To think DD(14) should not be wearing a tampon if she's asleep for 14 hours?

[MyballsareSandy2015]

She thinks I'm being a fuss pot but I'm worried about toxic shock, which you don't seem to hear much about these days. She certainly hadn't heard of it.

[herecomesthsun]

Could she not use night-time pads overnight?

[SlaggyIsland]

I've left tampons in for that long (daytime, light flow days). Nothing bad has happened so far.

[diddl]

Isn't a "risk factor" also using an absorbancy higher than you need?

[LuluJakey1]

I left one in for about 6 days a couple of years ago. It was the smell that alerted me and I just could not work out what it was. Then I googled it and it came up as a possibility. I could not reach it. DH had a go and I had clamped up. We went to A and E and I had to have gas and air to have it removed, I had got myself so panicked. Mortifying. The smell was awful but DH had had a really bad cold so only I could smell it and we had not had sex because he had been so poorly. The Dr just shrugged and said he deals with them most days.

[VestalVirgin]

Found a source: www.intimina.com/blog/toxic-shock-syndrome-basics-2/

So, apparently the tampons with the super-absorbent fibres carry the highest risk.

[specialsubject]

she'd be very unlucky, but it is a risk. It's a good idea to avert it with the usual measures; strict hygiene, minimal absorbency for purpose and considering pads at night-time.

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

I wouldn't be worried. I regularly do it and have done for 20+ years.

And I left one in for two weeks over Christmas (by accident I hasten to add!) with no ill effects other than the stench!

[TillITookAnArrowToTheKnee]

A 15 year old at my school died from TSS. After sleepig in one.

It is not something to be taken lightly. Ive always swapped to a pad at night.

[Foreverconfused]

I see your point but think she'll be fine. I always leave my tampon in over night with no issues (Obviously not as long as before I had kids !!). Last year ,my partner asked to have a feel down below as he could feel something odd when we had sex and was worried it was an abnormal growth. Next thing I know he's pulling out a tampon ....my period had been 3 weeks before I was fine thankfully.

[MoriartyIsMyAngel]

Could a 14 year old manage physically with a Mooncup? Even the smallest sizes are still substantially bigger than a tampon.

[VagueIdeas]

There used to be lots of articles about TSS in teen mags in the 90s. As a result, I never used a tampon overnight. Maybe if you can find a real life article somewhere to show her - not to make her feel chastised, but so she's aware that it can be fatal.

[VagueIdeas]

I really don't think a Mooncup is suitable for a 14 year old either, btw. No way.

[arethereanyleftatall]

How long are they allowed to stay in for then. I've always used them overnight, though I don't get the chance ever to be in bed more than 9 hours nowadays. What's the limit?

[toohardtothinkofaname]

like Pipbin I've had TSS too, 12 years ago when I was 15. Think it was a Kwik Save or Asda own brand tampon and never kept them in for more than 4 hours.

I came off the pill, my periods got lighter and I'm able to cope with just a panty liner from day 2 now - much less stressful than going through that again!

[bettyberry]

I never leave tampons in overnight and if I do use a tampon when it comes to changing I will use a pad next. Its just a habit but then I was taught about it at school back in the 90's and the Sex ed lady who came in to discuss periods, pads and tampons said to cycle them so tampon then towel then tampon etc and to avoid wearing tampons at night.

It's good you are going to chat to her about it. The tampon box leaflet should also have the info about TSS and some helpul links plus NHS direct has info on it so you can show her you are not being a pain in the arse like my sister said I was when I told her off for the same thing (she's 17)

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Maybe she could set an alarm? get up and change herself.

Yanbu btw.

and of course it's something the mum should ask the dd if she's worried about. it's just periods. and this is something that is very dangerous.

[VestalVirgin]

I don't insert anything into my body, so I couldn't say for sure, but I don't think the vagina grows that much after age 14?

Funnily enough, the site I linked to seems to have advertisements for a cup that can be rolled as thing as a tampon.

[kali110]

Yanbu at all op.
Can't believe how many people do it regularly when it's so dangerous.
There def should be more education regarding this as so many people don't seem to know, and never read the leaflet.

[Mintyy]

Ffs! All these "didn't do me any harm" posts.

Would you put your baby to sleep on its stomach in an overheated room well out of earshot at the other end of the house?

Presumably not, but the risk of anything bad happening in that scenario is minimal too.

Why would you allow your 14 year old to knowingly put herself at risk?

[kali110]

Shouldn't be used more than 8 hours.

Betty someone is trying to sue the company and shop as she got tss yet she admitted she didn't bother reading the leaflet....

[VestalVirgin]

@Mintyy: You have a point, but you can't really force a teenager to remove her tampon. You can only ensure that she puts herself at risk knowingly, not unknowingly.

And yes, those "didn't do me any harm" posts are a bit like the "my grandmother smoked for 89 years ..." statement.

The site I linked to explains that some people lack antibodies against the bacteria which cause TSS, so that is something to be considered, too.

[kali110]

Yes i've also read in last few months about a girl dying and a girl losing her leg to tss.

Completely agree with you mintyy!
Just because nothing bad has happened yet doesn't mean it couldn't nor wouldn't.

[MitzyLeFrouf]

YANBU.

Why risk it?

The TSS message definitely got through to me as a teen in the 90s.

[LBOCS2]

FWIW, if she uses non-applicator tampons, I don't think it's that much of a leap to using a mooncup (or one of the other varieties, some of which are smaller I think). I used tampons from 12, I don't think I'd have struggled with a mooncup at 14/15.

[megletthesecond]

I always left mine in overnight, so that would have been 9/10hrs. Lowest absorbency though. And changed as soon as I got up.