Can i leave a tampon in for 9 hrs or more?

Question

I sometimes wear a tampon over night and most of the time leave it in for over 9 hrs, is that bad for me?

Answer 1

they say that it is bad for you and to not wear it more than 8 hours but i am like you and i alwayss wear on overnight because when i wear a pad i leak like crazy and i am alway waking up worrying about it and where it is.....so i to wear one overnight and sometimes over 8 hours but i always change it as SOON as i wake up....hope that helps.

Answer 2

The research says eight hours is safe. I wouldn't want to push it much farther because of what other people are calling toxic shock syndrome. That's the lay-person's term for septicemia, which means a really bad infection in the blood stream. If you get this, you can die. Not something to chance. I'm with the person that said wear a pad overnight. It's the safest way to go.

Answer 3

YES! It can lead to dangerous bacteria in there! If you can stand to wear a pad overnight, do so. You should change ur tampon about every 4-6 hours. Do some searchs on the net. Based on my info about stuff like Toxic Shock Syndrome, thats what I understand. Hope it helps!

Answer 4

You are taking a chance with 9 hrs. There is alot of built up toxins in and on the little tampon.

Answer 5

Tampons in general are bad for you because they prevent normal vaginal cleaning functions, give bacteria a place to multiply, leave fibres within the body, introduce chemicals into the vagina, and dry out mucosa. Thus why they are linked with TSS, vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis, vaginal splitting, and menstrual problems.

Wearing a tampon for a prolonged period of time increases your risks because the longer you wear a tampon the longer you are leaving the bacteria within the vagina to multiply – although some tampon manufacturers say they can be used up to 8 hours it is not recommended that you leave them in for longer than 4-8 hours because it is unhygienic and unsafe.

It is also recommended you use safer tampon options such as organic tampons, sponge tampons, soft tampons or homemade tampons as these are not made from super-absorbent materials and do not contain chemicals as commercial tampons do.
Organic tampons - http://www.tampontification.com
Sponge tampons - http://www.jadeandpearl.com
Soft tampons - http://www.gynotex.com

The problem with wearing a tampon at night is not just the increased length of time but a simple case of gravity. Tampons do not just absorb menstrual flow but also vaginal fluids that help keep the delicate mucosa of your vaginal walls moist, when laying down the blood does not flow down into the tampons, thus tampons have nothing to do but absorb vaginal fluids. A result of this is vaginal splitting, this not only increases the risk of infection but also if TSS was to occur it gives the toxins a more direct route into the vagina, as well as a more direct route for chemicals in commercial tampons to enter into the blood stream.

More information on tampon risks;
http://www.spotsite.org
http://www.toxicshock.com
http://www.tamponalert.org.uk
http://www.wen.org.uk/sanpro

When you sleep it is highly advised you use other options such as pads, period blankets or menstrual cups – if you worry about leaking the latter is recommended as these are internal and can be left in for up to 12 hours including night time safely without leaking. Menstrual cups also have many other advantages over tampons – safe, hygienic, green, cheap, refundable, body-positive, convenient.

This is a menstrual product hierarchy, not the best web page in the world but it gives basic good/bad points on different menstrual options - http://www.randomgirl.com/products.html

Answer 6

9 hrs is bad...risk for tss...just wake up in the middle of the night and change it.

Answer 7

Wear a pad at night.

Answer 8

yes you are at high risk for tss only wear it 8 hours tops

Answer 9

over nite is pushing it, but change it as soon as u wake. you could get toxic shock. maybe set an alarm to get up at 3am to change it....

Answer 10

yes you could get toxic shock syndrome