Tampons are pocket-sized absorbent products designed to manage menstrual flow. For optimal use, it should be changed every four to six hours in order to avoid leakage and Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), an often deadly condition.
Women should use the smallest possible size tampon and wash their hands prior to and after using a tampon, following all labeled instructions and following label instructions for optimal use.
Absorbency
Tampons are designed to absorb menstrual blood and vaginal secretions by inserting them into the vagina during periods, typically made of cotton-rayon blend that soaks up menstrual blood as well as other elements from vaginal discharge.
Tampons can be easily applied using either a plastic or cardboard applicator that guides it into position within the vagina, with some models featuring an attached string for easier removal.
Historically, some groups disapproved of tampon use because they could breach a woman’s hymen, considered by some to be a mark of virginity. Luckily, in the 1930s Sara Lee Haas designed an innovative device which allowed women to insert tampons without touching her sex organs or breaking her hymen; his design mimicked telescope tubes by consisting of one smaller tube inside of another larger one for easy insertion of tampons.
Since then, the number and variety of tampon brands and sizes has steadily grown. Since 2011, several companies have introduced biodegradable tampons that are tested to ensure they break down in an eco-friendly way without entering waterways; other firms market products which claim to promote healthy bacteria growth in vaginaries to combat BV (Bacterial Vaginosis).
Leakage
Overusing your tampon may result in leakage and cause staining on underwear, so to prevent leakage it’s essential that it be changed every four to six hours and that the appropriate size tampon be chosen.
Tampons may leak when not installed high enough or are angled incorrectly. A German gynecologist invented an innovative digital tampon design in 1945 called onhe binde, or digital tampon; this version has reduced leakage but may not absorb as well as regular tampons.
Women suffering from prolapse, in which their urethra becomes compromised due to weak pelvic muscles or misalignment between bladder and uterus, may use tampons as support for their urethra in order to “unmask” urinary incontinence and stop leakage. Unfortunately, studies have revealed that metals like arsenic and lead found in some tampons used as well as chemicals used for manufacturing can seep into vaginal tissue through this pathway; alarming given this area’s greater permeable nature compared with other parts of body.
Discreetness
Before the invention of commercial tampons, women on their period relied on menstrual pads which limited their physical activities. But after becoming more widespread during World War II, tampons allowed for women to engage in physically strenuous labor and provided more discreet ways of managing menstrual flow than using sanitary napkins did.
Tampon manufacturers have gradually made the product smaller and more compact since its debut. Some companies have even begun advertising tampons with gender neutral language and packaging in an effort to reduce alienation for trans and nonbinary individuals using them.
Some tampons come equipped with plastic or cardboard applicators that make insertion easier, as do tampons containing this feature. Before inserting, however, it is vitally important that you wash your hands to reduce bacteria spread; additionally, changing tampons every four to eight hours is strongly advised; failing to follow this advice increases your risk of TSS.
Safety
Tampons provide a safe way for menstruators to absorb menstrual flow. Individuals can select different kinds of tampons depending on the level of flow they experience and should insert it carefully to avoid irritation or abrasion. Tampons should be changed out every four to eight hours in order to avoid toxic shock syndrome resulting from leaving one in longer than that.
TSS symptoms such as fever, rashes and fatigue can be life-threatening if left untreated immediately. Once linked with high-absorbency tampons, toxic shock syndrome has since been reduced thanks to switching brands offering less absorbency.
Chemicals can enter tampons via three methods: cotton raw materials being polluted from pollution in soil and water, manufacturing contamination during manufacturing or manufacturers adding chemicals for purposes such as odor control or antimicrobial agents. A study published by UC Berkeley’s Environment International magazine revealed measurable concentrations of 16 metals including arsenic and lead in several popular brands of tampons.
