New sanitary pads that contain dirt to reduce period pain will not work, gynaecologist warns

'The idea that a pad can treat period pain is ridiculous'

From menstrual cups to period pants, there are all sorts of alternatives to traditional tampons and sanitary towels these days.

But one that’s recently come to attention is the NannoPad: a menstrual pad containing ground up dirt which claims to help ease period pain.

According to gynaecologist and women’s health activist Dr Jen Gunter, however, this simply isn’t true.

NannoCare, the company behind NannoPad, claims that the pads are “the most innovative menstrual pads infused with new Nannogenic™ Technology” and that they “naturally relieve menstrual cramps with no drugs or medicine.”

It apparently works by taking “organically occurring earth elements,” breaking them into nanoparticles, and then embedding them into the NannoPad™ via natural fibres.

“This technology has the amazing ability to naturally and safely release the needed amount of energy that helps microcirculation, resulting in a decrease of menstrual cramps without the use of drugs or medication,” the website says.

“Nannogenic™ technology also purifies the pad, thereby minimising odour and bacteria.”

Dr Gunter, however, is extremely sceptical of these claims.

Writing on her website, she says that “organically occurring earth elements” could really mean anything: “It is entirely possible there is simply a strip of material impregnated with activated charcoal in the pad, after all, you can buy pads of activated charcoal for both your period and for flatulence.

“Be a nifty marketing trick and not at all incorrect to call it one of earth’s organic elements.”

She goes on to say that when the ingredients haven’t been revealed it’s hard to know whether the pads are indeed safe, and she criticises the company for the vague way they describe their manufacturing process.

“Medically speaking there is no ‘energy’ from the earth that impacts the flow of blood in the uterine blood vessels or that can treat painful periods,” Dr Gunter writes. “I mean, if the Earth’s crust had this magical element then we would probably have never given up the whole Red Tent practice.

“In fact, as we would be exposed to this dust all the time we wouldn’t have period pain at all! The claims of pain relief are the part of the sales pitch that angers me the most. Women with bad period pain can be desperate and taking advantage of it is wrong.”

Dr Gunter finishes by saying she suspects the products are simply regular pads with rayon or perhaps activated charcoal added. “The idea that a pad can treat period pain is ridiculous,” she says.

The Independent has contacted NannoCare for comment.