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Updated September 22, 2006
FDA regulates the safety and effectiveness of tampons. Before tampons can be sold in the United States, FDA reviews and clears the product's design and materials. The only materials used in tampons sold in the United States are cotton, rayon, or blends of the two.
Other federal agencies--including the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)--also have information on this subject. For more information on the regulation of tampons, their relation to toxic shock syndrome, and menstruation, go to the links below.