These days, more and more women are preferring tampons to pads since they’re less visible underneath their clothing, but the drawback is that you must be twice as careful while wearing them. "Along with the convenience comes additional responsibilities," says Dr. Melinda Miller-Thrasher of Innovative Women's Healthcare Solutions in Atlanta. She cautions, "Don't become complacent when it comes to your tampon use."
Not taking the proper precautions can lead to serious health problems, including a urinary tract infection (UTI) and toxic shock syndrome (TSS). As a practicing gynecologist for over two decades, Dr. Miller-Thrasher shares she has never seen a case of TSS - a rare, but potentially fatal condition which can be caused by prolonged use of superabsorbent tampons becoming infected with Staph or Strep bacteria. "The decrease in incidence" she says "is due to public awareness, with resultant early detection, removal of super absorbant tampons from the market and antibiotic use."
However, what Dr. Miller-Thrasher does see a great deal of is unhealthy habits that act as precursors to TSS. Whether you’re a newbie to tampons or you’ve been wearing them your whole life, here are five big no-no’s:
1. Not changing your tampon after you urinate or have a bowel movement. Here’s the deal: If the string picks up any bacteria, it could enter the urethra, which can lead to infection. You can always hold the string while using the restroom so that it doesn’t become soiled.
2. Not washing your hands before inserting your tampon. You wouldn’t not clean your hands before preparing dinner or eating lunch or touching your eyes, right? Well, the same goes for down there.
3. Not changing your tampon throughout the day. Even if you have a light flow, your tampon should still be changed every couple hours to prevent bacteria from breeding.
4. Forgetting to take it out. We've all heard those stories where a woman totally forgets she's wearing a tampon and Dr. Miller-Thriller shares this example: "A young woman presents with complaints of a vaginal discharge with odor, described as 'the worst smell she has ever had.' Upon examination, a tampon is found in the vagina, removed and quickly placed in a plastic bag to contain the smell. She is cautioned regarding tampon use and leaves relieved, but embarrassed when faced with the realization that she could forget to remove her tampon." The moral of the story is to take out your tampon even if you have to set a reminder using your phone.
5. Using scented tampons. I get it: You want to smell fresh down there, but for some women, scented tampons can cause irritation and lead to other problems. Instead, change your tampon often, wash the area using gentle soap and water, and wear loose-fitting, cotton underwear.
We are all very busy, but as Dr. Miller-Thrasher explains, "taking the five measures above can minimize your risk. Ignore them and what is now a rare condition could again take center stage."
