# TSS and cotton tampons

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tss-and-cotton-tampons/664937>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 30, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tss-and-cotton-tampons/664937 "2013-07-30T19:29:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![souper234](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@souper234](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/souper234)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tss-and-cotton-tampons/664937/1 "2013-07-30T19:29:42Z")

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Do 100% cotton tampons negate the risk of TSS, or merely decrease it?

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**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tss-and-cotton-tampons/664937/2 "2013-07-30T20:06:40Z")

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It’s been a long time since I heard anything about TSS, so I didn’t know there was still a panic about it. From what I just read (cites: [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxic_shock_syndrome) and [here](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/toxic-shock-syndrome/DS00221/DSECTION=causes)), it appears that the CDC isn’t really sure exactly what causes TSS aside from perhaps superabsorbent tampons. My understanding is that you can’t leave 'em in for like, 12 hours at a time. [This article](http://women.webmd.com/understanding-toxic-shock-syndrome-basics) says, in cases of TSS from tampons or sponges, they’ve been in there for 30 hours or more. I just learned that you can get TSS from a diaphragm or a contraceptive sponge. It’s just your basic staph infection. I’m thinking with good hygiene and frequent changes (every four hours or so?) the risk should be fairly [reduced](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000653.htm).