Have you ever wondered how long is too long when it comes to wearing a tampon?
Let Dr. Amanda Von Hoene, OB-GYN at St. Elizabeth’s Cold Spring office, give you a clue: If you notice a strong odor, it’s too long.
Von Hoene has treated several patients who made appointments because they noticed a “horrible smell” and were afraid they had a vaginal infection.
The culprit in most cases was a forgotten tampon, left for up to a week (or, in one case, longer).
For the most part, Von Hoene said, the general rule of thumb is to remove a tampon after eight to 12 hours, so wearing one overnight is fine but any longer than that isn’t a good idea.
What about toxic shock syndrome?
If you’re concerned about toxic shock syndrome (TSS) – a rare, life-threatening complication of certain types of bacterial infections that’s been linked to the use of tampons – you probably shouldn’t be, Von Hoene said.
None of Von Hoene’s patients who have forgotten their tampons, not even the longer-than-a-week case, have developed TSS.
“Toxic shock syndrome is something that doesn’t happen a lot anymore,” she said. “We don’t have as high of a concern.”
Mayo Clinic reports that tampon manufacturers pulled certain types of tampons off the market, which is why the incidence of TSS in menstruating women has declined. In addition to menstruating women, TSS can affect men, children, and postmenopausal women. Risk factors include skin wounds and surgery.
According to Tampax, the risk of tampon-related TSS is associated with absorbency, which is why the manufacturer recommends that women always use the lowest-absorbency tampon possible.
What if I need help wearing a tampon?
If you’ve never used a tampon before and need help, make an appointment with your OB-GYN, Von Hoene said. If you’ve never used a tampon before and are having trouble, you also should make an appointment with your OB-GYN because there might be an anatomical problem.
“There shouldn’t be any pain if you’re using it correctly,” she said.
