Do Tampons Cause Period Cramps? This New Saalt Study Say “Probably”

Do tampons cause period cramps or make them worse? That has been the age-old question posed by real tampon users for decades. Well, thanks to a new study funded by Saalt – makers of menstrual cups, discs, and leakproof underwear – we finally have some answers. But also, a lot more questions.

For years I have heard people swear that their cramps went away completely or were less severe when they switched from tampons to cups or discs. Back in 2010 when I first heard of the menstrual cup it was in a forum for moms who cloth diapered. Beyond being a more eco-friendly alternative, users in the forums also touted a lot of other benefits that seemed too good to be true. “Menstrual cups get rid of period cramps” was an oft-mentioned benefit. I’d never given cramps much thought because I assumed cramps, and all the other unpleasant period symptoms I experienced, were just part of the package. And if I think hard about it, cramping makes sense because our uterus is pushing blood out. So the idea that my tampons were making things worse never crossed my mind. Then in 2012, I tried a cup and guess what? My period cramps were gone. Sure, I still had the lower back aches, but the sharp cramps I experienced vanished. Concerning, but the menstrual cup had a new convert so I never had to worry about that ever again.

Is it Just In Our Heads?

Saalt conducted their own study because they noticed the same thing and wanted a definitive answer. Is it in our heads? Do tampons cause cramps? Or do cups and discs really make periods more manageable and less painful?

For too long, women’s health has been underfunded and understudied.  In my own research on period product history, brands have a long history of filling in the research gaps the medical community ignores and funding period education in schools. So while this is a brand-led, open-label study, its findings are promising and by the time I finished reading the study for myself I was left with a lot more questions. Hopefully, this brand-led study opens the conversation because now I want to know WHY do tampons make cramps worse or cause cramps? And why do we seem to bleed less (according to anecdotal evidence, not part of the Saalt Study) when we use a cup compared to when we used a tampon?

Basic Study Findings from the Saalt x People Science Study

• 188 participants completed the study, which involved using tampons for one cycle, then a Saalt cup or disc for two additional cycles.
• The study was conducted by People Science,  A technology-enabled clinical research organization pioneering decentralized trial methods.
• Symptoms were self-reported and logged in the Chloe app.
• The study was done in a “real-life” environment to reflect how real people experience periods.
• 78% of participants who completed all three cycles reported an overall better period experience after switching from tampons to Saalt cups or discs.
• Participants were 6 times more likely to report no cramping at all during cup or disc use compared to baseline tampon use (24% vs. 4%)
• Statistically significant improvements in user-reported period symptoms like cramping, fatigue, bloating, and headaches.
• 95% of participants would recommend the cup or disc they tried to a friend.
• 76% said they would continue using cups or discs after two months of use.
• Only 1% said they would go back to tampons.

If the UC Berkeley tampon study, which found lead and arsenic in virtually all tampons tested, wasn’t enough of a reason to consider alternatives, the possibility that periods might actually get better with cups and discs is pretty powerful.

What Happens Next?

What wasn’t included in this study that I’d love to see explored next: do cups and discs lighten or shorten periods? This is another benefit I see mentioned constantly in online spaces and by customers in our store.

Back in 2020, Vice reached out to me about this exact phenomenon for their article on the benefits of switching to cups, and I ran a poll with my audience, a group of cup users. 53% of the 1,400 respondents said they believed cups shortened their period length.

Why did it take this long to study the benefits of cups compared to tampons? Real blood wasn’t even used to test period products until 2023. I try not to put my tinfoil hat on too often, but I have my thoughts.

And while I understand this is a brand-led study which means the brand paying for the study was hoping to benefit, you can look at the data and decide for yourself. For me – someone who has touted the benefits of cups and discs for years with only anecdotal evidence, my own personal experiences, and a very small number of actual studies – this Saalt study validates so many things I have observed over the years. And I am thrilled to finally have data to back it up.