NYC women search for o.b. tampons

NEW YORK, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- New York women said the "temporary supply interruption" of o.b. non-applicator tampons has left them struggling to track down the product.

The tampons, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, have been rare on New York shelves since late fall due to what the company called a "temporary supply interruption," leading prices for the products on eBay to reach $25 per $8.79 pack, the New York Daily News reported Wednesday.

"I searched everywhere I could, maybe a dozen drugstores, but I couldn't find any," said Janessa Wilson, 40, a Brooklyn resident and longtime o.b. tampon user.

J&J spokeswoman Yukela Williams said the products are expected to return to shelves soon.

Debbie Stoller, editor in chief of the popular feminist magazine BUST, said the tampons are in high demand because they are one of the only brands of environmentally friendly non-applicator tampons.

"It has been a big deal because it's one of the only non-applicator tampons you can buy," she said. "People who choose to use this are a little bit politicized around it. They feel very strongly about these tampons."