Are Sanitary Pads Safe? Chemicals, Pad Rash and How to Choose Well

Are sanitary pads safe to use?

For most people, yes. Sanitary pads are a safe, practical way to manage a period, and those sold in India must meet a mandatory national standard. But safe does not mean free of every chemical. Testing has found traces of substances such as phthalates in pads, and scientists are still working out what long-term, low-level exposure means.

The everyday risks are more ordinary: wearing one pad too long, fragrance and dyes on sensitive skin, and the heat and friction of an Indian summer. Those you can control from your next period. And because pads sit outside the body, toxic shock concerns linked to tampons are negligible.

What is inside a sanitary pad?

Most disposable pads have four or five layers: a soft top sheet against your skin, a layer that pulls fluid down quickly, an absorbent core of wood pulp, cotton or gel beads, a leak-stopping backsheet, and adhesive strips and wings to hold it in place. Some pads also add fragrance, dyes or lotions.

Chemicals such as phthalates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are not listed on any pack. Researchers think they come mainly from plastics, glues and fragrances, which is why they turn up in many kinds of pads, whatever the label says.

Chemicals in sanitary pads: what the Toxics Link study found

In November 2022, the Delhi-based environmental group Toxics Link published Wrapped in Secrecy, which tested 10 sanitary pads sold in India: 6 conventional and 4 marketed as organic, bought online and in Delhi markets. Every sample tested positive for both phthalates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

• Phthalates make plastics soft and flexible. Some can interfere with hormones, which is why they are called endocrine disruptors.
• The highest single phthalate level was in a pad sold as organic, according to the Press Trust of India's report.
• VOCs, chemicals that evaporate easily, included benzene, toluene and chloroform.
• India had no limits for these chemicals in pads at the time; the report called for standards and ingredient disclosure.

The study measured what was in the pads, in a laboratory. It did not measure how much passes into the body during use, or whether women using them had any health effects.

Phthalates in pads: what the research does and does not show

Research consistently finds phthalates and VOCs in sanitary pads, in India and abroad. It has not shown how much passes into the body through vulval skin in normal use, or that using pads causes any particular disease. That gap is real, and it is why researchers are calling for better testing, clear limits and ingredient disclosure.

What the research shows

• A 2020 study found phthalates in 98% of 64 sanitary napkins tested in China. It estimated napkins made up about 8.2% of women's total phthalate exposure, with food a bigger source for several phthalates.
• A 2020 US study of 79 feminine hygiene products found VOCs across pads, tampons, washes and sprays, with more of some fragrance chemicals in scented products.
• In that study, "organic", "natural" and "for sensitive skin" labels did not reliably mean lower VOC levels.
• Vulval tissue can absorb some chemicals more readily than ordinary skin.

What the research does not show

• It does not show that pads cause cancer, infertility or hormone problems in users. Those harms are linked to these chemical groups generally, often at other doses and through other routes.
• Exposure from pads has mostly been estimated with models, not measured in real users.
• In the US study, estimated risks were low for most products, though a few, including some pads, crossed the guideline levels the authors used.

BIS IS 5405: the Indian standard for sanitary pads

IS 5405 is the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specification for disposable sanitary pads. It sets requirements for size, finish, pH, how well the pad holds fluid under pressure, and microbial cleanliness. Pads certified under it carry the ISI mark with a BIS licence number.

The 2025 revision also covers panty liners, maternity pads and period panties. According to the BIS product manual for it (July 2025), makers must test raw materials for phthalates, and the finished product once a year. The manual lists no separate VOC test.

Look for the ISI mark with IS 5405 and a licence number on the pack. Ovy pads are BIS certified.

Pad rash: why it happens

Pad rash is usually contact dermatitis, a skin reaction rather than an infection. Most often it is irritation from trapped heat, moisture and friction against the vulva and inner thighs. Less often it is an allergic reaction to something in the pad, such as fragrance or adhesive. It shows up as soreness, itching, burning or redness.

On brown skin it may look darker or purplish rather than red, so go by how it feels too.

• Wearing one pad too long, so a damp surface sits against your skin for hours
• Heat and sweat: an Indian summer, monsoon humidity, a crowded bus or a long train ride
• Friction from walking, sport, or a pad that bunches or shifts
• Fragrance and dyes, the most common triggers for sensitive skin
• Adhesives, plastic-feel top sheets and non-breathable backsheets

What feels like a rash can sometimes be an infection, so one that does not settle needs a doctor.

Sanitary pad rash treatment at home: 6 simple steps

For mild pad rash, gentle care usually helps it settle: change pads more often, rinse with plain water, keep the area dry, wear loose cotton and stop using any product that seems to trigger it. Avoid antiseptic liquids and scented washes, which make irritated skin worse. If the rash does not settle, see a doctor.

1. 1

   Change more often

   While the skin is sore, swap your pad every 3 to 4 hours, even if it is not full.

2. 2

   Rinse with plain water

   Rinse the outside once or twice a day with plain lukewarm water. No soap, antiseptic liquid or scented wash on the sore area.

3. 3

   Pat, don't rub

   Dry gently with a clean, soft towel, or let the area air-dry before you put on fresh underwear.

4. 4

   Let it breathe

   Wear loose cotton underwear and loose clothes.

5. 5

   Switch the suspect

   If the rash began with a new pad, stop using it. Try an unscented pad in a size that fits without bunching.

6. 6

   Ask before applying anything

   Don't put home remedies, powders or creams on sore intimate skin without asking a doctor or pharmacist first.

How to choose the best sanitary pads for sensitive skin

Choose an unscented, dye-free pad in the right length for your flow, with soft, breathable layers, from a brand that explains its dermatological testing and carries the ISI mark. Then change it every 4 to 6 hours, because the habit matters as much as the pad.

How often to change a pad

Every 4 to 6 hours during the day, even on a light day, and sooner if it feels full or damp. Overnight, a longer pad can usually last up to about 8 hours. Go by the clock, not by how the pad looks.

If pads soak through far sooner, note it in our free period tracker and see the doctor list below.

Are organic sanitary pads better?

Organic pads use cotton grown without synthetic pesticides for some layers, and many people find them comfortable. But "organic" describes how material was grown, not its chemical content: testing has found phthalates and VOCs in organic pads too. Choose them for comfort, not as a safety guarantee.

From Ovy

Ovy Organic Sanitary Pads

Ovy pads are BIS certified, dermatologically tested, cruelty-free and rash-free, and were found non-irritant in a clinical test on 24 volunteers. No test can promise how your own skin will react, so change pads regularly.

When to see a doctor about pad rash

See a doctor if a rash does not improve after a few days of gentle care, comes back every period, or brings blisters, open sores, swelling, pus or a fever. Itching with unusual discharge, a strong smell or burning when you pee also needs checking, as those can point to an infection. Our white discharge guide explains what is normal.

1. 1Very heavy bleeding: soaking through an XL+ pad (or a period panty) in under 2 hours for several hours in a row, or passing clots bigger than a ₹5 coin.
2. 2Periods that last longer than 7 days, or that come less than 21 or more than 35 days apart once your cycle has settled.
3. 3Severe period pain that stops you from your day, or that doesn't ease with the usual measures.
4. 4Bleeding between periods, after sex, or ANY bleeding after menopause.
5. 5Periods that stop for 3 months or more when you are not pregnant.
6. 6Signs of infection: unusual discharge, a strong smell, itching, or burning when you pee.
7. 7After childbirth: a fever, foul-smelling discharge, or very heavy bleeding that does not ease after the first week.
8. 8No period by age 15, or no signs of puberty by age 13.

This is guidance, not a diagnosis. If something feels off, trust yourself and see a doctor or gynaecologist. Most causes are common and treatable.

Frequently asked questions