What actually happens if you leave tampon in too long and signs you need urgent help

They don't teach you about tampons in school and the dangers of them - or maybe I just wasn't listening?

All I knew growing up about tampons was they were an alternative to pads. So, like most of my friends and women I knew, I wore tampons regularly - not paying much regard to the exact length of time I had it in.

But as I got older and more women spoke about tampons, I learnt the dangers of them if misused - which, in some cases, can be potentially fatal.

You shouldn't leave your tampons in for too long (Getty stock image)

I'm sure we have all also experienced the fear after a night out trying to remember if we took our tampon out or not, or you get that horrible pit in your stomach when you suddenly can't find the string, leading you to think it's either fallen out somehow or it never vacated the premises.

And I know which one I'd rather it be.

Luckily for us, experts have provided us some advice on what happens if we've left it in longer than we intended, and what signs we should keep an eye out for to avoid any potential issues.

How long can I leave a tampon in?

Tampons need to be changed every four to eight hours (Getty stock image)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says you should change your tampon every four to eight hours, as per Health.

It's also generally okay to sleep with a tampon in overnight as long as you do not sleep for more than eight hours.

What can happen if you keep a tampon in too long?

This all sounds well and good but we as women should know what actually happens if a tampons are left in too long?

Leaving a tampon in for too long may lead to toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a potentially fatal disease, or other risks like bacterial vaginosis (BV) and a yeast infection.

TSS is the one I've heard of most - but what actually is it?

Toxic Shock syndrome is a possibility if left for too long (Getty stock image)

What is Toxic Shock Syndrome?

TSS is a rare but life-threatening condition caused by an infection, according to the NHS

TSS occurs when Staphylococcus aureus bacteria on a tampon emit toxins that overwhelm your body.

Some TSS symptoms to look out for include:

• Diarrhea
• Headache
• High fever and chills
• Kidney and liver failure
• Low blood pressure

You could also potentially experience muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, sunburn-like rash, red eyes, mouth and throat.

Although it is deemed rare, TSS is fatal about 50 percent of the time.

If you notice any abnormal discharge or odor, it is recommended to wash your hands and insert a finger into your vagina to look around for a tampon - and if you do find one, you must remove it immediately.

It could be potentially fatal (Getty stock image)

What should I do if I think I have TSS?

The FDA advises to call a healthcare provider or head to the emergency room right away if you think you have TSS as the disease moves quickly through the body.

Antibiotics can be used to treat the infection, while fluids, oxygen or surgery can be considered potential treatment for TSS.

Other risks

Aside from TSS, an old tampon can also cause infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and a yeast infection.

BV occurs when 'bad' bacteria is more prevalent than 'good', according to Heath, with symptoms including burning when peeing, itching in and around the vagina, and thin grey or white discharge.

There's plenty of risks that can happen if you leave it in too long (Getty stock image)

A yeast infection can be spotted if your discharge is 'thick, white, or watery', itchy vagina or vulva, and redness or swelling around the vulva.

Medicine, like anti-fungals, can treat a yeast infection, while BV can be treated by antibiotics.

Recommendations

It is also recommended that you use a tampon - or any sanitary product for that matter - that has the correct absorbance for your period flow.

You should also wash your hands before and after to reduce the spread of bacteria, as well as read the instructions to ensure you are putting them in correctly.

But I imagine you already knew that.