ANSES demands better information on toxic shock

Tampons or menstrual cups: all internal intimate protection presents a rare but serious risk of toxic shock (a generalized bacterial infection), stresses ANSES in a report published Monday, calling on manufacturers to provide “Clearer information” on the hygiene rules to be observed.

The agency, which had already looked into the health safety of female protections in 2018 (tampons, sanitary pads, panty liners and menstrual cups, or “cups”), also reiterates its recommendation made to manufacturers “To eliminate or minimize the presence of chemicals” found in these products, even if none, again, exceeds the health thresholds.

On January 9, a 17-year-old girl first treated for gastroenteritis died in Belgium of staph infection, according to federal health authorities. His death is due “To the septic shock of his pads”, his family reported in the Belgian media. This Tuesday, The Parisian published the testimony of Sandrine, 36, an amputee of both feet and part of her fingers following an infection caused by wearing a menstrual cup.

»READ ALSO – Menstrual cups do not protect against toxic shock syndrome

Antibiotic treatment

About twenty cases are recorded each year in France, but this number is undoubtedly underestimated, the declaration of this disease due to a bacterial infection with staphylococcus aureus not being compulsory. Only 1% to 4% of women are carriers of the staph strain involved in menstrual toxic shock syndrome (TSS), and therefore potentially at risk.

Detected early, SCT can be cured by taking antibiotics, but it can also cause significant digestive, muscular, renal, etc. damage. The first symptoms (fever, rashes, lowered blood pressure) can resemble an influenza state, the diagnosis is often difficult to establish.

»READ ALSO – Menstrual shock syndrome: how to avoid it?

Information too often missing

Is the quality of hygienic protections in question? The case of an American model amputated in both legs following a SCT in 2015 had led, in France, to the launch of a petition asking for more transparency on the composition of the pads. But “In the current state of knowledge, the SCT is not linked to the material used in the composition of these protections”, specifies ANSES in its report. “The risk of developing this disease (…) is linked to the conditions of use of intimate protection”, she added, noting that information on this risk is too often missing, especially on menstrual cups.

“All internal female protections block the flow of menstrual flow, which then behaves like a kind of culture medium”, explains Aurélie Mathieu, who coordinated this new scientific expertise at ANSES. In women carrying this particular strain of staph, the bacteria can sometimes “Grow until you have enough bacteria to carry the toxin” TBS manager “Be produced and pass to the blood level”.

What precautions should I take?

Also, the agency “Reminds users of the importance of respecting the hygiene rules related to the use of protections”. Precautions which must make it possible to guard against the syndrome of the toxic shock:

• Avoid using tampons if you have already been diagnosed with toxic shock;

• Wash your hands with soap before inserting or removing a tampon or menstrual cup;

• Change the tampon every 4 to 8 hours and avoid wearing it at night: use a tampon only during part of the day alternating the use of tampons and sanitary napkins. Use, for example, towels at night and tampons during the day;

• Don’t forget to remove the tampon;

• Wait for your period to start before using a tampon. Avoid using a tampon as a precaution when you expect to be menstruating from day to day or to absorb other types of discharge;

• Use tampons with the minimum absorbency needed to meet your personal needs. The risk of contracting TSS is higher with highly absorbent pads.

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