When I was in college, I had a terrifying experience that led me to question my own health. One evening, I became so ill that I could hardly crawl to the bathroom, overwhelmed by persistent vomiting. After a few hours of suffering, I ended up in the emergency room, where the medical team quickly assessed my condition and prepared me for treatment.
In my state of distress, when they suggested a spinal tap to rule out meningitis, I didn’t hesitate. The discomfort of that needle in my back paled in comparison to the other pain I was experiencing.
As the doctors worked on triaging my symptoms, I hesitantly confessed, “I had a tampon in for an extended period. I removed it before coming here, but could it be toxic shock syndrome?” Thankfully, with IV fluids and medication, I recovered after a few days in the hospital. While I never received a formal diagnosis, I walked away with a cautionary tale.
Leaving a tampon in for too long is no trivial matter. While toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is rare, it can lead to severe health issues. According to the Mayo Clinic, TSS is often caused by toxins from staph bacteria and can occur after leaving a tampon in longer than the recommended 4 to 8 hours. Regardless of how busy life gets, it’s crucial to remember this simple guideline.
After certain high-absorbency tampons were removed from the market, the cases of TSS among menstruating women have significantly decreased, now affecting about 1 in 100,000 individuals annually. Symptoms of TSS can include sudden high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, a sunburn-like rash on the hands and feet, confusion, and muscle aches.
Although tampon packaging typically emphasizes the need for regular changes, some individuals don’t take this warning seriously. I wish I could say I learned my lesson, but the truth is, I occasionally forget to change my tampon on time. I know two women who left tampons in place for weeks — yes, weeks.
Zoe Rodriguez, an assistant professor in obstetrics and gynecology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, states, “The most common consequence of leaving a tampon in too long is a foul-smelling discharge and irregular spotting.” And let me tell you, “foul-smelling” doesn’t quite capture it.
One friend shared her experience, saying, “I could smell myself while working out.” After some internet searching, she stumbled across horror stories about infections and realized she needed to check for a lost tampon. After some gymnastics in the bathroom, she unearthed a long-forgotten, pungent tampon. “I’m not flexible,” she admitted, “but I was determined to retrieve it.” Once it was out, she called her doctor, who replied, “Glad you got it out. We see that more often than you’d think.”
Another friend recounted how she felt “rather ripe” for days, unable to identify the source of her odor. She dismissed the symptoms as a result of too much wine or a potential yeast infection. However, when her husband noted the smell, she knew it was time to investigate. After retrieving her hidden tampon, the unpleasant odor and her other symptoms vanished — a relief for both her and her husband!
While these extreme cases involve tampons being left in for days or even weeks, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. So, the bottom line is clear: Change your tampons regularly. Seriously. Toxic shock syndrome is real, and nobody wants to smell like an overripe fish sandwich.
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Summary:
This article serves as a cautionary reminder about the importance of regularly changing tampons to prevent health complications such as toxic shock syndrome (TSS) and unpleasant odors. Sharing personal stories and expert opinions, it underscores the need for awareness about menstrual hygiene.