Tampons and TSS

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2007
Tampons and TSS
3
Wed, 05-09-2007 - 5:38pm
I'm a 23 year old healthy female who is getting sick of irritation and leaks with pads during my monthly. I understand that tampons can be much better for controlling these factors and far more convenient. I also know that TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) is a very real condition and can be very harmful if it happens.
My question is this: if I sleep a normal night (roughly 10:30pm to 8am) with a tampon in, will I risk having TSS? The boxes I've seen suggest changing about every three to four hours, more if necessary. Going eight hours overnight with one in will not harm my body at all, will it?
I also have the issue of removal of the tampon being very painful if it is not full when I change it. This happened many years ago and is the primary reason I have not used them since, even though I don't like pads much. I'm guessing this was just due to there not being enough of natural lubricants on the tampon for its removal. I'm not sure, though, so any advice there would be helpful as well.
Thanks in advance!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Wed, 05-09-2007 - 6:34pm

Hi lwalbridge, welcome!


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2007
Tue, 09-04-2007 - 11:30am
Thanks for all the advice! I ended up going with the tampons again, after talking with my mom. Apparently, TSS isn't as much of a risk as the box makes it out to be (this really shouldn't surprise me). It's only really a problem if the tampon is left in for far longer than most will stay in if you're using it properly.
Thank you for the help, though! I'm saving your post for future reference.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2007
Tue, 09-25-2007 - 2:52pm
Have you tried Instead Softcups?? There have been no reported cases of TSS in the 10+ years that this product has been on the market. It is approved for wear up to 12 hours, and you can have clean sex on your period! You may never go back to tampons; I didn't!