It is a common question whether a girl might lose virginity by using tampons. Of course, there are many other questions confusing young girls. That is why each girl in puberty should know more about her period, ovulation, menstrual blood and tampons.
The most common questions about tampon usage
%26bull; Virginity: A girl can only lose her virginity by having sexual intercourse. The hymen is a membrane that stretches across the vaginal opening and is often thought to be a sign of virginity. Many people think that inserting a tampon will cause trauma, but that is not true. The fact is that hymen stretches naturally. If it completely blocks the girl's vaginal opening, menstrual fluid cannot leave her body, which is not good at all.
%26bull; Lost tampon: Some girls are afraid the tampon will be lost somewhere inside. That is not possible, because there is no place for it to go. The tampon has to stay in the vagina, which is a blind sac only 3 to 5 inches long. There is an opening from your vagina to your uterus through your cervix, but it is smaller than a head of a pin. That is much too small for a tampon to squeeze through.
%26bull; Toxic dioxin: Maybe you have heard people talk about tampons containing toxic amounts of dioxin. That is not true. You should know that the term dioxin refers to a number of related chemical compounds. State-of-the-art testing of tampon fibers that can even detect trace amounts of dioxin has shown that dioxin levels are at or below the detectable limits, posing no risk at all for tampon users' health.
%26bull; Bleached tampons: Many girls are wondering if it is necessary for materials used to make tampons to be bleached. The fact is that tampons sold in the U.S. are made of cotton, rayon, or a blend of both. Rayon is made of fibers derived from wood pulp, which contain impurities that may inhibit absorption. Therefore, a bleaching process is necessary and the new tampon production methods include an elemental chlorine-free bleaching process that uses dioxin-free agents such as hydrogen peroxide.
Contrary to what some people think, the white color is simply a result of the purification process, not an appearance goal.
%26bull; Excessive bleeding due to tampons usage: The question whether some companies use asbestos in their tampons to promote excessive menstrual bleeding in order to sell more product is a serious one. However, that is not true. There is no evidence of asbestos ever being used in any American manufactured tampon, nor any reports regarding increased menstrual bleeding following prolonged tampon use. The FDA reviews the materials and factories that create tampons marketed in the U.S. Asbestos is not an ingredient associated with any fibers used to make tampons you could find on the market.
%26bull; Tampons stop menstrual flow: This is not true as well, since menstrual flow is the result of discharge of tissue and blood from inside of the uterine cavity. Usage of tampons does not stop the flow of menstrual fluid and has no effect on the release of fluid from the uterus as some might think. A tampon is designed to absorb fluid while still in the vagina so the tampon will become saturated and leaking will occur should more fluid be released than can be absorbed by the tampon. Rate of the flow is not affected by the tampon the same as it is with pads.
%26bull; More than one tampon: While it may be physically possible to wear two tampons at one time, it is not necessary and it is not recommended.
%26bull; Lubricating tampon: This is not necessary since most women have enough natural lubrication to insert a tampon, and menstrual fluid also provides lubrication. If the tampon size is appropriate for the amount of the flow, additional lubrication should not be necessary. High absorbency tampons are only recommended when the flow is heavy and you should switch to lower absorbency tampons on lighter days. If you wish to use lubricant, you could apply a very small amount of water-soluble lubricant only on the tip of the tampon. Too much lubrication will interfere with the absorbency of the tampon. K-Y brand lubricating jelly is ideal for this purpose, but do not use products such as petroleum jelly or other lotions and creams not intended for vaginal use.
Toxic shock syndrome
TSS is a rare disease believed to be caused by some forms of the bacterium famous as Staphylococcus aureus. This bacterium is sometimes present in healthy womens%26rsquo; vagina. Without this bacterium, tampons alone have not been found to cause toxic shock syndrome. However, there are studies that have indicated tampons, in the presence of this bacterium, are associated with an increased risk of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. By using tampons you increase the risk of developing this disease. It has been estimated that each year 1-17 of every 100,000 menstruating women and girls will get toxic shock syndrome. TSS occurs most often in menstruating females using tampons, in particular women under thirty years of age. It is interesting that it usually happens to teenage girls. However, toxic shock syndrome may also occur among men, children, and non-menstruating women.
Warning signs of TSS
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 becase 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.
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