Menstruation is a constant companion in a woman's life.
But did you know that period products can also be harmful to your health and even lead to death? The most dangerous are tampons and menstrual cups.
In most cases, side effects occur when used incorrectly. Here is what you should know.
Tampons
If you leave soaked tampons in your body for too long, what is known as “toxic shock syndrome” can occur. There is an environment in the vagina that offers the perfect environment for bacteria and fungi. These are completely normal and usually do not cause any symptoms. However, if there is a damp, soaked tampon there, it provides the perfect surface for pathogens to multiply. These bacteria produce a toxin that can enter the bloodstream. In the worst case, this can lead to fatal organ failure. Fortunately, this happens very rarely. But in 92% of the cases of patients with toxic shock syndrome to date, they were menstruating women with an average age of 23 who used tampons. There was also a sharp increase in cases of toxic shock syndrome in the United States in the 1980s because particularly absorbent tampons came onto the market at that time and women left them in their bodies for too long. If you want to continue using tampons, you should make sure to change them at least every 4 hours so that the bacteria cannot colonize.
Menstrual cups
Toxic shock syndrome can also occur with menstrual cups because they are also located inside the vagina. You should make sure not only to rinse the menstrual cup, but also to boil it properly to disinfect it. Otherwise, dangerous bacteria can settle here too.
Another danger of menstrual cups is what is known as pelvic organ prolapse. This is a disease in which organs (bladder, urethra, small intestine, uterus, etc.) sink and bulge into the vagina as a result of weakness or injury to the pelvic cavity. In severe cases, these also protrude beyond the vaginal opening. This not only sounds traumatic, but is also uncomfortable and even painful. In recent years, menstrual cups have become increasingly popular, but there are no safety tests or industry standards. Most manufacturers do not provide adequate safety warnings and instructions on how to correctly insert and remove the cup. If you use the pelvic floor to push down and position the cup, damage can occur. Menstrual cup manufacturers trivialize the dangers of their products. But physiotherapists and gynecologists are of the opinion that care must be taken to use them correctly and that menstrual cups are not suitable for every woman. For example, the risk is greater for women who have already given birth to a child, as their pelvic floor is often already weakened by pregnancy and childbirth.
The safe alternative
Women who cannot change their period products as often or are not confident in using them correctly should choose products that are not inserted into the vagina. The most sustainable option is reusable menstrual pads, such as “the forever pad” from WALKYRA. Not as much waste is produced as disposable pads and the material is designed to be naturally antibacterial. The blood can drain away and bacteria cannot get inside the vagina. This means you can wear the pad until it is soaked, which can take up to 12 hours, without having to worry about your health. By washing in the washing machine at 60 or more degrees Celsius, all bacteria are killed and the pad is like new and ready for use. Anyone looking for a sustainable period product that is easy and worry-free to use will definitely be satisfied with reusable pads.
Sources:
https://www.mdr.de/wissen/toxices-schocksyndrom-tampon-100~amp.html
