TSS, toxic shock syndrome. In 2013, it was reported that when a 14-year-old British girl first used tampon, her vagina was too dry due to its strong adsorption, resulting in mucosal rupture, infection with bacteria, and finally died of TSS. Is this feminine hygiene products really so terrible? How should we use it?

1.Is tampon really so terrible?

Tampon is very popular among European and American women because of its built-in use, which does not affect clothes and sports. In the late 1970s, P & G of the United States once introduced a kind of sanitary product made of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) - rely, which has strong water absorption. A cotton sliver can last a menstrual period. If you don't change it for a few days, coupled with the warm environment in the vagina, the cotton sliver has become a hotbed of bacteria; On the other hand, in addition to menstrual blood, the natural water in vaginal tissue is also absorbed by cotton strips, resulting in mucosal dryness, which brings convenience for Staphylococcus aureus to invade the blood. With the subsequent outbreak of TSS, rely was driven out of the market. After that, FDA requires all relevant enterprises to mark TSS warning signs on the packaging boxes. But it is not the only culprit of TSS. Skin infection, clinical production and surgery may be caused by its TSS. Research shows that the incidence rate of TSS caused by using it is only 3/100000 every year, and there is no absolute correlation between the two. Moreover, today's cotton sliver has long used safer materials, so there is no need to worry too much.

2.Replace frequently, and tampon can be used safely

In China, few people use tampon, and the use of such products at the age of 14 is even rare.

The most important thing to prevent Staphylococcus aureus infection is to maintain good hygiene habits. It is very safe to use supplies correctly. Be sure to replace it frequently. Wash your hands before use and wipe from front to back after defecation. Judging from the norms of its use all over the world, it is basically recommended to change it every 6-8 hours. Because of the long sleep time at night, try not to use cotton sliver and replace them with sanitary napkins. The safety factor of sanitary napkins is relatively high.

It is also important to choose the appropriate absorption amount. As the preface, cotton sticks with strong absorption will affect the internal environment of the vagina. Therefore, the greater the absorption, the better. What suits you is the best. If you need to replace it within 2 hours, you need to choose a cotton strip that increases the primary absorption. If you don't need to replace it for 4 hours, you need to choose one with less absorption.

It should be noted that if symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, pale complexion, skin erythema, persistent abdominal pain (non menstrual pain) occur during use, the possibility of TSS must be considered. At this time, you should take out the cotton sliver immediately, go to the hospital for treatment, and explain to the doctor that you are in the menstrual period and use cotton sliver.

In fact, as long as the two elements of "wound + bacteria" are met, it is likely to cause acute infection. If it can be correctly identified, it can be treated. Therefore, there is no need to talk about "tampon, TSS" color change. As long as this kind of feminine hygiene products is used correctly, this kind of thing will not happen.