Medically reviewed by Monique Rainford, MD Tampons are pressed cotton cylinders used internally to collect menstrual flow.

While it's not common, tampon pieces can get left in your vagina, and lead to irritation or infection. One brand recalled its product after parts of the tampon unraveled. Do tampons expire?

Organic tampons contained higher levels of arsenic ... The soil and water of the United States and other parts of the world are also heavily contaminated with both metals and chemicals used ...