PFAS in Menstrual Products: What to Avoid and Safer Alternatives (2026)

Quick answer

Some menstrual products contain PFAS ("forever chemicals") and some do not. PFAS detected in some tampons, pads, and menstrual underwear. Third-party testing has flagged specific brands (below); safer options include Saalt menstrual cup – silicone, no PFAS, reusable and Cora 100% organic cotton tampons + pads. The same chemicals contaminate drinking water, so the highest-impact step for most people is filtering their tap.

How we source this: we report published third-party testing (Green Science Policy Institute, Consumer Reports, Mamavation, Ecology Center, Silent Spring Institute, and peer-reviewed studies) and name the study behind each finding. We do not test products ourselves.

How PFAS gets into menstrual products

PFAS may be added to menstrual products as part of leak-resistant coatings, or contaminate them through processing. The most documented case was the 2020 Thinx period underwear lawsuit, which alleged PFAS were intentionally added.

What testing has found

Mamavation 2022 testing found PFAS in 65% of period underwear samples and 22% of menstrual pads tested. A 2023 Notre Dame study confirmed PFAS in tampon applicators and pad backings across multiple major brands.

Brands flagged in testing

• Thinx period underwear (settled $5M class-action 2023 over PFAS allegations)
• Multiple Always pad and Tampax tampon products flagged in Mamavation testing
• Knix and Modibodi underwear tested positive in Mamavation 2022

Safer brand alternatives

• Saalt menstrual cup – silicone, no PFAS, reusable
• Cora 100% organic cotton tampons + pads
• L. Organic – verified PFAS-free
• Aisle period underwear – Mamavation-verified clean
• DivaCup – medical-grade silicone, no PFAS

How this connects to your drinking water

Disposable menstrual products end up in landfills, where they leach PFAS into groundwater. Reusable products that contain PFAS also release them when laundered into wastewater.

What to do right now

• Switch to a menstrual cup (Saalt, DivaCup) – most PFAS-safe option, lasts 10+ years
• For pads/tampons: choose 100% organic cotton brands with no leak-coatings
• Avoid "leakproof" period underwear unless explicitly Mamavation-verified PFAS-free
• Check Mamavation's annual menstrual product PFAS lists

Frequently asked questions

Do all menstrual products contain PFAS?

No. Several brands have been third-party tested PFAS-free, including Saalt menstrual cup – silicone, no PFAS, reusable, Cora 100% organic cotton tampons + pads, L. Organic – verified PFAS-free. The PFAS-containing products are usually those marketed with words like "stain-resistant," "waterproof," "long-wear," "non-stick," or "grease-resistant."

How do I know if my menstrual products have PFAS?

Check the ingredient list or product spec sheet for: PTFE, PFOA, PFOS, perfluoro-, polyfluoro-, fluoro-, or "fluorocarbon" prefixes. If the product is labeled "stain-resistant," "waterproof," or "non-stick" without an explicit PFAS-free certification, assume PFAS until proven otherwise.

What's the safest alternative?

For menstrual products, the cleanest options include Saalt menstrual cup – silicone, no PFAS, reusable and Cora 100% organic cotton tampons + pads. Switch to a menstrual cup (Saalt, DivaCup) – most PFAS-safe option, lasts 10+ years.

How does this connect to drinking water contamination?

Disposable menstrual products end up in landfills, where they leach PFAS into groundwater. Reusable products that contain PFAS also release them when laundered into wastewater.

Are PFAS in menstrual products regulated?

Federal regulation is limited. In February 2024 the FDA announced that manufacturers had stopped selling PFAS-based grease-proofing agents for US food packaging, a voluntary phase-out rather than a ban. 13+ US states have passed PFAS-in-products bans (Maine, California, New York, Washington, Minnesota, others). Personal-care PFAS are not federally regulated, though several states are considering bans.