John Hopton for redOrbit.com – @Johnfinitum
Women everywhere are concerned: A recent Vice article revealed that a young women lost a leg as a result of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) caused by tampon use .
In 2012, Lauren Wasser, a then 24-year-old Los Angeles based model, almost lost her life because of the condition, and she did lose her leg. She has since taken legal action against Kotex, the brand of tampon she was using at the time.
But what is the likelihood of somebody suffering a similar problem?
First, it is important to note that this is not a new phenomenon and not related to a fault with any one brand of tampon. The risk of this happening is also very small, so there’s no reason to worry.
The link between tampons and TSS
The UK’s public health service, the NHS, explains that: “Toxic shock syndrome is a rare but life-threatening bacterial infection caused by the Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. These bacteria normally live harmlessly on the skin, nose, or mouth but they can invade the body’s bloodstream and release poisonous toxins.”
It isn’t entirely clear how tampons allow these bacteria to enter the bloodstream. However, WebMD suggests that: “A tampon saturated with blood is a supportive place for rapid growth of bacteria. It also seems to matter what the tampon is made of. Polyester foam provides a better environment for the growth of bacteria than either cotton or rayon fibers.”
WebMD also points out that where feminine health products are the cause, the device has usually been left inside the vagina for more than 30 hours. It is also possible that small pieces of sponge remain inside after use. Tearing in the walls of the vagina is another culprit, and this is made more probable if the vagina is dried out after extended tampon usage.
No need to avoid tampons
Around 20 percent of people have staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria living harmlessly on their body, and there is no need to be tested for it, writes New York Magazine. In 2014, there were only 59 staph-related TSS cases reported in the United States, around half of which were thought to be related to menstruation.
Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the Yale School of Medicine, told the magazine that: “For people to say, ‘Never again!’ Well, ‘Okay, don’t drive your car because you might get killed. Or don’t fly on an airplane because you might get killed.’ As long as you change your tampon regularly, it shouldn’t be much of an issue.” She advises using a low absorbency tampon.
Finally, to clarify, Vice states that: “It’s transparency, not necessarily zero-tampon-usage, that Lauren and her lawyers (are seeking). Tampons are convenient, and when it comes to stopping up menstrual flow, they make sense.”
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