ELLEN AB PROBIOTICS PRODUCTS PROBIOTIC TAMPON PROBIOTIC INTIMATE CRÈME INTIMATE CLEANSING FOAM INTIMATE DEO FAQ FAQ What is probiotic? Pro means for and bio means life. Probiotic means in favour of life. Lactic acid bacteria grow on their own in the right milieu, the vagina in this case and are self regulating which means there is no risk of an overdose. When the vaginal bacteria flora has the right pH value and right composition of bacteria, the supply and production of lactic acid ceases. Lactic acid bacteria produce lactic acid in the vagina that keeps the milieu acidic at pH values between 3.8 and 4.2. This acidic environment prevents pathogens (bacteria that cause disease) from growing. What is lactic acid bacteria? Lactic acid bacteria is the collective name for bacteria that produce lactic acid. People have used lactic acid bacteria in the food industry for a long time to ensure better hygiene and preservation as well as to add taste and consistency to certain foods. Some types of lactic acid bacteria are part of human beings’ normal bacteria flora. Lactic acid bacteria are nourished through yeast processes. They live in highly nutritious environments, such as the digestive system of human beings, warm-blooded animals, plants and many food stuffs. Is it dangerous to introduce bacteria into the body? Bacteria are a normal part of the body’s microbiological flora. We would not survive without their protection. Part of our everyday lives, they are found in food, on plants, in our surroundings and our bodies as part of our natural defence against infections. The bacteria introduced via the ellen® tampon is called Lacto Naturel (LN) and are human (innate to the human body) bacteria. They are a natural part of a healthy vaginal flora. What is bacterial antagonism? This is the principle Ellen uses to maintain the natural vaginal bacterial balance. Benevolent bacteria multiply as long as the right conditions exist, which stabilizes the bacterial flora. Why have you changed the packaging for ellen in Sweden and Norway? The cartons previously sold in Sweden could only guarantee a shelf life of 12 months at most. Our new packaging solution guarantees a shelf life of 18 months, a requirement from all retailers. Because ellen contains probiotics, it is important to use a packaging solution that will sustain the benevolent lactic acid bacteria. With our new metal canister we can guarantee product quality and shelf life. But is metal packaging an eco-friendly alternative? When it comes to being environmentally friendly, it is a myth that metal is not good for the environment. Metal packaging can be sorted as metal waste and can be recycled indefinitely, while paper can only be recycled about 5-7 times. This means that if you sort your waste, metal packaging is actually more environmentally friendly than paper and does not have as great an impact on our natural resources. When it comes to the actual production process, metal packaging manufacturers use much more eco-friendly processes than before which eliminates the problem. Can I use ellen in combination with other sanitary hygiene products? Yes, you can use at least three ellen tampons a day for three days during your menstruation (the three days when your menstruation is heaviest). You can use any brand of tampon or sanitary napkin you like for the other days. Should I use ellen® only during menstruation? Yes, the ellen® tampon should be used the same way you would use a regular tampon, which is only during menstruation. Your mucous membranes are drier when you are not menstruating. You can damage the mucous membranes and irritate the vagina if you insert and then remove a dry tampon. How do I calculate my menstruation cycle? Count from the first day of your last period to the first day of your next period. Menstruation normally begins some time between day 20 and day 30, although both shorter and longer menstruation cycles are not uncommon. Can I use tampons during my entire period? Tampons can be used throughout your entire period but the bleeding usually becomes lighter toward the end. You can irritate the mucous membranes if the tampon is still dry when you remove it, which may cause irritation and pain. This is why it is very important to use a tampon size that corresponds to how much you bleed. Use a larger size in the beginning and a smaller toward the end. How often should I change tampons? I find it hard to know when it is fully saturated. The tampon should be removed when it is saturated, which means that it is full of fluid. Removing a dry tampon can irritate vaginal mucous membranes. We recommend you leave the tampon in place for between four and eight hours. It is hard to be more precise since how much you bleed is unique and women normally bleed more at the beginning of their periods. The best solution is to test different alternatives. Be careful to use tampons with the right absorbency. You can probably try a smaller size if you notice that the tampon feels dry after wearing it at least four hours. Young girls seldom have regular periods in the beginning and everything from a few days of light bleeding to over a week of heavy bleeding is normal. The amount of menstrual fluid varies and is extremely individual. Most women average between 25 and 40 ml menstrual fluid every month. What is Premenstrual Syndrome – PMS? These are signs of normal hormonal changes in the body. Everyone experiences these changes differently. For some women, these changes are very positive; they feel energetic and have an increased sex drive before menstruation. Other women feel low, irritable or anxious. Many feel that their clothes are too tight and their shoes are too small about one week before menstruation. Headaches and food cravings are also common PMS-related symptoms. There are many effective treatments for PMS nowadays. Talk with your physician if you have discomfort. Why do I have menstrual pain? For some women, menstruation is just a minor hassle a few days a month. For others, it entails severe pain and suffering. Menstrual pain is common and completely normal, but there are ways to relieve the pain. Light exercise or a walk at a relaxed pace can help ease the pain. Another alternative is to lie on your back with your legs drawn up towards your chest. Place something warm on your abdomen or massage your lower back. Several over-the-counter painkillers are also effective in relieving menstrual pain. If you are concerned, talk with your physician. Is it normal to bleed between periods? You can occasionally experience bleeding before it is time to menstruate. This bleeding is usually due to a temporary dip in hormone levels, causing a small amount of bleeding from the uterus. Talk to your physician if you are concerned. Home Contact Sitemap About Ellen AB Probiotics Products Share info Distributors login Ellen AB is certificated with ISO 13485:2003