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.
"It's not dangerous in and of itself," says Dr. Bhuyan. "It would just make it harder to take out that original tampon." While neither of the tampons are going anywhere, leaving one or two tampons in your vaginal canal for days can increase your risk of an infection.
First, take out the tampon that you inserted. Next, insert your index (pointer) finger into the vagina to see if you can feel the other tampon or its string and try to remove. If this causes you pain or you can't seem to locate it, make an appointment to see your health care provider ASAP.
Will it eventually come out on its own? A tampon that has taken up residence in your vagina is unlikely to come out by itself, so it's important that you take steps to remove it. “Leaving it in or not knowing that you have a retained tampon can lead to serious health concerns,” Youngblood warns.
The symptoms are a lot like ones you might see from other kinds of infections: swelling, fever, redness, and a general feeling of being unwell. TSS symptoms usually come on quickly, about 2 days after the bacteria infects you. The way TSS affects your body depends on the type of bacteria causing your condition.
Don't freak out if you realize you've forgotten to change your tampon. If it's only been left in for 12 to 24 hours and you feel fine, just remove it and go on your way. If it's been longer than that or you can't remove it yourself, see a doctor for removal and a checkup.
However, if your tampon sheds fibers that aren't removed, there is a small chance you could develop TSS. It would be more likely you'd develop one of the infections below, but because TSS is serious and can be life-threatening, it's important to know about it.
A tampon that's overstayed its welcome isn't a pleasant thing to encounter, but it won't necessarily cause any health issues. The biggest risk is vaginitis, explains Dr. Nathan. Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina, and it can stem from a variety of causes—including the bacteria that glom onto the tampon.
Expert analysis says the more absorbent the tampon, the more bacteria it can hold onto. That, paired with a tiny tear from something like pulling out a dry tampon before it's saturated with blood, can introduce the bacteria into the body.
But, as a menstruating woman, that amount sounds low. According to estimates made by the Huffington Post, the average woman uses five liners (or pads, depending on personal preference) and 20 tampons per cycle (if she's changing her tampon every six hours and menstruating for 5 days).
If one tampon is used every six hours and four tampons are used every day, you're looking at 20 tampons for every five-day menstrual cycle totaling 9,120 tampons in your life.
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.
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.
You may also need treatment if you have an infection. If you cannot get to your GP or a sexual health clinic, call 111 or get help from 111 online. Tampon manufacturers advise that a tampon should not be left in for more than 8 hours.
The incidence of TSS is estimated to be around 0.8 to 3.4 per 100,000 in the United States. [1][2][3]. Early recognition and antibiotic administration are key to improving patient outcomes and reducing mortality.
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.
The symptoms usually begin suddenly and are often nonspecific. Prostration and hypotensive shock can occur within 24 hours. Milder forms of the disease also may be seen.
Symptoms of toxic shock include: Flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Hypotension (low blood pressure) with a weak and rapid pulse. A red rash that covers the whole body, sometimes followed by peeling skin (the rash may be difficult to see in dark-skinned individuals)
While it's an incredibly rare infection, it's more than likely you'll have heard of toxic shock syndrome. TSS can be caused by a toxic substance that is produced by certain kinds of bacteria which can enter the bloodstream through the uterus or vaginal lining if you leave a tampon in for too long.
Diagnosis of toxic shock syndrome
Your doctor will assess your symptoms and discuss your medical history with you. They may also ask you about your use of tampons and any recent wounds you've had. Your doctor will then administer a blood test and a urine test to look for signs of staph or strep infection.
Your flow is heavy if:
Soaks through your tampon or pads every hour for a few hours in a row. You need to change pads or tampons during the night. You collect more than 30ml of blood in your menstrual cup. You fully soak 6 or more regular ( or 3 or more super) pads/tampons.
A fully saturated light tampon can hold up to 3 milliliters of fluid. A fully saturated super tampon may hold up to 12 milliliters of fluid. A fully saturated regular daytime pad may hold around 5 milliliters of fluid. A fully soaked overnight pad may hold 10 to 15 milliliters of fluid.
On average, women will have 450 periods over their lifetime, which equals 3,500 days spent menstruating. That's over 10,000 period products in one lifetime! Of course, each woman is unique so that number will vary, but understanding your cycle is important since you will have so many throughout your life.
Why does my tampon leak? Typically, a leaky tampon means you've left your tampon in for too long, or you're using the wrong absorbency. Be sure to change your tampon every 4-6 hours. If you find that you are leaking through your tampon after just four hours, it's time to start using the next absorbency up.