By Mapaballo Borotho
- Millennials and Gen Z have reacted strongly to a University of the Free State study that found certain sanitary products may contain chemicals linked to infertility and other health risks.
- While many women expressed concern and are considering alternatives, some social media users appeared to celebrate the potential impact on fertility.
- The National Consumer Commission is now investigating the brands implicated in the study.
Millennials and Generation Z have reacted strongly to a recent study by the University of the Free State, with many celebrating findings that suggest certain sanitary products could potentially contribute to infertility.
The study found that some sanitary pads and panty liners contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as parabens, phthalates and bisphenols.
These chemicals have been linked to female health complications including infertility, hormonal imbalance, endometriosis and certain cancers.
Following the findings, the National Consumer Commission confirmed it is investigating all sanitary product brands implicated in the study.
The brands under investigation include:
- Kimberly-Clark of SA (PTY) Ltd (Kotex)
- Procter and Gamble (PTY) Ltd (Always)
- Anna Organics
- The Lion Match Company (PTY) Ltd trading as ComfitexHere We Flo trading as Flo
- Johnson & Johnson (PTY) Ltd trading as Stay Free
- Premier Group of Companies trading as Lil-lets
- Essity Hygiene and Health AB trading as Libresse South Africa
- My Time
“Simultaneously, the NCC will be requiring the concerned suppliers to conduct tests on the affected
products or provide the latest laboratory results that tested for EDCs, if any. Once the NCC
receives the results, these will be assessed to determine whether product recall provisions in
terms of section 60 of the CPA should be invoked,” said NCC’s spokesperson Pheto Ntaba.
South African female reactions
The study has sparked widespread concern and uproar, particularly on social media, with many women saying they will opt for alternatives such as tampons, reusable pads and menstrual cups.
However, reactions have not been uniform. Some women particularly among Millennials and Gen Z have taken to platforms like TikTok claiming they would continue using the implicated products, with a few even “celebrating” the possibility of infertility.
When concerns about potential cancer risks were raised online, some users responded that it did not matter, arguing that death is inevitable.
The debate comes amid ongoing global conversations around declining birth rates, a trend that has been both criticised and celebrated on social media.
Many Millennials and members of Generation Z have been vocal about their decision not to have children, linking the study’s findings to broader discussions about reproductive choices.
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