Dear 0610,

No, it's not possible. In the past few years, there have been a number of e-mails circulating that talk about a link between tampons and cancer. They simply aren't true. Tampons are deemed safe to use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Fibers can come off of any tampon. The natural cleansing process of the vagina removes these fibers within a short time (a day or two). Tampax Pearl tampons are made out of the same fibers that most other tampons use.

Here are some more truths about tampons:

• Tampon manufacturers do not add asbestos (a carcinogen) to their products to promote more bleeding.



• Tampons do not contain fiberglass.



• Tampon manufacturers no longer use bleaching processes that, at one time years ago, could have left trace amounts of dioxin (another carcinogen) in the tampons.

In short, tampons are safe and easy to use. For more info, check out the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Web site on tampon safety.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.