Talcum Powder is made from the mineral Talc that consists of Magnesium, Silicon, and Oxygen. For many years, Talcum powder has been commonly used in nurseries and bathrooms as baby and body powders to absorb moisture and reduce skin rashes.
Use of Talcum Powder
Talc was marketed and sold to women as a way to stay dry and comfortable and be free of vaginal odors. Women would ritually and intimately dust Talc on undergarments and underwear, genital area, and sanitary napkins. However, in the early 1970s, research suggested a link between the intimate use of Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer – suggesting particles of Talc may travel into a woman’s ovaries from the vagina.
- The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified the use of Talc-based powders near the genital area as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”
- Recent research suggests that women who used Talc-based powder for intimate personal hygiene were up to a 30% increased risk of developing Ovarian Cancer.
Link to Ovarian Cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society, a woman’s chance of being diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer is 1 in 75 – Ovarian Cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women.
Ovarian Cancer begins in the ovaries, affecting the female reproductive system. Some of its common symptoms Include:
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Feeling tired
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Possible urinary symptoms
Even though the research has shown an association between the use of Talc-based body powders and Ovarian Cancer, there have been no warnings or notices added to Talc-based products labels to alert consumers to the potential risks.
