MANY women keep their tampons in the bathroom so they are always prepared for an emergency – but there is an important reason why you should think twice about it.
Dr Alyssa Dweck, from New York, revealed that cotton tampons left in the warm, moist bathrooms are susceptible to mould and bacteria which can cause your vagina to become infected.
The moisture in the air is the perfect breeding ground for mould, and the heat can cause it multiply quickly.
What is even more worrying is that many tampons have their cotton section hidden in an applicator, so it can be hard to spot dark black, blue or green spots.
Dr Alyssa Dweck said to Women’s Health: “Think about cotton. It's susceptible to mould and bacteria.
"If your bathroom is particularly steamy, you might want to think about storing them in a cool, dark cabinet instead.”
If you do insert a mouldy tampon, Dr Alyssa advised that you may notice itching, irritation and an increase in discharge, as the vagina attempts to maintain its natural pH.
Women should also be careful when they store an emergency tampon at the bottom of their bags.
Not only do tampons have a five-year shelf life after they leave the manufacturing facility and can expire, according to Dr Alyssa, but they can be susceptible to becoming contaminated.
If a hair clip or coins at the bottom of your bag cause a tear to the protective covering, the tampon can be exposed to dirt and bacteria.
Dr Alyssa said: "Tampons have an expiry date that's usually five years after they're produced, read labels just like you would for salad or juice.”
Thankfully the healthcare professional said if you do use a contaminated tampon, your vagina can usually sort itself out without you needing a GP.
However, if symptoms worsen after you remove the offending sanitary item, you should book an appointment with your gynaecologist or GP and you may need a course of antibiotics.
Earlier this year Tesco became the first retailer to cover the cost of VAT on tampons – saving customers 5% on nearly 100 items.
And in April aeenage girl, 14, was left fighting for life after her tampon triggered deadly sepsis and organ failure.
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