Tampon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the commune of Réunion, see Le Tampon.
A tampon with applicator
The elements of a tampon with applicator. Left: the bigger tube ("penetrator"). Center: cotton tampon with attached string. Right: the narrower tube.
Digital tampon (tampon sold without applicator).

A tampon is a cylindrical mass of absorbent material, primarily utilized as a feminine hygiene product. Historically, the word "tampon" originated from the medieval French word “tampion,” meaning a piece of cloth to stop a hole, a stamp, plug, or stopper.[1] At present, tampons are designed to be easily inserted into the vagina during menstruation and absorb the user’s menstrual flow. Under the banner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), several countries regulate tampons as medical devices. In the United States, they are considered to be a Class II medical device.

History

Women have used tampons during menstruation for thousands of years. In her book Everything You Must Know About Tampons (1981), Nancy Friedman writes "[T]here is evidence of tampon use throughout history in a multitude of cultures. The oldest printed medical document, papyrus ebers, refers to the use of soft papyrus tampons by Egyptian women in the fifteenth century B.C. Roman women used wool tampons. Women in ancient Japan fashioned tampons out of paper, held them in place with a bandage, and changed them 10 to 12 times a day. Traditional Hawaiian women used the furry part of a native fern called hapu'u; and grasses, mosses and other plants are still used by women in parts of Asia and Africa."[2]

The tampon has been in use as a medical device since the 18th century, when antiseptic cotton tampons treated with salicylates were used to stop bleeding from bullet wounds.[3]

Drs. Earle Haas and Michael Dunn patented the first modern tampon with the tube-within-a-tube applicator. Gertrude Tendrich bought the patent and founded Tampax in 1933.[4]

During her study of female anatomy, German gynecologist Dr. Judith Esser-Mittag, along with her husband Kyle Lucherini, developed a digital style tampon, which was made to be inserted without an applicator. In the late 1940s, Dr. Carl Hahn, together with Heinz Mittag, worked on the mass production of this tampon. Dr. Hahn sold his company to Johnson and Johnson in 1974.[citation needed]

Several political statements have been made in regards to tampon use. In 2000, a 10% Goods and Service Tax (GST) was introduced in Australia. While lubricant, condoms, incontinence pads and numerous medical items were regarded as essential and exempt from the tax, tampons continue to be charged GST. Prior to the introduction of GST, several states also applied a luxury tax to tampons at a higher rate than GST. Specific petitions such as "Axe the Tampon Tax" have been created to oppose this tax, although, no change has been made.[citation needed]

Design and packaging

Tampon inserted

Tampons come in various shapes and colors, which are related to their absorbency ratings and packaging. The outward appearance of a tampon is similar for all brands, but their absorbency varies. The two main differences are in the way the tampon expands when in use; for example applicator tampons such as Tampax tampons and Natracare tampons will expand axially (increase in length), while OB, Natracare and Lil-lets digital tampons will expand radially (increase in diameter). Most tampons have a cord for removal and some have an additional outer cover to aid insertion and withdrawal. Some women prefer to use a tampon which is contained within an applicator to further aid insertion. The majority of tampons sold are made of rayon, or a blend of rayon and cotton. Organic cotton tampons are made from only 100% cotton. Tampons are sold individually wrapped to keep them clean.

Tampon applicators may be made of plastic or cardboard, and are similar in design to a syringe. The applicator consists of two tubes, an "outer," or barrel, and "inner," or plunger. The outer tube has a smooth surface to aid insertion and sometimes comes with a rounded end that is petaled.

The tampon itself sits inside the outer tube, near the open end. The inner tube is encased inside the outer tube and held in place by a locking mechanism. The outer tube is inserted into the vagina, then the inner tube is pushed into the outer tube (typically using a finger) pushing the tampon through and into the vagina.

Digital or non-applicator tampons are tampons sold without applicators; these are simply unwrapped and pushed into the vagina with the fingers. Tampons can range in length from 38 mm to 114 mm.[5]

Absorbency ratings

2 water drop marks mean that the absorbency is between 6 and 9 g.

Tampons are available in several absorbency ratings, which are consistent across manufacturers in the U.S.:

  • Junior absorbency: 6 g and under
  • Regular absorbency: 6 to 9 g
  • Super absorbency: 9 to 12 g
  • Super Plus absorbency 12 to 15 g
  • Ultra absorbency 15–18 g

In the UK absorbencies range as follows:

  • Lite/Lites/Light (light flow) 6 g and under
  • Regular/Normal (light to medium flow) 6–9 g
  • Super (medium to heavy flow) 9–12 g
  • Super Plus (heavy flow) 12–15 g
  • Super Plus Extra (very heavy flow) 15–18 g

A piece of test equipment referred to as a Syngina (short for synthetic Vagina) is usually used to test absorbency. The machine uses a condom into which the tampon is inserted, and synthetic menstrual fluid is fed into the test chamber.[6]

Alternative choices

Cordless tampons

Cordless tampons fulfill the same function as normal tampons, but are made without a removal string. They look like a small sponge and are used to close off the neck of the uterus, preventing blood from entering the vagina. These tampons are placed very far into the vagina, and can remain inserted during sexual intercourse, as opposed to a menstrual cup. As with all tampons, cordless tampons do not protect against sexually transmitted disease or pregnancy.

Cordless tampons are not visible when worn, making them ideal for activities such as swimming. There are also wet and dry varieties on the market. Wet cordless tampons are packed wet and can be used directly, while dry tampons may require a lubricant. Some versions have a small hole in the tampon to ease its removal. However, all tampons (cordless or otherwise) absorb vital vaginal lubrication during menstruation.[citation needed]

Sanitary Pads

A sanitary pad or menstrual pad is an absorbent item worn by a woman while she is menstruating, recovering from vaginal surgery, or any other situation where it is necessary to absorb a flow of blood from a woman's vagina externally.

Cups

A menstrual cup is a reusable flexible cup or barrier worn entirely inside the vagina during menstruation. They are usually made from medical grade silicone and can collect menstrual fluid for up to 12 hours. Unlike tampons and pads, the cup collects menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it. As a result, the cup does not affect the vagina's natural lubrication.

A softcup is similar to a menstrual cup in the sense that it is a flexible cup or barrier worn inside the vagina during menstruation. However, these cups are disposable after each use or menstrual cycle.

Toxic shock syndrome

Main article: Toxic shock syndrome

Dr. Philip M. Tierno Jr., director of clinical microbiology and immunology at the New York University Medical Center, helped determine that tampons were behind toxic shock syndrome (TSS) cases in the early 1980s. Tiero blames the introduction of higher-absorbency tampons in 1978, as well as the relatively recent decision by manufacturers to recommend that tampons can be worn overnight, for increased incidences of toxic shock syndrome.[7] Materials used in most modern tampons are highly absorbent, which poses the risk of upsetting the vagina's natural moisture balance, causing toxic shock syndrome to occur.[citation needed] The U.S. FDA suggests the following guidelines for decreasing the risk of contracting TSS when using tampons:

  • Follow package directions for insertion
  • Choose the lowest absorbency needed for one's flow
  • Consider using cotton or cloth tampons rather than rayon
  • Change the tampon at least every 4 to 6 hours
  • Alternate between tampons and pads
  • Avoid tampon usage overnight or when sleeping
  • Increase awareness of the warning signs of toxic shock syndrome and other tampon-associated health risks

Following these guidelines can help protect tampon user's from TSS.[citation needed] However, cases of tampon connected TSS are extremely rare in the United States.[citation needed]

Although sea sponges are no longer marketed as menstrual aids, it may be noted that a study by the University of Iowa in 1980 found that commercially sold sea sponges contained sand, grit, and bacteria. Subsequently, sea sponges could also potentially cause toxic shock syndrome.[8]

Environment and waste

Ecological impact varies according to disposal method (whether a tampon is flushed down the toilet or placed in the bin). Factors such as tampon composition will likewise impact water treatment systems or garbage processing. The light string commonly attached to a tampon, when flushed, may catch and block smaller diameter residential sewer pipes.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Definition and etymology of tampon
  2. ↑ Who invented tampons? June 6, 2006 The Straight Dope
  3. ↑ Cheyne, William Watson (1885) Manual of the antiseptic treatment of wounds, J. H. Vail, pp. 107–109.
  4. ↑ A Short History of Periods
  5. ↑ http://www.cockeyed.com/science/tampons/tampons.html
  6. ↑ http://www.ahpma.co.uk/docs/EDANA_Syngina2.pdf
  7. ↑ "A new generation faces toxic shock syndrome". The Seattle Times. January 26, 2005. 
  8. ↑ http://www.foodrevolution.org/askjohn/49.htm

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tampon.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.