Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals which have been proven to be harmful to our bodies and disrupt our hormones, contributing to period problems including PMS and cramps. These EDCs are found in plastic, cosmetics, cleaning products, non-stick pots and pans, scented candles, air fresheners, dryer sheets and even tampons.
There is a huge amount of scientific research now, thousands of papers, more than I could possibly reference, clearly demonstrating that repeated exposure to these compounds can be detrimental to our bodies, most specifically to our endocrine system.
These EDCs mimic our hormones and many of them act in a similar way to oestrogen in the body, which is why they are often called xenoestrogens - xeno meaning foreign. They can also mimic thyroid hormones, and androgens, and have been linked with endocrine diseases like diabetes. (1) There is more research coming out about how these EDCs affect more than just our hormones though, with immune function and obesity being part of the bigger picture too. (2)
Having these foreign hormone disruptors in our bodies can put the delicate balance of our own natural hormones out of whack very easily.
1. Plastic
To learn about how plastic harms your hormones check out the full blog I did a couple of weeks ago on this topic.
2. Tampons and pads
It can be hard to tell what is in your tampons and pads because they are classed as medical devices and therefore don't usually have ingredients on the box. Many are made from cotton which has been sprayed with large amounts of glyphosate, or Roundup®, a herbicide which is classed as an endocrine-disrupting chemical. They also commonly contain carbon disulfide, which has been scientifically proven to contribute to menstrual problems. (3)
The vaginal mucosa is some of the most absorptive tissue in a woman's body, so if you are inserting a tampon which has been made with chemicals in there, you are going to absorb a lot. Many also include plastic inserting devices which give you a not-so-nice xenoestrogen dose of BPA every time you insert them.
There are so many alternative period products to choose from nowadays. If you want to use tampons or pads, go for organic ones. There are also reusable pads, period knickers, and menstrual cups available now. This is an easy swap, and if you invest in a reusable product, it will likely be much more cost-effective in the long run too! Many women find that once they transition to less toxic period products, their periods become less heavy and less painful.
3. Cosmetics
Our skin is our biggest organ and it is permeable! So much of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bodies and, unfortunately, most cosmetics contain a whole cocktail of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. From moisturisers to make up, and including shampoos and perfumes, they all contain a whole variety of chemicals that can disrupt your hormones. (4)
Many anti-aging creams even contain oestrogen, which of course goes into your skin and your body and contributes to excess oestrogen symptoms like PMS and heavy or painful periods. Some even use extracts from sheep's placenta, which contains both oestrogen and progesterone, to thicken shampoo and conditioner! And while this might give you lustrous hair, it may also be contributing to your PMS.
I recommend using up what you have and then, as each product comes to an end, gradually introducing less toxic ones. If you have children, it is especially important to be aware of the EDCs you may be rubbing into their skin; so that is another good place to start. (5)
Don't let this overwhelm you. Just pick one product at a time. I find health food shops a great place to go to find more natural products. And eventually you may even start to learn how to make your own natural products!
4. Cleaning products
Washing-up liquid, laundry detergents, disinfectants, all-purpose cleaners; pretty much everything found in the cleaning aisle in the supermarket is far from "clean". They all contain hormones-disrupting chemicals and, in many cases, carcinogens and other toxins too.
For food products, I always recommend reading the label. But for cleaning products that often isn't enough. There are so many chemicals in these products that aren't even listed on the label. An independent environmental group called Women's Voices for the Earth commissioned an independent lab test to test twenty popular cleaning products for toxic chemicals that were not listed on the labels, and they found toxic levels of these hormone disruptors in every single one. (6)
Like cosmetics, this is a category that can be phased out product by product to make it less overwhelming. A simple cleaning spray can be made using vinegar and lemon juice; and while most of these products can be made with simple ingredients, you can also find ones with natural ingredients in health food shops.
5. Non-stick pots and pans.
Teflon was banned in the EU in 2008 and even in the US, where they are much slower to ban chemicals, in 2014. But many of my clients still use Teflon-coated pots and pans when they first come to see me. And, while most non-stick pans sold nowadays do not contain Teflon, instead they are made from other chemicals which may not be as toxic as Teflon but still pose a risk to your hormones and your health.
Cook with stainless steel or cast iron instead!
6. Scented candles, and other fake fragrances
While lighting a scented candle might provide some nice ambience, the synthetic fragrances in them are hormone disruptors. Even when they are not lit, these candles diffuse endocrine-disrupting chemicals into the air of your home. The same goes for those scented sticks and air fresheners that you use in the car or plug into the wall in your house. Just get rid of them! Not only are they disrupting your hormones, but they also often contain formaldehyde, which is a well-known human carcinogen.
Non-scented candles, or natural beeswax or soy wax candles that are scented with natural essential oils, are good alternatives. You can also use an essential oil diffuser or burn natural incense. For your car, you can simply pop a few drops of essential oils onto a tissue and leave it in your car to make it smell nice.
7. Dryer sheets
Dryer sheets are something you can ditch straight away! The reason people use dryer sheets is to add a "nice" fragrance and also to reduce static in the dryer. Any synthetic fragrance, whether it's in a dryer sheet or scented candle, is harmful to inhale.
I know plenty of people who use a dryer without dryer sheets; but if you are worried about static potentially causing a fire, you can get wool dryer balls which are reusable and fragrance-free. There are also plastic dryer balls, and ones that are "eco" and reusable, but they still leech endocrine disruptors into your clothes and into the air.
Don’t get overwhelmed!
I know this can be overwhelming when you first learn about it. Gosh, even years later it is still overwhelming for me! But don't let it overwhelm you to the point of inaction. We live in a world where it is impossible to avoid toxic chemicals, so all we can do is minimise our exposure. And as much as possible, we need to minimise exposure for our babies and children.
Awareness is the first step. Now that you know about the endocrine-disrupting chemicals, you can start to reduce and replace the ones in your home and, step by step, day by day, you can reduce your exposure. It may take a few months to notice the benefit on your PMS and period pain but, over time, the more you reduce EDCs in your body, the less likely you are to experience excess oestrogen and its associated symptoms of heavy periods, short cycles, PMS and cramps.
If you do experience heavy, painful periods and PMS symptoms like anger and irritability, mood swings, breast tenderness and bloating, then I highly recommend getting yourself a bottle of Agnus castus tincture. It is my go-to herb for PMS and symptoms of excess oestrogen, and it can be a brilliant remedy to take while simultaneously reducing your exposure to these hormone-disrupting xenoestrogen chemicals found in your home and environment.
