Why the change interval matters
Pads, cloth, tampons, cups — the choice is yours, and it depends on your own situation and means. But if you use something that stays inside your body, there's a safety point that gets made too rarely: a rare but serious condition called toxic shock syndrome.
A few simple rules, if you use tampons or a cup
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1
Change it every 4 to 8 hours. The US Food and Drug Administration says no tampon should stay in for more than 8 hours, even if you're bleeding lightly. That includes overnight.
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2
The lowest absorbency you need. If a tampon is still barely used when you change it, its absorbency is too high for you.
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3
If you can't remember taking one out. Don't go looking for it yourself and don't wait — see a doctor the same day. There's no shame in it either; it's more common than you think.
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4
Hands. Wash your hands before and after, and for a cup follow its own instructions.
Signs to take seriously the moment you see them
If you notice these while using a tampon or a cup, take it out then and there and get emergency medical help:
- a high temperature, or feeling hot, cold or shivery
- muscle aches
- a raised skin rash that feels like sandpaper
- flu-like symptoms, vomiting or diarrhoea
- difficulty breathing
- swollen or peeling skin
- confusion, dizziness or fainting
Toxic shock syndrome is rare, but it moves fast. Don't wait it out.
Sources
Health information, not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. For your own symptoms, talk to a doctor.
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