New reports show women using baby powder as a feminine hygiene product may be up to 30 percent more likely to develop ovarian cancer. Talc powder, which is the main ingredient in Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder, has been found in 75 percent of biopsied ovarian tumors, leading researchers to believe genital use of the product should be classified as a “possible carcinogen.”

Baby Powder Cancer

About 40 percent of women claim to use baby powder as a regular part of their hygiene routine. While Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder contains a single warning against breathing in the product – “keep powder away from child’s face to avoid inhalation, which can cause breathing problems” – the product does not contain a warning that it may cause ovarian cancer.

Johnson & Johnson and Shower to Shower are the top manufacturers of talcum powder on the market today. Many consumers believe the product is designed to be used on the genital area, but the product contains no warning that it may come with some serious risks.

Studies show there are chemical similarities between talc powder and asbestos (a material believed to be linked to mesothelioma cancer), making the product especially dangerous when inhaled. Research shows it can take as long as eight years for a single talc particle to dissolve in the human lung.

With baby powder cancer studies on the rise, one report concludes that women using talcum powder on their genital area are at a higher risk for developing ovarian cancer because talc particles can travel from the vagina into the reproductive area. Researchers have found tiny talc particles, which may allow cancer cells to thrive, deep within the pelvis and ovaries of some women.

Ovarian Cancer

In 2014 alone, an estimated 14,000 women died of ovarian cancer in the United States. Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries and then spreads, usually going undetected until later stages.

According to the Mayo Clinic, early stages of ovarian cancer rarely cause any symptoms.

Symptoms of advanced-stage ovarian cancer include: 

• Abdominal bloating or swelling
• Quickly feeling full when eating
• Weight loss
• Discomfort in the pelvis area
• Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
• A frequent need to urinate

Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuits

The number of baby powder cancer lawsuits are growing. Plaintiffs allege baby powder manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson and Shower to Shower failed to warn about the possibility of developing ovarian cancer due to use of the product. Marketed as “clinically proven to be gentle and mild for your baby’s skin,” some consumers feel manufacturers placed profits above the obligation to warn users of the potential deadly risks involved with using baby powder.

If you have used Johnson’s Baby Powder or Shower to Shower body powder and later developed ovarian cancer you may be able to join a baby powder class action lawsuit.