My husband recently sent me a link to an interview on YouTube. Thankfully he’s always looking out for me and my health, so this is a somewhat common occurance. Sometimes I take the things he sends me to heart and sometimes, I hate to admit, but I put off watching or reading them. For this particular video, he pleaded with me to watch it and after watching it, I was shocked! And I took action right away…
The video he sent me was a tear jerking interview with a beautiful model, Lauren Wasser, where she described how she lost both of her legs because of a tampon!
You read that right, a tampon!
In fact she almost died from using a tampon and contracting Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). She spoke about how she contracted this condition, about how lucky she was that a doctor was able to recognize that she might be suffering from the condition, and her journey through everything she had to endure during and after she contracted this “syndrome.”
Let’s start with the basics…
What is Toxic Shock Syndrome?
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but potentially life-threatening medical condition caused by bacterial toxins. It was first identified in the late 1970s and has been associated with the use of certain types of tampons, among other factors. TSS is primarily caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (often referred to as “staph”) and, less commonly, Streptococcus pyogenes (also known as “strep”). The condition typically arises when the bacteria produce toxins that enter the bloodstream and cause a range of severe symptoms.
How common is Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Toxic Shock Syndrome affects 1 in every 100,000 people. TSS is more common in people assigned female at birth (AFAB), but it can affect anyone. Until the 1990s, it was most commonly associated with people using super-absorbent tampons during their period, but that association is changing as we learn more and more about this “syndrome.”
How do you know if you have Toxic Shock Syndrome?
As Lauren Wasser described in her interview, it’s sometimes very hard to tell. The symptoms can mimic cold and flu symptoms and can often be difficult to diagnose.
Some common symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome include:
- High fever
- Low blood pressure
- Rash resembling sunburn, often starting on the palms and soles of the feet
- Muscle aches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Confusion or altered mental state
TSS can progress rapidly and may lead to organ failure and shock, which is a life-threatening condition where the body’s organs and tissues do not receive enough oxygenated blood. If left untreated, Toxic Shock Syndrome can be FATAL.
What causes Toxic Shock Syndrom?
Apart from tampon use, TSS can occur in individuals with skin infections, surgical wounds, burns, or after childbirth.
But let’s really explore the most common cause, tampon use…
Now, we’re getting out of the basics and into the juicy core of this article… no pun intended!
Tampon use has been historically associated with TSS. There is no arguing this, but manufacturers are claiming that they have made improvements in tampon design and changes in usage guidelines that have significantly reduced its occurrence.
However, TSS can and does still occur in individuals who use tampons.
Read that again, you are at risk of contracting TSS if you use tampons. Period! Again, no pun intended.
Now those risks do increase, if a tampon is left in for an extended period of time or if a person is using high-absorbency tampons when their flow is light.
BUT… just by using tampons you put yourself at risk.
According to another article around Lauren Wasser’s story, written by Alex Hodor-Lee and titled: “Lauren Wasser, the girl with the golden legs, is waging war on Big Tampon”…
The average woman uses 16,000 tampons throughout her lifetime. Each year people spend upwards of 2 billion dollars on menstrual hygiene products and yet there are significant and worrisome research gaps in our understanding of tampon safety and usage.
This is what worries me too. There are significant gaps in the research.
After hearing the interview with Lauren Wasser and after reading more articles and doing my own research about Toxic Shock Syndrome, I’m personally no longer willing to take the risk. I took action and I’ve stopped using tampons.
What will you do?
I’m not a doctor or a medical professional. Always remember, it’s important to seek medical attention promptly if you or someone you know experiences symptoms that could be related to Toxic Shock Syndrome. Early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics and supportive care can greatly improve the chances of recovery.
Written by Suzanne Snider
Content Creator at The Healthy Play
Here are some more resources about Toxic Shock Syndrome
https://www.webmd.com/women/understanding-toxic-shock-syndrome-basics
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15437-toxic-shock-syndrome
