKE ACTION for Safer Menstrual and Intimate Care Products!
Recently, the Robin Danielson Menstrual Product and Intimate Care Product Safety Act of 2022 (HR 8724) was introduced in Congress. If passed, the bill requires a research program focused on studying the health risks of fragrance ingredients, pesticides, phthalates, titanium dioxide, and other ingredients used in these products.
Are We Seeing the End of Scented Tampons?
Menstrual product manufacturers have mostly stopped manufacturing scented tampons for the U.S. market – including the world’s leading manufacturer of tampons, Procter & Gamble.
Questions About Titanium Dioxide in Tampons and Pads?
There are a number of folks online recently worried about finding titanium dioxide as an ingredient in their tampons and pads – and wondering if it is related to some health conditions they are experiencing like ovarian cysts, miscarriages, UTIs and more. Here's what we know about titanium dioxide in tampons right now.
The Long-Term Game of Bettering Menstrual Pain
Recent studies have investigated more long-term preventative treatment methods for period pain. One new concept is the application of taking vitamins.
We Now Have More Information about Ingredients Used in Period Products Than Ever Before!
Because of new disclosure requirements coming out of New York State, our research has found the every period product user is getting way more information about these products than ever before. Some period products are a lot more complicated than we ever knew.
New Transparency Requirements Reveal Ingredient Complexity and Chemical Exposure from Menstrual Products
A new report released by health and justice organizations, Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE), Clean & Healthy New York, Sierra Club (Atlantic Chapter) and WE ACT for Environmental Justice, spotlights how new ingredient disclosure requirements for menstrual products are providing improved and vital information about chemical exposure from the use of these products. The report, "What’s in Your Period Product? An investigation of ingredients disclosed on product labels", calls attention to significant changes the industry has made in increasing ingredient transparency, as well as chemicals of concern that, until now, were kept hidden from people who use these products.
Sixty-Two Menstrual Equity Laws Passed in the United States
The laws include eliminating the menstrual tax, making menstrual products more accessible by requiring them in schools, prisons, correctional facilities and shelters; and addressing the safety of these products by requiring ingredient disclosure.
