Toxic shock syndrome

From puberty to the menopause, a woman has her period for approximately 2,250 days. Added together, that amounts to more than 6 years! It is estimated that over a lifetime, a woman may use more than 10,000 sanitary products. These products represent a considerable cost, and have a very harmful environmental impact. Furthermore, they are increasingly criticised for their composition. This is fairly opaque, as manufacturers are not required to disclose it. Researchers have therefore investigated the matter and carried out analyses. Most products were found to contain traces of harmful residues such as hydrocarbons, pesticides, dioxins, glyphosates... These results should nonetheless be put into perspective: the quantities found are small, and are well below what we ingest through food, for example.

On the other hand, a proven risk associated with the use of internal intimate protection is toxic shock syndrome. Toxic shock syndrome is an extremely rare condition — it affects around a hundred women in France each year — but it is nonetheless serious. In the most severe cases, it can even lead to amputation or death.

What is toxic shock syndrome?

It is an infectious disease caused by the entry of Staphylococcus aureus toxins into the bloodstream. When using a tampon, a menstrual cup or a menstrual sponge, blood stagnates in the vagina. This warm, moist environment is conducive to the multiplication of the bacterium S. aureus, a strain of golden staph that lives in the vagina of some women. When these bacteria reach a high concentration, they begin to produce TSST-1 toxins. Once in the body, these toxins can potentially cause toxic shock and attack various organs such as the liver, kidneys or lungs, plunging the patient into a state of extreme weakness.

What are the symptoms of toxic shock syndrome?

This condition is fairly difficult to diagnose as it is still relatively unknown and, crucially, presents no gynaecological symptoms. The symptoms of toxic shock syndrome are quite similar to those of flu: high fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, sore throat, loss of consciousness. If you experience these symptoms and are wearing an intravaginal form of protection, remove it immediately as a precaution before going to A&E.

What precautions can you take to avoid toxic shock syndrome?

To avoid any risk, it is recommended to change your tampon, empty your cup, or wash your menstrual sponge every 4 to 6 hours. Neither of these types of protection should therefore be used overnight. It is also very important to wash your hands with soap before and after changing your intimate protection. If you use tampons, do not choose a model that is too absorbent.

The ideal solution is to use sanitary pads or period pants, which allow blood to flow out of the body. External sanitary protection therefore eliminates any risk of toxic shock.

If you enjoyed this article, feel free to share it on your social media.