Is It Safe to Wear a Tampon Overnight?

Many women prefer the convenience of wearing a tampon during “that time of the month”, instead of wearing pads. Some choose to wear them all the time, even at night, while others wear them only during the day - to reduce the risk of toxic shock syndrome. Is it safe to wear a tampon overnight?

Is It Safe to Wear a Tampon Overnight?

The danger of wearing a tampon overnight stems from the small risk of getting a condition called toxic shock syndrome. Toxic shock syndrome is a serious bacterial infection associated with wearing tampons, particularly high-absorbency tampons. Not every woman who gets toxic shock syndrome is a tampon user, but over half are.

Most experts don’t recommend wearing a tampon for more than eight hours max. If you wear them at night and sleep longer than eight hours, you may be putting yourself at risk for toxic shock syndrome, a condition that can be fatal. It’s also a good idea to take a break from tampons if you’re wearing them during the day by switching over to a pad at night, to further lower the risk of toxic shock syndrome.

The Dangers of Toxic Shock Syndrome: What Are the Symptoms?

Signs and symptoms of toxic shock syndrome include a high fever, vomiting, confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, a drop in blood pressure, and a red skin rash. Toxic shock is caused by bacteria that produce toxins that cause circulatory collapse and shock. Any woman experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately since symptoms can progress rapidly to shock, and death. With prompt treatment, most women recover.

Wearing a Tampon Safely

To reduce the risk of toxic shock, choose low-absorbency tampons and alternate them with pads. Always wear tampons made of 100% cotton and change them at least every six to eight hours, preferably more. Wash your hands before inserting a tampon to remove any bacteria; and never force a tampon when inserting it since this can cause breaks in the skin that can harbor bacteria. Use a lubricant to make insertion easier, if necessary.

Is It Safe to Wear a Tampon Overnight?

Theoretically, you should be able to leave a low-absorbency tampon in place for eight hours without problems, but it’s better to wear a pad to give yourself a break from wearing tampons. One solution? Wear pads at night and use tampons when you’re out and about during the day.

References:

Merck Manual, Eighteenth Edition. 2006.

Emedicine website. “Toxic Shock Syndrome”