TAMPONS

TAMPONS

The earliest commercial tampons were introduced in the United States around the late 1920's or early 1930's, some forty years after commercial pads had been introduced.

Most of us probably haven't given the invention of tampons much thought at all. Tampons are so commonplace in the lives of most women that we rarely stop to question their history. 

Unlike menstrual pads, which have gone through an elaborate evolution over their hundred or so years of commercial production, tampons have remained pretty much the same. While pads went from reusable rags to disposable cotton worn attached to a belt, from bulky rectangular sponge-like things to ultra-thins with wings, tampons have always been wads of cotton or rayon fibers attached to a cord and sometimes inserted with an applicator of one variety or another. Details change, but the concept has remained very much the same since the 1930's or so when tampons were invented. This evolution of pads may remind people of the fact that they have a history: it is only within the last generation that self-stick pads were invented. Our mothers used pads attached to belts or pins. The tampons our mothers used when they were young, though, were likely very similar to the ones we use now. 

In a very basic way, women seem more aware of the history of menstrual pads than that of tampons. Most people understand that there was a time when women used rags to catch their menstrual blood, instead of the disposable products we have today. Tampons are usually viewed as a wholly new invention, however. The official Tampax history webpage contradicts this belief, suggesting that tampons, in one form or another, have been around since practically the dawn of time:

The ancient Egyptians fashioned disposable tampons from softened papyrus. The Greek physician Hippocrates, writing in the fifth century B.C., described another type of tampon, which was made of lint wrapped around lightweight wood. Elsewhere, women improvised from the materials at hand: in Rome, it was wool; in Japan, paper; in Indonesia, vegetable fibers; in Equatorial Africa, rolls of grass. 

             

  In the modern era, the usage of tampons is one of the means in controlling the flow of blood to the cloths or body. A tampon is a (usually disposable) plug that a woman inserts into her vagina during her menstrual period to absorb the flow of blood. In industrial countries, some women choose not to use tampons, due to health and/or environmental concerns. Several alternate ways of absorbing menstrual fluids are available. Women in developing countries are less likely to have these choices (including tampons) available. Some women may choose not to use tampons because they fear damaging their hymen, regarded as a proof of virginity. In some cultures, the use of tampons by virgins is discouraged because of this.

              As far as the Islamic perspective on using tampons for married and unmarried women is concerned, in principle it is considered to be disliked (makruh), for it is something that is inserted in the internal part of a woman’s vagina.

             The renowned Hanafi jurist (faqih), Allama Ibn Abidin (Allah have mercy on him) mentions the following points in his commentary on Imam al-Barkawi’s treatise on the fiqh of menstruation, Manhal al-waridin min bihar al-faydh ala Zukhr al-muta’ahilin fi masa’il al-haydh:

1. Placing cotton (kursuf) (or anything that absorbs blood) on the opening of the vagina is recommended (mustahab),
2. Virgin women should place this at the time of menstrual periods and non-virgin women at all times, for non-virgins have discharge on a regular basis, so they should be precautions and have cotton placed there at all times,
3. It is a Sunnah for a woman to apply scent to the cotton or pad, so that the odour of the blood is removed,
4. It is offensive (makruh) to have this cotton (kursuf) inserted fully in the internal part of the vagina, because it resembles masturbation. (See: Majmu’a Rasa’il Ibn Abidin, 1/84-85)

Furthermore, two points are worth noting here:

Firstly, some experts are of the opinion that tampons have been shown to have a connection to toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a rare but sometimes fatal disease caused by bacterial infection. Hence, if that is the case, it would not be permitted for women, married or otherwise, to use tampons.

Allah Most High says:

“And make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction.” (Surah al-Baqarah, V: 195) 

Based on stated in the Qur’an and many other evidences found in the Qur’an and Sunnah, it is prohibited for one to cause harm to one’s self or another person. Hence, if it is proven that using tampons cause harm to the woman, it would not be permitted for her to use them. This can be determined by enquiring from an expert.

This, according to the Islamic understanding, is incorrect. The hymen of a woman may be broken in many ways: Injury, accident, playing sports, riding a bicycle, penetration of any sort such as a medical examination, use of tampons, or a douche. Thus, Islam commands the husband not to suspect any wrongdoing on behalf of his spouse if he were to see her not being a virgin. A woman must not be looked down upon because of having lost her virginity. In fact, the jurists (fuqaha) state that a woman whose hymen is broken due to other than having actual sex is Islamically considered to be a virgin. Imam al-Mawsili (Allah have mercy on him) states:

“If a woman lost her virginity due to jumping, injury, becoming old or (strong) menstrual periods, then she will be considered a virgin.” (al-Ikhtiyar li ta’lil al-Mukhtar, 3/116)

Secondly, some people consider using tampons impermissible for unmarried and virgin women because they fear that the woman may not remain a virgin, which they believe to be a defect in the woman.

Having said that, it may be better for unmarried women to avoid using tampons due to the negative implications it can bring about upon marriage. However, it cannot be considered unlawful purely based on this reason.

According to some research, there are harmful subtances contained in the tampons , for example  asbestos. This is bad because asbestos makes you bleed more, if you bleed more, you're going to need to use more. Why this isn’t against the law since asbestos is so dangerous? This is because the powers that be, in all their wisdom (not), did not consider tampons as being ingested, and, therefore, didn't consider them illegal or dangerous. .

Tampons contain two things that are potentially harmful: Rayon (for absorbency), and dioxin (a chemical used in bleaching the products). The tampon industry is convinced that we, as women, need bleached white products in order to view the product as pure and clean. The problem here is that the dioxin, which is produced in this bleaching process, can lead to very harmful problems for a woman. Dioxin is potentially carcinogenic cancer-associated) and is toxic to the immune and reproductive systems. It has also been linked to endometriosis and lower sperm counts for men. For both sexes, it breaks down the immune system.  

Using tampons does not take away ones virginity, if that's what you're asking. Loss of virginity = sexual penetration. Tampon usage is not sexual, it's hygiene. 

This proof of principle study aimed to define a new and simple strategy for detection of endometrial cancer using epigenetic markers. Investigated showed that DNA isolated from vaginal secretion collected from tampon for aberrant methylation of five genes (CDH13, HSPA2,MLH1, RASSF1A, and SOCS2) using MethyLight in 15 patients with endometrial cancer and 109 patients without endometrial cancer. All endometrial cancer patients revealed three or more methylated genes, whereas 91% (99 of 109) of the patients without endometrial cancer had no or fewer than three genes methylated in their vaginal secretion. The methods developed in this study provide the basis for a prospective clinical trial to screen asymptomatic women who are at high risk for endometrial cancer. 

A research showed that about 70% of women in the U.S., Canada and most of Western Europe use tampons, only 2% of women in Mexico do, and only 4% in Italy.  This shows that the Americans, especially, does not care about wearing tampons which shows that in their opinion, the do not care about the virginity also social boundaries. Unlike the Islamic view, we Muslims care about this which we care about the social boundaries. 

In Christian view, tampons are seen as ‘finger of the devil’. This is because some Christians or orthodox Christians, actually cares about the ruling which is quite the same as Islam’s view, however not all Christians think that way which shows they do not have just one stand. This is shown where there was an older lady who scolded a young woman in America when the young woman was buying tampons. They discussed this in the church. ‘"Toxic Shock Syndrome is God's way of punishing unsaved harlots who choose Satan’s cotton fingers over a Godly pad," Pastor Deacon Fred stated upon hearing of the event. "These playthings of Satan are created under the guise of a ladies hygiene product to bring unsuspecting women and young girls to the fold of the Devil ‘one said.   

According to Islamic view, tampons are prohibited because it concerns health and we should not harm ourselves when we know about it. Other than that, some points of view saying using tampons are prohibited as it resembles masturbation which is prohibited in any religion likewise Islam.

According to pious Christians, tampons are not allowed but nowadays, some Christians are doing things by themselves saying what is right and which is wrong instead of checking it themselves with the trusted scholars to compare the opinions.

In conclusion, married and unmarried women should avoid using tampons, for firstly, it is something that is inserted internally, and secondly, using a tampon may be harmful to one’s health or at the least unhygienic, and thirdly, for unmarried women, using tampons and breaking of the hymen may (though unfortunate) cause problems after marriage. This is when it is not proven that tampons cause severe harm to the woman. However, as mentioned above, if it is proven that using tampons is harmful to the woman’s health, it would not be permitted to use them.

Other than that, Islam is the better way as we believe that if we have doubts in the things we do, whether it is the right or the wrong thing to do, we better not do it until we have confirmed that it is the right thing to do.

I personally think that youngsters or young adult nowadays does not care about being not a virgin anymore, this includes especially Americans which are even Christians but I am aware that they are not the type that respects the traditionalistic of the Christian beliefs.

  I do know that we Muslims young girls are sure of avoiding wearing this kind of things which we generally know that it will be forbidden in Islam. I think that even it is the modern days and some people might just mock us from being traditional, but we have faith in Allah knowing that we are doing the right thing. 

Islamic views saying that it is harmful to the health and also resembles forbidden actions so I think that just by that we should trust that and follow what the scholars say because I believe that the scholars are right showing that they are promoting their ideas to the others. For me, it is a logical explanation as well because they are some proof that shows there are harmful substances showed in this tampons.  

Despite that there are benefits of using these kind of product but when in Islam it is said to be forbidden we as Muslims cannot object the statement because we can make the religion follow us instead we follow the religion.

My opinion, we should avoid using this as this harms with its health effects and we won’t do things that we are not sure of right? So I hope and I am sure that everyone can think and know the right thing to do especially according to the Islamic view and ways.