Tampax Pearl Tampons

Tampax Pearl Tampons Causing Serious Vaginal Problems-Fiction!

Summary of the eRumor The story is that an unnamed woman who had been using Tampax Pearl tampons for five months had a series of problems including yeast infections. Visits to doctors don't provide relief. At one point, the woman discovers that fibers from the tampon have been accumulating in her vagina. The email postulates that the fiber mass was both causing the problems and preventing doctors from finding the cause. It says the lady is thinking about filing a lawsuit and fearing Toxic Shock Syndrome.

The Truth According to the folks at Procter and Gamble, the maker of the Tampax Pearl tampons, this email was started by a woman who claims she was relating the experience of a friend of hers, but the woman has refused to reveal her friend's identity so the story is without substantiation. If the story is not true, then it is a fabrication and probably came from the fears and imagination of a person who felt discomfort about the Tampax Pearl tampons and wanted to create a story that gave substance to her warnings. The fears may have been based on genuine concerns about Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), which can be fatal. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the number of TSS cases in recent years has been less than a dozen each year, some of which have been associated with the use of tampons, especially among young women. TSS has also occurred, however, in children, men, and non-menstruating women. The FDA says a connection between TSS and some types of Tampons has been suggested, especially associated with materials that are no longer used in Tampons in the United States. An FDA report says, "Vaginal dryness and ulcerations may occur when women use tampons more absorbent than needed for the amount of their menstrual flow. Ulcerations have also been reported in women using tampons between menstrual periods to try to control excessive vaginal discharge or abnormal bleeding. Women may avoid problems by choosing a tampon with the minimum absorbency needed to control menstrual flow and using tampons only during active menstruation." For more information, CLICK HERE for the FDA page on tampons. CLICK HERE for Procter and Gamble's page about tampon questions. Last updated 8/1/03
A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:
women - take note! Got this forwarded to me from a friend - want to let everyone know about this..... ~Amanda I know this subject is rather embarrassing, but I was glad my sister passed this message to me, and I hope you will send it along to other women, too. Jean A woman I work with started using the new Tampax Pearl 5 months ago and that's when she started getting yeast infections. They got worse and worse every month and being experienced with yeast infections, she used over-the-counter treatments. They didn't help. She finally went to her doctor, who did a PAP Smear, which didn't reveal anything. As it got worse, she finally went to her OB-Gyn, who also did a PAP Smear. It didn't test positive, but bacteria showed up. She was then given a prescription to treat a yeast infection and went home. She went back as it got worse and also when, one day while using the bathroom, a clump of something came out. She had no idea what it was initially and threw it away. She quickly thought better of it and wrapped it up and brought it with her in a Ziploc baggie to yet another visit to the doctor. She had figured out what it was herself and the doctor confirmed it. It was the Tampax Pearl fibers. They had been collecting for the past 5 months! ! She even took an unopened tampon and showed me how the fibers come off so easily. You wouldn't notice because the applicator covers it. And how many people open up a tampon and inspect them? Well, it hasn't ended yet. When she went in last, the doctor went to get some cultures, but found that her cervix was bleeding and it prevented her from getting all the cultures that she needed. The fibers from the tampon are cutting her and making her bleed. But the blood is having a hard time getting out and so there was a lot of old blood in the way when the doctor tried to take the cultures. Right now, she is not being treated for anything, not until they can figure out how to treat her. Poor woman is uncomfortable and in pain! Most likely, they'll have to do a D&C (did I use the right letters?) to clean it all out. Another girl that I work with also has been using them for a few months and has been having problems, but couldn't figure it out. She won't be using them anymore. I have used a few, just to try them, but will be throwing out any that I have left. I am also going to go home and inspect my regular tampons to see if fibers come off of those also. By the way, my friend's doctor is writing a letter to the company and my friend is looking into filing a lawsuit. This is affecting her in every aspect of her life. She is also very afraid now of TSS. She told me and every woman she knows in order to get the word out, so no one else has to go through this. I said I'd spread the word. I know a yeast infection is an awful thing to experience, but this is so much worse! Ladies, Spread the word and take care!