The Doctors answer an important viewer question about whether it is necessary to change your tampon after each visit to the restroom.
OB/GYN Dr. Nita Landry says you do not have to change it every time after urinating and explains in most instances a woman does not have to worry about getting a little urine on the string of the tampon.
"It's not a big deal. It's just a string. You're not soaking up a bunch of urine with your tampon," Dr. Nita says.
But, there are guidelines when it comes to using a tampon, and Dr. Nita suggests the following:
- Change it every 4 to 6 hours
- Never leave in the same tampon longer than 8 hours
- Use the lowest absorbency as possible
She says following these 3 steps will help to decrease the probability of developing toxic shock syndrome, which is a rare but serious condition associated with bacterial toxins that can enter the bloodstream. This can occur as a result of blood sitting in the vagina for too long.
For women who are experiencing diarrhea, she does say that changing your tampon after using the bathroom might be a good idea.
