Lipman says that some estimates show that one in five women uses talcum powder on her genitals on a regular basis. And most concerningly, some may not know it. 

That’s because tampons and maxi pads can be covered in talc. 

The issues associated with talcum powder resulted in a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson in recent years. According to CNN, “Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay a $72 million settlement to the family of a woman who died of ovarian cancer after using the company's talcum body powder for nearly 50 years.”

The company still disputes these claims. "The recent U.S. verdict goes against decades of sound science proving the safety of talc as a cosmetic ingredient in multiple products, and while we sympathize with the family of the plaintiff, we strongly disagree with the outcome," Carol Goodrich, a Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman, said in a statement sent to CNN. 

So what does the American Cancer Society have to say about the concerns about talc and cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, one of the first things to know about talcum powder and cancer is that there can be two types of talc -- talc that has asbestos, and talc that doesn’t. The first type of talc is said to cause cancer if inhaled, and it hasn’t been used in products for quite some time. But the second type of talc may or may not cause cancer. 

Lab studies regarding animals and talc that does not contain asbestos have cited mixed conclusions. Some studies have shown that talc can cause tumors. But other studies have had the opposite result.

Studies on humans have also yielded mixed results. The American Cancer Society says that some experts feel that talcum powder could contribute to the development of ovarian cancer when the particles of the powder travel through the body by way of genital exposure. Some of these studies show an elevated risk, but others don’t. Researchers are still investigating the matter.