Calling all women! Listen up If you don’t want to be in for a shock! International Tampon Alert Day 8 June annually

Do you wear a tampon?  Then you need to check out International Tampon Alert Day to find out what it’s all about!   Get to know the symptoms of toxic shock and at the same time raise your awareness to the condition.

So what causes toxic shock syndrome (TSS)?  Well, it’s a bacteria that can live on the skin of men and women with over half of reported cases being related to women’s use of tampons.

The best way to avoid TSS is to not use a tampon overnight if you’re likely to sleep more than 8 hours.  You should also always use the lowest absorbency for your flow and wash your hands before and after inserting your tampon.

But how do you know if you have got it?   Dizziness, a rash and feeling faint are all known symptoms.   If you think you might have TSS remove your tampon and phone your doctor straight away.

Of course the only way to completely avoid TSS is to not wear tampons at all – but of course this isn’t practical for every woman.  If you want to find about safer tampon alternatives, visit the International Tampon Alert Day website for all the information you will need.