General information about tampons and how to use them safely

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General information

Tampons are products used to absorb menstrual blood during your period and are inserted inside the vagina. Their absorbent material is cotton, viscose (rayon) or a blend of the two. Tampons are designed to be inserted either by using a plastic or cardboard applicator or without an applicator (by using only a finger). All tampons are provided with a string to ensure a safe removal. Some also have an additional outer cover layer to help with insertion and removal.

Every menstrual flow is different, changes from day to day throughout each period and can differ during your menstrual lifetime. Therefore, tampons are made in a range of absorbencies/sizes to help manage these different flows. Always choose the lowest absorbency to suit your menstrual flow needs.

Every pack of tampons has a chart describing the tampon absorbency in droplets and in grams and linking them to a recommended menstrual flow.

Safety advice and Toxic Shock Syndrom

You may have heard of Toxic Shock Syndrome or TSS. TSS is a very rare but serious illness that may be fatal. Therefore, it is important to know what the symptoms are, to recognise them quickly and to seek medical advice immediately.

The symptoms of TSS may not all occur at the same time. If you experience symptoms or are worried that you may have TSS, remove your tampon as a precaution, ask for immediate medical advice and inform the doctor that you’re having your period, have been using tampons and that you might have TSS.

The symptoms of TSS may include some or all of the following:

Sudden high fever over 39oC (102oF)
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Sunburn like rash
Sore throat
Dizziness or fainting

TSS can reoccur and for those who have had TSS it is not advisable to use tampons in the future. If you have had TSS, consult a doctor before future use of any type of tampon or internal vaginal device.

Recommandations for safe use of tampons

Attention: these are general recommendations valid for all kind of tampons. For specific instructions, including details on insertion and removal, how often to change and how long you should wear a tampon for, please refer to the packaging or product information of the tampon brand you are using.