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What about Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)?
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is considered a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by toxin-producing strains of the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium. TSS has been linked to high absorbency and prolonged use of tampons. There are now regulations in labelling for tampon absorbency to decrease the risk of TSS.Symptoms of TSS often mimic the flu and can include sudden high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, or a rash that looks like a sunburn during your period or a few days after.
Remember that the vagina is continually self-cleansing washing away dead cells and bacteria. The DivaCup™ is non-absorbent and is only a receptacle and does not disturb the natural moisture level in the vagina. The DivaCup™ has never been associated with TSS.
FACTS ABOUT TSS AND TAMPONS
*about 70% of the 73 million women are of menstruating age in the U.S. use tampons
*lifetime tampon usage is about 11,400 (5 days X 5 tampons X 38 years)
*in the U.S., women between 11 and 60 years of age reported 216 cases of menstrual TSS reported in 1993; 244 cases in 1994
*risk of TSS is higher for women under 30 years old; 60% of patients are between 15 and 24 years of age
*fatality rate of TSS is 3% to 5%, but it is estimated that only 10% of cases of TSS are reported, as many women suffer only flu-like symptoms
*absorbency enhancers in tampons can cause peeling of the mucous membrane, vaginal dryness, ulcers, and lesions
perfumes and fragrances in some tampons are reported to cause internal irritation, allergic reactions, and disruptions of a woman's microbial balance
*"tampon users were demonstrated to be 18 times more likely to develop menstrual TSS as non-users", Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 1993, Gilles R.G. Monif
*"of [Toxic Shock] cases occuring in menstruating women, up to 99% were using vaginal tampons", Obstetrics and Gynecologic Infectious Disease, 1994, James McGregor and James Todd, (Chapter 21 - Toxic Shock Syndrome)
*"vaginal inflammation can result from rayon fibers from tampons becoming embedded in vaginal walls", Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1980
*tampons made chiefly of rayon have some levels of dioxin
*"rayon tampons amplify the growth of the Toxic Shock Syndrome bacteria TSST-1"
American Society for Microbiology Journal, May 1994, Dr. Philip Tierno of NYU Medical Center
*dioxin levels once thought acceptable are now reported to adversely affect the reproductive and immune systems, "A Health Assessment Document for Dioxin", published by the Environmental Protection Agency, 1996
*"cotton tampons offer no protective advantage over cotton/rayon tampons with regard to protection from TSS" Journal of Infectious Diseases, October 1995 (study by Dept. of Microbiology, University of Minnesota
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