Women who have used Always pads for a long time have been quietly growing more frustrated during the past year. What started out as sporadic internet posts about rashes, strange odors, and pain has developed into a chorus of court cases, scientific investigation, and public awakening that may change the production, promotion, and oversight of feminine care products.
Perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are at the center of the dispute since they are found in items intended for the body’s most delicate areas. PFAS, sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals,” are difficult for the environment and human body to break down. Numerous health hazards, including as hormone imbalance, infertility, and some types of cancer, have been associated with them. Their supposed presence in pads is so unnerving—and possibly dangerous—because of this.
According to Ecological Alliance testing, Always pads have quantities of PFOA, a particularly dangerous type of PFAS, up to 6,000 times greater than the US drinking water standard. Menstrual pads are applied directly to extremely absorbent skin when water is consumed. The inference is very unsettling. Women may be inadvertently absorbing these substances on a monthly basis in addition to being exposed to them.
Always’s manufacturer, Procter & Gamble, has openly refuted claims that its goods are dangerous. The apparent “shadows” that are seen when pads are held up to light, according to a recent response, are simply reflections from the raw wood pulp that was used to make the materials. However, customers are still not persuaded. What began as a singular worry has developed into a serious crisis of credibility.
Lawsuits have been launched in Kenya and the United States by the beginning of 2025, and each case raised distinct but remarkably comparable issues. Always was implicated in a Prop 65 lawsuit in California that aims to penalize the company for failing to identify items that are allegedly exposing consumers to harmful chemicals. Proponents are calling for tighter regulation or perhaps the product’s complete withdrawal from the market in Kenya after it was alleged to cause numerous health problems, such as burns, itching, and an increase in infections.
Company / Product Reference Table
| Brand | Always (by Procter & Gamble) |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Menstrual pads (Disposable) |
| Issue Under Review | Presence of PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and lack of ingredient transparency |
| Advocacy / Testing Groups | Toxic-Free Future, Women’s Voices for the Earth |
| Known Legal / Regulatory Activity | Scrutiny over PFAS in menstrual products, state-level legislation on disclosure and PFAS bans |
| Reference Site | https://www.toxicfreefuture.org/blog/toxic-tampons-and-pads-tell-always-to-detox-the-box/ |
For many women, the frustration is systemic rather than merely chemical. Because menstrual products are governed as medical devices in the United States, manufacturers are exempt from disclosing their entire ingredient list. Many consumers have been in the dark for decades as a result of this lack of transparency. Women are left wondering what’s in their pads and whether what they feel is in their brain or the product. California has responded by passing new law requiring full disclosure of menstruation product chemicals by 2027.
Last fall, I recall a buddy contacting me to inquire if I had ever had a minor burning sensation when using a fresh set of pads. I dismissed it at the moment. Perhaps the weather was to blame. Her detergent might have been the cause. I’m not so sure now, though. It no longer feels anecdotal when hundreds of women, from Nairobi to New York, start expressing the same symptoms; instead, it becomes a pattern that we have been taught to overlook.
In this battle, social media sites like Reddit and TikTok have emerged as unexpected watchdogs. Videos have gone viral showing people breaking down pads, exposing them to light, and sharing terrifying experiences. Some claim that it appears to be mold. Others report strange odors or symptoms that only went away after switching brands. The videos are powerful because they are based on lived experience, even though not all of them are scientifically based.
Pulp shadows are not the same as mold, and Procter & Gamble may be correct. However, trust is more important now than just science. And years of feeling ignored or invisible have undermined that trust for many women, not a single test result.
Advocacy organizations for the environment and health have filled the void by demanding industry-wide reform and more thorough testing. The invisible cost of chemical exposure in commonplace products has long been a concern of Women’s Voices for the Earth and Toxic-Free Future. They make the straightforward but compelling case that menstruation care shouldn’t be accompanied by hazardous exposure.
Once-dominant brands are now up against modest but fierce competition. Menstrual products that are organic, reusable, and have clear labels are becoming more and more popular. Their ascent reflects changing expectations rather than only being a response to lawsuits. Customers want clarity over deceptive advertising. When they use items that are meant to help rather than hurt, they want to feel secure.
The 2025 Always Pads lawsuit is a cultural revolution rather than just a legal dispute. It poses a straightforward but important question: What do businesses owe the consumers who use their products on a monthly basis? It turns out that the solution might be more intricate—and transformative—than any advertising effort can cover up.
