The disposable tampon as we know it today was first mass-produced in 1929, though tampons have been in existence since the time of the ancient Egyptians. Many women today find that tampons are much easier and more comfortable to use than towels or napkins.
All tampons made in the United States are made from either rayon, nylon or a combination of the two materials. The pad of absorbent material is inserted inside the vagina during menstruation to prevent leakage. Tampons have a small string attached to facilitate removal, and many types also come with a disposable applicator to make insertion easier and more comfortable. Digital tampons are smaller and easier to carry because they do not have an applicator, but they can be a little trickier to insert with the finger alone.
Tampons should be changed every 4 to 8 hours to prevent leakage, and the lowest absorbency rate required should be used to prevent health problems. Manufacturers recommend that if you sleep from more than 8 hours during the night you use a pad rather than a tampon.
What to Look for
One of the most important things to consider when you are buying tampons is which absorbency type is suitable for your individual rate of flow. Tampons generally come in 4 absorbency rates: light, regular, super, super-plus and ultra. If you are a first-time user, you probably want to begin with the smallest size. If you find that this is not absorbent enough, move up to the next size.
Tampon applicators can be either cardboard or plastic. Some women prefer plastic because of the smoothness of insertion.
There are currently a range of scented tampons available, but these are not always as effective at odor absorption as they claim to be, and may cause allergic reactions in some women.
Common Pitfalls
One health risk of using tampons--though comparatively rare--is toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Most documented cases have occurred in women under 30, particularly teenagers. TSS is caused by a type of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria or Streptococcus pyogenes, which produce toxins that go on to develop into TSS. According to WebMD, symptoms include severe flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and pains, stomach cramps, headache, sore throat, sudden fever, vomiting, diarrhea and a sunburn-like rash. Though it is fatal in only about 6 percent of cases, victims have been known to suffer hair loss, organ damage, miscarriage and paralysis.
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