Written By Kate Nguy

Episode 127: What's Actually In Your Tampon with Cherie Hoeger

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We don't think twice about the products we put in our bodies every single month for decades, but conventional pads and tampons can carry endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and the FDA doesn't even require companies to list what's in them. In this episode, Cherie Hoeger, Co-founder and CEO of Saalt, joins me to talk about what's actually in the period products most of us grew up using, why that matters for hormone health, and how reusable alternatives can support your body from your first period all the way through perimenopause.

Cherie also shares the deeply personal story behind Saalt, why she believes period care hasn't evolved enough since the 1800s, and the surprising research her team just published on how switching products can change your symptoms.

In this episode we explore:

  • Why conventional tampons and pads may carry endocrine disruptors, and what that means for cramping, PMS, and hormone health over time

  • Saalt's new study: 8 out of 10 women had reduced PMS symptoms after switching from tampons to cups or discs, with a 6x greater chance of zero cramping

  • The story behind Saalt, born from Cherie's family in Venezuela losing access to period products

  • Why period underwear belongs in every phase of a woman's reproductive life, from the first signs of puberty through postpartum, bladder leaks, and perimenopause

  • The real cost of period poverty, both globally and at home, and why reusable products (not disposable donations) are the sustainable fix

Cherie Hoeger is the Co-founder & CEO of Saalt, a women-owned B Corp that creates reusable and sustainable period care products that replace disposable pads and tampons. An entrepreneur and philanthropist, Cherie champions the intersection of for-profit and nonprofit models through social enterprise and leads Saalt's social impact mission to end period poverty. Since their launch in 2018, Saalt has donated over 160,000 period cups and underwear to underprivileged women and girls in 56 countries as part of their social give-back program. Before starting Saalt, Cherie had been an entrepreneur in multiple ecommerce ventures and worked as a technical writer with fifteen years of publication experience, co-authoring nine editions of collegiate textbooks in the field of fitness and wellness. Cherie is also the mother of five daughters and one son, and considers them her greatest success.

Resources:

About Kate

Kate Nguy is the founder of Shee Revival and a Certified Hormone Health Practitioner and Cycle-Syncing Strategist who helps busy women in their 30s and 40s balance their hormones and reclaim their energy. Specializing in the hormonal ups and downs of midlife—from PMS and perimenopause to burnout and cortisol overload—Kate guides women to feel at home in their bodies and live in sync with their natural cycles. Through cycle syncing, hormone hacks, and nervous system regulation, Kate empowers women to rebalance their hormones, reconnect to their bodies, and revive the vibrant, grounded version of themselves underneath the overwhelm.

Tune in now and join the movement toward better hormone health!

Follow me @hormoneswithkate on Instagram

for more insights, tips, and support!

Kate Nguy

Kate Nguy is a Certified Hormone Health Practitioner and Cycle-Syncing Strategist who helps women in their 30s and 40s struggling with PMS, perimenopause, and burnout balance their hormones and reclaim their energy. As the creator of the Hormone R.E.S.T. Method, she guides busy women to understand why they feel the way they do—especially in the second half of their cycle—and gives them practical tools to live in sync with their natural rhythms.

Kate is the host of the Aligned Womb, Aligned You podcast and serves as Executive Director of The Menopause Mission. Her mission is simple: to help women stop white-knuckling through their cycles and start working with their hormones instead of against them.

https://sheerevival.com
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