U by Kotex Tampons Recall Initiated Due to Products Unraveling

A U by Kotex tampons recall was initiated in December 2018 after reports of tampons unraveling during removal and leaving pieces behind.

According to Kimberly-Clark’s voluntary recall, products affected by the reported “quality-related defect” were manufactured between Oct. 7, 2016 and Oct. 16, 2018, distributed between Oct. 17, 2016 and Oct. 23, 2018, and sold throughout the United States and Canada.

The recall only affects U by Kotex Sleek Tampons Regular Absorbency. The Super Absorbency or Super Plus Absorbency versions of the U by Kotex Sleek Tampons are not affected by the recall.

Consumers can identify if their products are part of the U by Kotex tampons recall by looking for the lot numbers at the bottom of their boxes. These numbers can then be checked on the U by Kotex website.

The recall was prompted by consumer reports of U by Kotex tampons unraveling upon removal. According to the New York Times, some consumers have had to seek medical attention due to pieces left behind in their body after removal, and Kimberly-Clark says there have been a “small number” of reports of infection, vaginal irritation, and other injuries.

Consumers can report their own adverse experiences to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Many facts remain unclear regarding the Kotex tampons recall, including the number of tampons affected, the exact nature of the tampon defect, and whether or not consumers will receive a refund if they purchased defective tampons.

Dr. Jill Maura Rabin, who serves as a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Zucker School of Medicine, recently told the New York Times that most people don’t experience issues with tampons. “You need to know your body,” she said. “This isn’t a call to stop using tampons. It’s a call to know your body. Tampons have been around for a very long time and are fairly safe.”

Dr. Rabin has been practicing obstetrics and gynecology for 33 years and reportedly never heard of a tampon unraveling.

“The potential is that something has fallen apart and there are many different sizes and pieces and it is going to be really hard for someone to remove it,” Dr. Rabin said.

Dr. Rabin noted that it is hard to tell if chemicals or glues are present in the tampon which could harm the vagina. “You do not know how the tampons are put together,” she told the New York Times.

Luckily, the stigma around menstruation has slowly been fading away as new companies build their brand around informing their customers and being as transparent as possible around what they use in their products.

Some companies have made the move to using organic cotton and others have aimed to reduce waste by eliminating the traditional plastic applicators seen with tampons. Other brands have created innovative menstruation products such as underwear with built-in protection.

With the wide variety of options available, Dr. Rabin urged New York Times readers not to abandon the use of tampons due to the recent recall of U by Kotex tampons.

“Companies that have been manufacturing tampons are reputable. You don’t want to completely abandon something that for the most part is fairly safe.”

Join a Free U by Kotex Sleek Tampons Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased U by Kotex Sleek Tampons, Regular Absorbency between October 2016 and October 2018 and the tampons unraveled upon removal or left pieces in your body, you may qualify to join this investigation.

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