Feminine Care

A tampon is a plug of cotton or other absorbent material inserted into the vagina body cavity or wound to absorb fluid. more...

Home
Bath & Body
Dental Care
Dieting/ Slimming
Fragrances
Hair Care
Hair Removal
Health Care
Blood Pressure Testing
Family Planning/...
Feminine Care
First Aid
Other Health Care
Quitting Smoking
Relaxation Aids
Sleeping Aids
Make-Up/ Cosmetics
Massage
Mobility, Disability &...
Nails/ Manicure/ Pedicure
Natural/ Alternative...
Other Health & Beauty
Over-the-Counter Medicine
Skin/ Face Care
Tanning/ Sun Care
Tattoos/ Body Art
Vision/ Glasses/ Lenses
Vitamins/ Supplements

The most common type in daily use (and the topic of the remainder of this article) is a usually disposable plug that is designed to be inserted into a woman's vagina during her menstrual period to absorb the flow of blood. The use of these devices has caused serious health related issues, such as infection and even death in rare cases. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates tampons as medical devices.

History

The tampon with an applicator and string was invented in 1929 and submitted for patent in 1931 by Dr. Matthew Martin, an American from Olney, Maryland. Tampons based on Dr. Martin's design were first sold in the U.S. in 1936.

Absorbency ratings

Tampons come in several different absorbency ratings, which are consistent across manufacturers in the U.S.

Toxic shock syndrome

Tampons have been shown to have a connection to toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a rare but sometimes fatal disease caused by bacterial infection. The U.S. FDA suggests the following guidelines for decreasing the risk of contracting TSS when using tampons:

Follow package directions for insertion; Choose the lowest absorbency for your flow; Change your tampon at least every 4 to 8 hours; Consider alternating pads with tampons; Avoid tampon usage overnight when sleeping; Know the warning signs of toxic shock syndrome; Don't use tampons between periods;

Following these guidelines can help to protect a woman from TSS, but if she uses tampons at all, she is still at risk, no matter how careful she is. The only way to avoid this risk is to use other forms of menstrual protection, such as a menstrual cup (worn internally), or sanitary napkin (external).

Environmental impact

Tampons, their applicators, and wrappings are typically used once and then either disposed of in the rubbish, or flushed down a toilet. If flushed down a toilet, they end up in sewage treatment plants where they are filtered out of the effluent. However, note that different countries have different sewage systems and that tampons might cause sewage blockings if flushed down a toilet, especially in small electrical sewage pumps, such as used in toilets on trains, planes and even in some private households. Warning signs in hotels and public toilets can be found in many locations. The warning signs usually include tampons as well as other sanitary articles such as condoms within their list of articles forbidden for flushing down. In these cases, small plastic bags (usually labeled 'sanitary bags') or other trash receptacles are provided for discreet disposal and hygiene. If disposed of in the trash, they may end up in incinerators or landfills (where they can take up to six months to biodegrade). They may not even biodegrade at all. Things get buried and some tampons contain plastics to ease insertion. Packaging and plastic applicators are another concern.

Read more at Wikipedia.org