People, it happens to the best of us, which is why you might find yourself wondering, really, how long can you leave a tampon in?
There are indeed some important tampon safety tips that you should follow to avoid risks of prolonged use. Because while tampons these days are generally very safe, leaving a tampon in for too long can alter the pH of the vagina, which allows bacteria and fungi that are already living in your vagina to grow.
Similarly, while it is safe to pee and poop with a tampon in , you may want to change out for a new one if the string gets exposed to stool and thereby, bacteria , or if the tampon gets slightly dislodged from straining. Generally, yes, says Dr. Dweck says. According to Penn Medicine , water does not enter the vagina when you go swimming. When swimming while wearing a tampon, change your tampon at the time you normally would. The longer a tampon is left in, the more likely it is to throw the natural balance of bacteria and yeast out of whack.
Over time, forgetting to change a tampon increases the risk of irritation and infections, including bacterial vaginosis BV and yeast infections , explains Jessica Shepherd, MD, FACOG , a former assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, in Chicago and current chief medical officer of Verywell Health.
You may notice a strong odor that can get quite foul musty or fishy due to the blood, secretions, and bacteria in the tampon, and vaginal discharge may appear brownish red or thick yellow, says Dr. Because tampons are highly absorbent, Dr. Yet another key reason to change your tampon on the reg: In very, very rare circumstances, an overgrowth of certain types of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus staph and group A streptococcus strep , can enter the bloodstream through tiny tears in the vagina and cause toxic shock syndrome TSS.
