No, you generally should not sleep with a tampon in for 10 hours; the maximum recommended time for wearing a single tampon is 8 hours to significantly lower the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). Leaving it in longer, especially for 10 hours, increases your risk of TSS, a rare but serious bacterial infection, so it's best to use pads, a menstrual cup, or period underwear for overnight protection, or change to a new tampon right before sleep and again soon after waking up.
Tampons should be changed regularly, and should not be left in for more than 8 hours. If a tampon is stuck inside you over a longer period of time, you might start to notice a strong smell from your vagina, and/or an unpleasant discharge.
The short answer is: Yes, you can sleep with a tampon in. But it's important to pick the tampon with the right absorbency for you and not wear any tampon for longer than eight hours. Ob/Gyn Stacie Jhaveri, MD, dives more into sleeping safely with a tampon.
Change each tampon every 4 to 8 hours.
Never wear a single tampon for more than 8 hours at a time.
What are the symptoms of toxic shock syndrome?
However, tampons should be removed from your vagina after eight hours to lower your risk of TSS. This doesn't mean you will get TSS if a tampon is left in your vagina longer than eight hours. It means studies have shown that prolonged use of a tampon promotes the production of harmful bacteria.
Other symptoms may include pain at the site of a wound, vomiting and diarrhea, signs of shock including low blood pressure and light-headedness, shortness of breath and a sunburn-like rash. In general, TSS symptoms can develop as soon as 12 hours after a surgical procedure.
vomiting and diarrhoea. severe pain in your arms or legs, or all over your body. a rash that feels rough like sandpaper – the rash may look red, which can be harder to see on brown or black skin. the palms of your hands, soles of your feet, tongue and the whites of your eyes turn bright red.
You can go about your day, sleep comfortably at night, or even exercise, knowing your blood flow is absorbed and secure. Another reason is comfort. Many people say wearing regular underwear with pads feels bulky or awkward, whereas period pants feel just like everyday undies — but with hidden leak protection.
What happens if you accidentally sleep with a tampon in? If you accidentally sleep with a tampon in for longer than 8 hours, remove it immediately upon waking up and monitor yourself for any symptoms of TSS, such as sudden high fever, chills, dizziness, muscle aches, or a sunburn-like rash.
Reducing the risk of toxic shock syndrome
Change tampons regularly (at least every four hours). Avoid using super-absorbent tampons. Only unwrap the tampon if you are going to use it immediately.
You know your tampon is full when you feel resistance pulling the string, notice blood on the string or in your underwear, or feel it inside you; however, for hygiene, you should change it every 4-8 hours regardless, as a "dry" tampon (not full) can be uncomfortable to remove, and a full one will leak. The best signs of fullness are leaking (blood on underwear) or the string appearing bloody, indicating it's saturated and needs changing soon.
Because it's best to change tampons every few hours, choose pads instead of tampons for overnight wear. Special overnight pads are available too. That way, you can be sure you're wearing one that's absorbent enough to get you through until the morning.
There isn't a set time for when symptoms of TSS start after using a tampon; however, they should be removed from your vagina after no more than 8 hours to lower your risk. Please note that if you do leave a tampon in for over 8 hours, it doesn't mean that you will get TSS, but that it raises your risk.
Initial symptoms of toxic shock syndrome are mild and may resemble a viral illness. Within 1-2 days, affected individuals will then develop worsening symptoms including low blood pressure, confusion, and organ failure.
Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) is a rare, but serious bacterial infection. STSS can develop very quickly into a life-threatening emergency. People with STSS need immediate care in a hospital and antibiotics. Treatment focuses on managing low blood pressure and multiple organ failure.
There is no scientific research that links free bleeding to shorter menstruation.
There's absolutely no scientific evidence that washing your hair during your period has any effect on fertility. None. Zilch. It's a myth that somehow still finds its way into conversations, usually passed down from well-meaning elders who genuinely believed it to be true.
Additionally, your blood vessels relax, allowing for improved blood flow. The relaxation induced by sleep can cause an increase in blood flow during this time, leading to heavier menstrual bleeding. While you sleep, your body undergoes various physiological processes, including the regulation of blood circulation.
The earliest signs of TSS begin abruptly and can present with flu-like symptoms including fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea and sore muscles.
Patients' ages ranged from 1 to 80 years, with 36% of cases occurring in individuals 15-19 years of age. Race and age distributions remained constant when examined by year of onset. Of the 2,107 cases in which outcome was specified, 103 (5%) resulted in death.
TSS is a severe toxin-mediated illness with sudden onset of high fever, vomiting, profuse watery diarrhea, and myalgia, followed by hypotension and potentially shock. During the acute phase of the illness, a “sunburn-like” rash is present.
Complications from a lost tampon or other object
You should change your tampon regularly — around every 4 to 6 hours depending on your flow. Most tampon manufacturers advise that a tampon shouldn't be left in for more than 8 hours. Long term, a lost tampon or other object poses a risk of: infection.
If you cannot simply pull the string to remove the tampon, or the string is inside and you feel comfortable exploring your own vagina, you can try to "gently sweep it out" on your own.
"The National Organization for Rare Disorders estimates that TSS related to tampon use occurs in about 1 in 100,000 menstruating women." TSS is not a condition that only affects menstruating women using tampons - or women alone.