Class action product liability lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson were filed in 2014 alleging the company failed to warn of the risk of ovarian cancer associated with certain uses of talcum powder. Although the link has not been unquestionably proven, there have been a number of studies and a body of research indicating an increased risk of ovarian cancer with prolonged use of talcum powder on the genitals.

For years, talc-based powders have been marketed as safe, innocuous products for babies and adults alike. An easy, safe way to freshen up. Some women have been dusting their genitals with these powders or sprinkling them in their undergarments for decades as a way to keep the area comfortable and dry. Talcum powders also came into contact with some women’s genitals because of the coating on certain diaphragms and condoms. In the past, many products made with talc contained asbestos, a known carcinogen; however, since the 1970s, consumer products containing talcum in the US cannot contain asbestos. Regardless, some researchers and medical experts have said the talcum powder particles themselves may cause cancer when they travel through the fallopian tubes to the ovaries.