Every Houston OBGYN has been asked about the safety of tampons a million times. Women find them incredibly convenient, but they hear about the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) and they get scared. This has led some women to believe that tampons are a lot scarier than they actually are.
The truth is, very few cases of TSS occur in the modern world and very few instances result in death. While there may be a tiny risk, that risk is typically done away with when tampons are used correctly. What does “correctly” mean? Here are some basic guidelines:
- Only use the absorbency that you need for the current phase of your period. This means not using a super absorbency for very light bleeding.
- Change your tampon every four hours even if it isn’t completely full. Never leave a single tampon in longer than six hours.
- Use pads or panty liners during phases of spotting or light bleeding.
- Try to use pads or liners at times so you aren’t using tampons nonstop the entire duration of your period.
If these guidelines are followed closely and tampons are not forgotten about and left in too long, then the risk of TSS is incredibly low. Most women have nothing to worry about in regards to this.
Houston OBGYN Dr. Lisa Otey is available for your personal consultation. Visit her website for more information and to book your appointment.
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