The bottom line. To err on the side of caution, remove a tampon after 4 to 6 hours, but no longer than 8 hours. After 8 hours, your risk of developing TSS — along with other infections or irritations — increases. Although TSS is very rare, it's always best to be careful when it comes to your menstrual health.
Tampon manufacturers advise that a tampon should not be left in for more than 8 hours. Occasionally, a rare but life-threatening bacterial infection called toxic shock syndrome has been linked to women using tampons.
You should only use a tampon for up to 8 hours. So, if you're asking can you sleep with a tampon in, the short answer is yes. Your tampon doesn't know if it's day or night and will work the same while you sleep, just be sure to only use a tampon for up to 8 hours.
However, if you've left a tampon on for a little over eight hours and you're not experiencing symptoms you don't need to be alarmed. If you forget to remove your tampon it may become compressed at the top of your vagina. In that case, it may be uncomfortable to remove. If you're struggling then contact your doctor.
Infections include the rare but serious Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). It is safe to sleep with a tampon in as long as it's not for more than eight hours. So, if you can keep your night-time snooze to 8 hours or under, then you can wear a tampon overnight.
In general, TSS symptoms can develop as soon as 12 hours after a surgical procedure. Symptoms usually develop in 3 to 5 days in individuals who are menstruating and using tampons or menstrual cups.
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.
Call your doctor immediately if you have signs or symptoms of toxic shock syndrome. This is especially important if you've recently used tampons or if you have a skin or wound infection.
"If a tampon is kept in for longer than 8 hours, the best thing to do is to remove it as soon as possible," Delaney advises. "Seek medical attention if you have a high fever, rash, or diarrhea."
TSS gets worse very quickly and can be fatal if not treated promptly. But if it's diagnosed and treated early, most people make a full recovery.
Never wear a single tampon for more than 8 hours at a time. Use the lowest absorbency tampon needed. If you can wear one tampon up to eight hours without changing it, the absorbency may be too high. Contact your health care provider if you have pain, fever or other unusual symptoms.
Many people wonder if it is safe to sleep with a tampon in. Most people will be fine if they sleep while wearing a tampon, but if you sleep for longer than eight hours, you could be at risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). This is a rare but potentially fatal condition that requires urgent medical attention.
Tampons can be worn for up to 8 hours. Anything longer can put you at risk for a potentially deadly condition called TSS or toxic shock syndrome so if you're worried you might forget that it's in, set alarms on your phone to remind you. What happens when I can't get my tampon out?
“The National Organization for Rare Disorders estimates that TSS related to tampon use occurs in about 1 in 100,000 menstruating women.”
Prognosis and complications
Despite aggressive treatment, the mortality rate for STSS ranges from 30% to 70%. Mortality from STSS is substantially lower in children than adults. Known complications of shock and organ failure can occur, including tissue necrosis and loss of extremities.
Prostration and hypotensive shock can occur within 24 hours. Milder forms of the disease also may be seen. The overall mortality rate is approximately 8 percent. This report describes a mild case of TSS in a young, healthy, 16-year-old female who developed symptoms during menstruation.
You should never wear more than one tampon at a time. Doubling up on tampons increases your risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, or TSS. If your flow is very heavy, wear a tampon with a higher absorbency and change it more frequently. Or use a sanitary pad as extra back up.
The chance of staphylococcal TSS being fatal is less than 3 percent, but recurrence is common, because having it does not cause the person to develop an immunity. In streptococcal TSS, mortality is between 20 percent and 60 percent, even with aggressive treatment.
Clinical Criteria
Multisystem involvement (three or more of the following organ systems): Gastrointestinal: vomiting or diarrhea at onset of illness. Muscular: severe myalgia or creatine phosphokinase level at least twice the upper limit of normal. Mucous membrane: vaginal, oropharyngeal, or conjunctival hyperemia.
Leaving a tampon in for too long can lead to infections and rarely cause life-threatening toxic shock syndrome (TSS). TSS is typically caused by an overgrowth of bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. Each year toxic shock syndrome affects about 1 in 100,000 women.
Absolutely! Pay attention to the amount of bleeding you typically have at the start of your period and choose a tampon with the right amount of absorbency. Most women start very light, so you may want to use a regular size tampon.
"A tampon will absorb the water from the lake, pool, or ocean while you are swimming, so it is important to change the tampon when you get out of the water," says Ho. "Otherwise, the tampon will be saturated and will not absorb the blood from your period."
Yes, it's fine to wear a tampon in the bath or shower. If your period is light at the time, you might find that you don't need one for the few minutes that you are in the bath or shower. Most of the time, blood won't leak out.
The instructions on your tampon box are clear: You should never keep the same tampon in for longer than eight hours. If you leave it in longer than that, you risk toxic shock syndrome and other health concerns. If you really want to be on the safe side, though, you may want to change your tampon even more often.
To err on the side of caution, remove a tampon after 4 to 6 hours, but no longer than 8 hours. After 8 hours, your risk of developing TSS — along with other infections or irritations — increases. Although TSS is very rare, it's always best to be careful when it comes to your menstrual health.