Following two serious cases of toxic shock associated with the use of tampons and menstrual cups that appeared these days in various media and widely disseminated on social networks, we wanted to know if these are isolated episodes or if the users of these products of intimate hygiene should be put aside. We have asked Dr. Africa Rebollo Cuadro, a specialist in Gynecology and Obstetrics, with a career of 40 years and a member of Top Doctos. This is what he has told us.
“I honestly don’t think you have to worry about using these feminine hygiene products . The tampon is something that we have been using for many years and I, who have a long professional career, have never encountered a case of toxic shock due to the use of the tampon ”.
What the gynecologist has found are cases of women with a “forgotten” tampon inside the vagina, either because they believed they had removed it or because the thread had remained inside and they could not remove it. This, beyond discomfort, irritation and quite a bad smell, has not reached major.
And what exactly is toxic shock? Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a very rare disease (there are between 1 and 5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) that is caused by infection with the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus . Although its incidence is very low, its consequences can be very serious. In fact, one of the cases that have recently come to light is that of the French Sandrine Graneau, 36, who had to amputate her feet and almost all the phalanges of her fingers. She used tampons for her period. Also the case of another girl, who has died of toxic shock and used a menstrual cup. These sad incidents have been due to an abusive use of both products.
This automatically leads us to think that tampons and the menstrual cup are responsible for toxic shock. Well, this is what the gynecologist tells us: “ Both the use of tampons and the use of a menstrual cup do not produce a toxic shock by themselves. It could be that when inserting the menstrual cup, despite being made of silicone, abrasions of the vaginal mucosa are produced and, if there is a bacterium in situ or the menstrual cup or tampon is contaminated, it could contribute to the occurrence of a toxic shock. Toxic shock is a very rare pathology, although it seems that half of those that occur are related to the use of tampons or menstrual cups. Although surgical interventions can lead to produce this picture, among other causes. In my 40 years of profession as a specialist in Gynecology, I have never encountered a case of this type in consultation ”.
Symptoms that toxic shock can produce include fever, low blood pressure, flushing, oliguria (decreased urine output), headache, dizziness, and vomiting. Diagnosing toxic shock can be tricky as it can be confused with other types of shocks. The medical history and blood culture can be used to make the diagnosis. Regarding its treatment, the gynecologist tells us that when toxic shock is detected, it is treated with antibiotics and that the case of amputation is really extreme “but there is a lack of clinical data to form an opinion.”
So how can women who use menstrual cups or tampons prevent toxic shock? “Some recommendations that can be taken into account are not to have a tampon in place for a long time , when storing tampons it is better to avoid wet places or those that have the possibility of infection , that when menstrual flow is not especially important they are better used pads or panty liners and wash your hands before putting on a tampon or menstrual cup ”.
Do not panic.
