Toxic Shock Syndrome: Don't F*ck Around With This One

Toxic Shock Syndrome: What You Need to Know

Do you ever leave your tampons in overnight? Because that's actually super deadly, and not a good thing to do to your body. According to the Mayo Clinic, toxic shock syndrome is caused by bacteria called staphylococcus, and even though it's rare, it can result in life-threatening complications and sometimes even death.[1]

While you can get toxic shock from a variety of things like menstrual cups, a weakened immune system, skin burns, tampons, menstrual pads, and a plethora of other factors, tampons seem to be the culprit in many toxic shock cases. You may be wondering what exactly toxic shock is. Let's deep dive into it. In the case of tampons, if you wear a really absorbent brand and leave it in for a long period of time, you're putting yourself at risk for contracting toxic shock syndrome.

What Are the Symptoms?

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the symptoms of toxic shock syndrome include:[2]

• Muscle pain

• Loose bowels

• Skin changes

• Shallow breathing

• Extreme tiredness

• Irregular urine

• Rash

• Feverish feelings

• Light-headedness

• Chills

Basically, it's something you don't want to get because it can kill you. Since we're already talking about tampons, the best thing to do is change out your tampon regularly.

Can You Get Toxic Shock from Sex Toys?

And we wouldn't be a sex toy blog if we didn't let you know that it's possible to get toxic shock from sex toys. While it's uncommon, you can get it from sharing unclean toys or if a toy causes you to have a cut. Toxic shock syndrome is a bloodstream type of thing, so once it's in there, it can spread like wildfire.

What Actually Happens in Your Body?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, toxic shock happens when your body releases a set of toxins that directly affect your organs and can lead to death.[3] Anyone can get toxic shock syndrome, but women were traditionally noted as being at the highest risk. Once thought to be solely related to tampon use, we now know that anyone of any age can get toxic shock syndrome.

A Brief History

The name "toxic shock" was first coined in 1978.[4] Then, in January 1980, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received reports that otherwise healthy young women were suddenly becoming sick with TSS. Between 1979 and 1980, 1,365 American women were diagnosed with the condition.[5]

What To Do

Look, toxic shock syndrome isn't something to mess around with. While it's rare, it's also completely avoidable with some basic precautions. Change your tampons every 4-8 hours (yes, even overnight), clean your sex toys properly between uses, and never share them with partners. Pay attention to your body, if something feels off or you're experiencing any of those symptoms we talked about, get medical help immediately. TSS can escalate quickly, but catching it early can literally save your life. The good news is we know what causes it, cases have dropped significantly since that 1980 outbreak. So don't panic, just be smart about it. Your body will thank you.

References

1. Mayo Clinic. "Toxic Shock Syndrome." https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/toxic-shock-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20355384

2. Johns Hopkins Medicine. "Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)." https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/toxic-shock-syndrome-tss

3. Cleveland Clinic. "Toxic Shock Syndrome." https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15437-toxic-shock-syndrome

4. Children's Colorado. "Toxic Shock Syndrome." https://www.childrenscolorado.org/health-professionals/professional-resources/charting-pediatrics-podcast/toxic-shock-syndrome/

5. Clue. "Toxic Shock Syndrome and Menstrual Products: A Short History." https://helloclue.com/articles/cycle-a-z/toxic-shock-syndrome-and-menstrual-products-a-short-history