Toxic shock syndrome

Warning signs of toxic shock syndrome include sudden high fever, usually 102 degrees Fahrenheit or more, accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, fainting or near-fainting when standing up and dizziness or a sunburn-like rash. These symptoms usually appear very quickly and are often severe in most women. Not all toxic shock syndrome cases are alike, and all symptoms are not always present. Other signs might be aching of the muscles and joints, redness of the eyes, sore throat and weakness Differing from woman to woman. If you have a sudden high fever and one or more of the other toxic shock syndrome symptoms during your period, remove your tampon at once, discontinue using tampons, and contact your doctor or seek emergency medical care right away. You might need emergency medical care if you really have this problem. Tell the doctor that you are menstruating and that you were wearing a tampon he will suspect the right thing for sure. There are some studies suggesting that higher absorbency tampons are associated with an increased risk of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. Therefore, you should use a tampon with the lowest absorbency that meets your menstrual flow needs to reduce the risk of getting this syndrome. Tampons are available in four absorbency ranges: regular absorbency for light flow, super absorbency for moderate flow, super plus absorbency for heavy flow, and ultra for very heavy flow. Under this absorbency rating system adopted by all tampon manufacturers tampons with the given range have the same absorbency label.

Can you get TSS more than once?

Yes, you can. Once you have had toxic shock syndrome, you are more likely to get it again than someone who has never had it. If a doctor told you that you have had that problem, or if you believe you might have had the disease, do not use tampons until you check with your doctor.

How old should you be before using tampon?

If you have started having periods, you can use tampons. Tampons are inserted inside the vagina to absorb the menstrual blood before it leaves the body. On the other hand, since it is a little scary to use a tampon for the first time, many young teens prefer to use pads or pantiliners until they are older and more comfortable with their bodies.

How to choose and insert tampon? 

Tampons come in different sizes such as slender, regular, super, etc. and use different types of applicators. Some have a card board or plastic applicator,while others have no applicator at all. At first, you will have to go through a trial and error process to see which one works best for you because it is not the same for every girl. The first one you might want to try is a slender form or the one that says it is specifically designed for teens.

As for the applicator, the plastic one with a rounded tip may be the most comfortable for most girls. You can also check with your mother or your friends to see what kind of tampons they use. When you purchase your first box of tampons, it will have an instruction booklet with diagrams. Read the instructions carefully and review the diagrams before you start. Once you are ready to insert the tampon, the most important thing you should remember is to relax. Inserting a tampon is not painful, but if you are tense it could make the process more uncomfortable then it should be. You must know that you should always wash your hands with soap and water before inserting the tampon.

There are a few different positions you can use to insert the tampon such as  standing with one foot on top of the toilet or squatting over it. Again you will have to figure out yourself which technique is best for you because not all the girls are the same. While holding the center of the tampon between your thumb and ring finger and using your index and middle finger to hold the string in place, gently insert the tampon into vagina. If you feel any pain or discomfort, slow down and relax, it is normal and it may take a while when you do it for the first time. Once you have inserted the tampon and the center is at the entrance of your vagina, using your other hand, start pushing the exposed end of the tampon gently, and that way you should release the actual tampon into your body. You know it is fully inserted when the end of the part you are pushing meets the center part you were originally holding. Normally, women who wear tampons do not feel the tampon inside of them so if you can feel it, this may mean it is not inserted properly. You will need to remove it and try again but do not worry if your first few attempts with a tampon seem awkward. The more you practice, the more natural it will become.