Sanitary tampons and discharge in women

As you know, tampons are designed to protect women during menstruation. And despite the fact that this hygiene product has been in use for quite a long time, women often turn to gynecologists with certain problems caused by improper use of tampons. Sometimes serious complications occur: inflammation, allergies, toxic shock, etc. In some cases, even the development of infertility is possible. There are many myths about gynecological tampons, three of which we will debunk today.

Myth #1. A tampon that absorbs a lot of secretions can be worn longer

Many of the fair sex believe that a tampon designed for a large number of drops can be worn all day. However, it is necessary to change the tampon every two hours, and not walk with it one or even two days, as some do.

One of the common mistakes is to use large swabs (with the maximum number of drops) in cases where this is inappropriate. The last days of the menstrual cycle, when there is practically no discharge, women often use a tampon for four or five drops. However, if there is not so much discharge, such a tampon can absorb not only menstruation, but also those secretions of the mucous membrane that normally ennoble and protect the vagina. As a result, dryness in an intimate place, discomfort, swelling, inflammation, itching may appear.

If there is light spotting, it is better not to use tampons at all or use tampons with a minimum number of drops. In principle, it is better to have the entire line in case you need to use tampons. It is not worth saving on this, because when problems appear, the treatment is difficult and long.

It should also be remembered that the use of tampons can lead to microdamages (microtrauma) of the genital mucosa, where a viral infection can penetrate, including herpetic, papillomavirus, not to mention bacterial — streptococci, staphylococci, E. coli, etc.

Myth #2. The string may break when removing the tampon.

Most women, somewhere on a subconscious level, have a fear that the string with which the tampon is removed may come off and it will need to be removed surgically. However, studies have shown that even the most delicate (one or two drops) tampons can withstand quite a lot of resistance — a load of as much as five kilograms or more. Therefore, there is no need to worry about this.

Myth #3. Remove the tampon when urinating

Many women believe that going to the toilet will make the tampon dirty and should be removed and replaced with a new one. However, it is not necessary to do this at all. When urinating, it is best to just gently hold the string with your hand so that it does not soak with urine or sink into the toilet. If this happens, the tampon should be changed.

In addition, when using tampons during critical days, it is necessary to wash your hands not only after the toilet, especially public, but also before visiting it. After all, door handles, which are taken by many people, switches / switches contain a lot of germs. Contact of dirty hands with a tampon while going to the toilet can lead to further infection with human papillomavirus, E. coli, herpes and other infections.

Beware of infection!

Physicians often have to deal with patients who develop infectious complications after using tampons. Women with erosion or any inflammation in the vagina are not recommended to use tampons. In this case, the infection may become active.

By the way, some women use tampons even on ordinary days when there is no menstruation, referring to abundant discharge. However, abundant discharge outside of menstruation can be just due to the inflammatory process, infection. The use of tampons in the presence of an infection is fraught with the appearance of serious complications.

Toxic shock and other consequences

Usually those unpleasant situations that can occur when using tampons are written on the package. Therefore, be sure to read the instructions before using tampons. Otherwise, there is a possibility of complications, one of which is toxic shock. A similar unfortunate case involving the use of tampons occurred with American model Lauren Wasser.

It all started with the fact that the girl felt a slight malaise, which later developed into a terrible weakness, fever, chills, high (under forty degrees) temperature. After the patient was delivered to the hospital department, infectious disease doctors concluded that she had developed toxic shock due to the use of tampons. Unfortunately, everything ended with the amputation of the leg. A little later, a study was conducted, during which it was confirmed that the tampon was the root cause of all this misfortune.

Of course, it is possible to avoid the unpleasant consequences of such a condition as infectious-toxic shock (ITS), but only at the first stages. Meanwhile, on the packaging with tampons, such a reaction is also indicated as possible. Therefore, if during the critical days with the inserted tampon there is some deterioration in health: slight malaise, any pain, weakness, chills, fever, it is better to remove the tampon and consult a doctor. The doctor may order a blood test to make sure there is no infectious septic reaction. If necessary, appropriate treatment will be prescribed.

Tampons are created in order not to limit a woman during critical days or to reduce this restriction to a minimum. Doctors are not opposed to tampons, and there are no categorical prohibitions on the use of tampons. However, it is better to use this hygiene product at the right time and in the right place. It is important to read the instructions before using tampons and follow the rules for safe use.