WOMEN HYGIENE-TAMPONS CAN GIVE YOU SHOCK OR INFECTION.

Leaving a tampon in for days puts you at risk for getting toxic shock syndrome (TSS), an infection, similar to a staph infection, caused by the absorbent material found in sanitary products, says Laura Corio, MD, an OBGYN at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.


According to the Mayo Clinic, there are two ways super-absorbent tampons cause TSS: When they are left in place for a long time, they can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Additionally, the absorbent fibers can scratch the surface of the vagina, making it possible for bacteria or their toxins to enter the bloodstream.

Obviously, most women don’t elect to leave their tampons in for longer than the recommended 8 hours (because even without fear of death, it’s just gross). But it’s not unheard of—or even uncommon—for women to simply forget. "Anybody could forget,” Corio says.

 “You go to the ladies room and think to yourself, ‘I took out my tampon,’ only to find that’s not the case.” And, in other instances, you may even put another tampon in—forgetting you had one in to begin with—causing the original one to travel further inside you.-WH