Post by InsituGen

New peer-reviewed research from our CSO Professor Alison Heather, just published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society 🔬 Of 18 tampon brands tested — synthetic and organic — nearly half (8 of 18) showed measurable estrogenic activity. Tentatively identified compounds included plasticizers, surfactants and fragrance agents, among them known endocrine disruptors such as phthalates and alkylphenols. Worth pausing on. Tampons sit in prolonged contact with highly absorptive vaginal mucosa, bypassing first-pass metabolism. Across decades of menstruation, low-level exposure to estrogenic compounds accumulates — and current product testing doesn't routinely screen for endocrine bioactivity at all. It isn't a synthetic-vs-organic story either. Activity appeared across both categories, brand by brand. Encouragingly, several brands showed no detectable activity, demonstrating that safer formulations are achievable. The study also illustrates why functional bioactivity testing matters. Standard chemistry tells you which molecules are present; it can't tell you whether a complex low-level mixture combines to activate estrogen receptors. insituGen's cell-free, receptor-based bioassay measures the signal cells actually receive. 📑 Open access: https://lnkd.in/dYJpMzTx #WomensHealth #EndocrineDisruptors #MenstrualHealth #FunctionalBioactivity #insituGen