MYTH #1
Once I use a tampon, I will lose my virginity
FACT: Nonsense! Using tampons will not affect your virginity. You are only inserting a tiny roll of absorbent materials into your vagina. It will never injure the hymen (the piece of skin covering the opening of the vagina). In specific terms, virginity is lost only when a girl has sexual intercourse with a guy.
MYTH #2
Using tampons will damage the hymen
FACT: Not true, because there's a natural opening in the hymen that's wide and elastic enough to admit a tampon without causing any harm.
MYTH #3
Despite its sheer size, a tampon can absorb as much as a sanitary pad
FACT: True. The capacity of these tiny tampons equals that of sanitary pads. They are made of the same absorbent materials or even stronger, so they last for the same period of time.
MYTH #4
Tampons block the flow of menstrual fluid
FACT: False. Tampons actually act as a sponge to soak up the menstrual fluid. And, when the tampon is fully soaked and isn't replaced, the menstrual fluid will leak out of the vagina either through the tampon or around it.
MYTH #5
A tampon can be inserted too far
FACT: It will never be the case where a tampon is inserted too deply and the tampon will never move further upward into your body. This is because the entrance of the uterus at the end of the vagina is so small that a tampon could not possibly pass through it. Also, the tampon cannot move around because your pelvic muscles hold it in position.
MYTH #6
The chances of the tampon slipping out are high
FACT: False. A tampon cannot slip out or get lost inside a girl. When the tampon is inserted properly, the pelvic muscles hold it firmly in place, making sure that the tampon does not make any exit. So the tampon should sit firmly, even though you are running or jumping.
MYTH #7
A tampon makes you feel like something's stuck down there
FACT: Well, you will probably feel a little uncomfortable when you have just inserted the tampon. And, if you don't push the tampon in far enough, the discomfort won't go away. But, if it's inserted properly, you shouldn't feel a thing.
MYTH #8
Tampons cost more than sanitary pads
FACT: Depending on the amount of flow, prices between tampons and pads vary. However, the differences are not as big as you think. When you spread the cost down to per piece, it is still reasonable.
MYTH #9
Tampons can cause Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)
FACT: Toxic Shock Syndrome is a rare bacterial-caused illness that occurs mostly in menstruating women who are using high absorbency tampons. It is potentially life-threatening and even claimed the life of a 25-year-old woman in the US in 1980.
However, studies have shown that tampons do not cause TSS, but they provide an ideal environment for the growth of the staphylococcus aureus bacteria which is the main cause of this disease. The toxins produced by the bacteria are actually found naturally on the skin, in the nose, and occasionally, in the vagina. In addition, findings made by Dr Philip Tierno Jr, Director of Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology of NYU Medical Center, USA, concluded that all cotton tampons produced none of the TSS toxin. Therefore, it's the way in which tampons are used which put women at risk of TSS.
