Tampons have long been used around the world and are an essential component of many women’s periods. While their use can initially be confusing, it is important to follow instructions found on your package as well as consult a healthcare provider for specific advice.
Tampons are cylindrical menstrual products designed to absorb blood. These products feature an outer barrel with an applicator grip at one end and an attached string on the other for use during periods.
Absorbency
Tampons are small cylindrical pieces of absorbent material designed to collect menstrual blood in the vagina. Available in various sizes and absorbencies, tampons can be found wherever sanitary protection products are sold; their absorbency depends on factors like vaginal opening size.
Selecting the correct tampon size for your flow can be challenging, yet essential. Lower absorbency levels than necessary may result in dryness while higher levels can increase risk for TSS. Furthermore, experts advise changing it every 4-6 hours in order to prevent leakage and reduce infection risk.
Some tampons come packaged with plastic or cardboard eco-friendly applicators; packaging should be easily identifiable and contain clear instructions, while also encouraging all people who menstruate to use it. Furthermore, gender neutral designs should encourage everyone who menstruates to use it; additionally it’s important to consider accessibility challenges for disabled menstruators including those with impaired vision and hearing.
Disposability
Disposability is a huge contributor to global waste. From plastic bags and electronics to clothing, our daily lives contain items intended to be thrown away when their use has ended – all contributing to global pollution by being considered disposable products.
Disposability not only has environmental implications; it can also have health impacts. Tampon use can contribute to toxic shock syndrome (TSS), an extremely rare but serious condition which may result in organ damage, shock and even death.
To reduce the risk of TSS, it is vital that women switch tampons every 4-6 hours and wash their hands prior to inserting and removing it from the body. Furthermore, proper disposal is key; never flush down toilets because this could lead to plumbing issues as well as environmental concerns; rather wrap and dispose of in a trash bin instead.
Safety
Tampons have long been used safely, and many women still find them an ideal option. Tampons are easy to insert, don’t show under clothing and can even be worn when swimming – all great features for any woman’s use of tampons! However, it is essential to follow some basic safety rules when using them; specifically it is advised that one be changed every 4-8 hours with lower absorbency tampons to avoid toxic shock syndrome (TSS), an incurable yet rare illness which occurs from leaving one in too long can result in toxic shock syndrome (TSS).
Shearston’s research, published in Environment International, examined levels of 16 metals present in 30 tampons from 14 brands. These concentrations varied depending on factors like where these tampons were purchased; whether organic or store brand; as well as name versus generic brands.
Shearston advises not to “panic” over her findings and notes it is too soon to know whether metals seeped out from tampons can enter our bodies through absorption. Furthermore, the FDA requires manufacturers to perform premarket reviews of their products prior to market release and historical biocompatibility testing provides additional assurance in their safety.
Cost
Recently, the price of tampons has skyrocketed, prompting an unprecedented national discussion regarding menstrual product affordability. Some people find tampons unaffordable due to high costs and period poverty is often the result. A tax on tampons also contributes to rising prices.
Tampons are cylindrical cotton blend products designed to absorb menstrual blood. Available in various sizes and absorption capacities, you can select the one most suited to your menstrual flow and preferred applicators.
Early 20th-century tampons typically contained capsules filled with antiseptic wool that medical professionals would break open to spread throughout the plug before inserting it. Sometimes these included strings to assist with removal. Over time however, new designs were developed that avoided touching hymen, considered sacred in some cultures and kept women morally pure.
