Using menstrual products safely

Toxic shock syndrome is a serious infection that can develop quickly from bacterial toxins after a menstrual product has been left inside the vagina for longer than recommended.

It can start with flu-like symptoms and get worse fast. Seek urgent care if you have a high fever, dizziness or fainting, vomiting, diarrhea, a sunburn-like rash, muscle aches, or you feel very weak.

The risk is associated mainly with tampons, cups, discs and sponges. Absorbent underwear and pads are not typically associated with it, though they are still worth changing often.

Recommended change times. Tampon: 6 to 8 hours, and avoid wearing one overnight. Cup or disc: up to 12 hours maximum, emptied and washed sooner if bleeding is heavy, and most manufacturers recommend every 4 to 12 hours. Pad: every 4 to 8 hours, sooner if it is very full. Absorbent underwear: up to 8 to 12 hours depending on the model and how much you are bleeding. Sponge: 4 to 6 hours, and avoid wearing one overnight.

Change them sooner if there is a lot of blood, a bad smell, discomfort, itching or irritation.