Women are always restricted by their menstrual period. No matter how they try to hide their discomfort or try to feel normal, there’s this twinge in their actions and their movements are controlled. There are a lot of products that attempt to make a woman’s life better whenever she has a period. However, most of them fall short health-wise and in functionality - until the best tampon alternative came around. Instead Softcup is a great way to stay clean, protected, and dry during your menstrual period. This is the best tampon alternative yet and it is much safer to use than pads. It has higher capacity and can contain twice as much menstrual fluid than regular tampons. Tampons are always associated to the TSS or the Toxic Shock Syndrome. Instead Softcup gives you the effectiveness of tampons without causing that alarming health concern. Like tampons, Instead Softcup is inserted inside the vaginal area. It may take you some time to get used to it, but you will do so eventually with regular use. The feeling is much like when you first used a pair contact lens. Like its name indicates, Instead Softcup is a very soft cup-like device that follows the contours of your vagina so fluids won’t leak out. You take it out of your body in the same way that you inserted it. What’s so good about this product is the fact that doctors recommend it. Instead Softcup has never caused TSS among women in its 10 years of being released in the market. What’s more, you can practically do everything during your period as if it’s just any other ordinary day. You can take a dip at the swimming pool, have sex, or go through rigorous exercises. Soft cup can be worn for up to 12 hours, which means you don’t have to change liners all the time. Feel dry, protected, and confident during your menstrual period. Make your menstruation the last thing in your mind. With Instead Softcup, women are finally given the freedom that she always deserved. Indeed, it is the best tampon alternative ever created.

Menstruation is a common occurrence to women. In fact, it is their mark of femininity. While menstruation is a normal thing, a lot of women don’t feel normal whenever they have their period. And so a good number of them go out of their way to find the best menstrual products in the market. Women would give anything to a product that would thoroughly protect them during periods and won’t restrict their actions at all. It is a little embarrassing for some women to decline going to a beach or a pool party just because she is on her first day of period. Sometimes, people ask too much. It’s not really a delight to tell the rest of the group that you can’t take a dip in the waters simply because you are having your period. Well, that was before. Now, women have Instead Softcup as an answer to their concerns. Instead Softcup is a highly innovative menstrual product that is way better than pads and tampons. Pads can’t give you total protection at all. In fact, you are required to change pads every hour or so just to prevent leaks. If you use pads, you cannot, in any way do some swimming. Tampons might seem to be the better choice. But when you think about TSS, tampons can’t be considered as one of the best menstrual products in the market either. Toxic Shock Syndrome is very common to women who use tampons, especially if they failed to insert the device properly. Then Instead Softcup was introduced. In the past 10 years since the product was launched, not a single woman had complained about TSS while using the device. Compared to pads and tampons, this menstrual product can hold up to thrice as much fluid. What’s more, you can practically do things during your period that you can never do on pad and tampons. Swimming is just an activity you can enjoy with Softcup even on your heaviest days. You can even enjoy a good round of sex while you’re at it. Instead Softcup can give you the peace of mind and the freedom during your period that no other menstrual products in the market possibly can.

Women are always restricted by their menstrual period. No matter how they try to hide their discomfort or try to feel normal, there’s this twinge in their actions and their movements are controlled. There are a lot of products that attempt to make a woman’s life better whenever she has a period. However, most of them fall short health-wise and in functionality - until the best tampon alternative came around. Instead Softcup is a great way to stay clean, protected, and dry during your menstrual period. This is the best tampon alternative yet and it is much safer to use than pads. It has higher capacity and can contain twice as much menstrual fluid than regular tampons. Tampons are always associated to the TSS or the Toxic Shock Syndrome. Instead Softcup gives you the effectiveness of tampons without causing that alarming health concern. Like tampons, Instead Softcup is inserted inside the vaginal area. It may take you some time to get used to it, but you will do so eventually with regular use. The feeling is much like when you first used a pair contact lens. Like its name indicates, Instead Softcup is a very soft cup-like device that follows the contours of your vagina so fluids won’t leak out. You take it out of your body in the same way that you inserted it. What’s so good about this product is the fact that doctors recommend it. Instead Softcup has never caused TSS among women in its 10 years of being released in the market. What’s more, you can practically do everything during your period as if it’s just any other ordinary day. You can take a dip at the swimming pool, have sex, or go through rigorous exercises. Soft cup can be worn for up to 12 hours, which means you don’t have to change liners all the time. Feel dry, protected, and confident during your menstrual period. Make your menstruation the last thing in your mind. With Instead Softcup, women are finally given the freedom that she always deserved. Indeed, it is the best tampon alternative ever created.

Menstruation is a common occurrence to women. In fact, it is their mark of femininity. While menstruation is a normal thing, a lot of women don’t feel normal whenever they have their period. And so a good number of them go out of their way to find the best menstrual products in the market. Women would give anything to a product that would thoroughly protect them during periods and won’t restrict their actions at all. It is a little embarrassing for some women to decline going to a beach or a pool party just because she is on her first day of period. Sometimes, people ask too much. It’s not really a delight to tell the rest of the group that you can’t take a dip in the waters simply because you are having your period. Well, that was before. Now, women have Instead Softcup as an answer to their concerns. Instead Softcup is a highly innovative menstrual product that is way better than pads and tampons. Pads can’t give you total protection at all. In fact, you are required to change pads every hour or so just to prevent leaks. If you use pads, you cannot, in any way do some swimming. Tampons might seem to be the better choice. But when you think about TSS, tampons can’t be considered as one of the best menstrual products in the market either. Toxic Shock Syndrome is very common to women who use tampons, especially if they failed to insert the device properly. Then Instead Softcup was introduced. In the past 10 years since the product was launched, not a single woman had complained about TSS while using the device. Compared to pads and tampons, this menstrual product can hold up to thrice as much fluid. What’s more, you can practically do things during your period that you can never do on pad and tampons. Swimming is just an activity you can enjoy with Softcup even on your heaviest days. You can even enjoy a good round of sex while you’re at it. Instead Softcup can give you the peace of mind and the freedom during your period that no other menstrual products in the market possibly can.

If you’re a girl who’s had her period, you may have heard frightening stories about toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a serious illness originally linked to the use of tampons. But TSS isn’t strictly related to tampons. The contraceptive sponge and the diaphragm, two types of birth control methods, have been linked to TSS. And, sometimes, the infection has occurred as a result of wounds or surgery, where the skin has been broken, allowing bacteria to enter.

Toxic shock syndrome can happen to anyone %26mdash; men, women, and children. Although it can be serious, it’s a very rare illness. If you’re concerned about toxic shock syndrome, the smartest thing you can do is to read and learn about it, then take some precautions.

What Is Toxic Shock Syndrome?

TSS is a systemic illness, which means that it affects the whole body. It can be caused by one of two different types of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes %26mdash; although toxic shock that is caused by the Streptococcus bacteria is rarer. These bacteria can produce document.write(deftoxins60)toxins. In some people whose bodies can’t fight these toxins, the immune system reacts. This reaction causes the symptoms associated with TSS.

When people think of TSS, they often think of tampon use. That’s because the earliest cases of the illness, back in the late 1970s, were related to superabsorbent tampons. Research led to better tampons and better habits for using them %26mdash; such as changing tampons more often. The number of TSS cases dropped dramatically. Today about half of all TSS cases are linked to menstruation.

Aside from tampon use, TSS has been linked to skin infections that are typically minor and can be associated with the chickenpox rash. TSS has also been reported following surgical procedures, giving birth, and prolonged use of nasal packing for nosebleeds %26mdash; although all of these are rare.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms?

Symptoms of TSS occur suddenly. Because it’s an illness that is caused by a toxin, many of the body’s organ systems are affected. The signs and symptoms of TSS include:

high fever (greater than 102° Fahrenheit [38.8° Celsius])

rapid drop in blood pressure (with lightheadedness or fainting)

sunburn-like rash on the entire body

vomiting and diarrhea

severe muscle aches or weakness

bright red coloring of the eyes, throat, and vagina

headache, confusion, disorientation, or seizures

kidney and other organ failure

The average time before symptoms appear for TSS is 2 to 3 days after an infection with Staphylococcus or Streptococcus, although this can vary depending on the cause of the infection.

Can I Prevent TSS?

The risk of getting TSS is already low. But you can reduce it still further by simply following some common-sense precautions:

Clean and bandage any skin wounds.

Change bandages regularly, rather than keeping them on for several days.

Check wounds for signs of infection. If a wound gets red, swollen, painful, or tender, or if you develop a fever, call your doctor right away.

If you’re a girl whose period has started, the best way to avoid TSS is to use sanitary napkins instead of tampons.

For girls who prefer to use tampons, select the ones with the lowest absorbency that can handle your menstrual flow and change them frequently. You can also alternate the use of tampons with sanitary napkins.

If you’ve already had an episode of TSS or have been infected with S. aureus, don’t use tampons or contraceptive devices that have been associated with TSS (such as diaphragms and contraceptive sponges).

What Do Doctors Do?

TSS is a medical emergency. If you think you or someone you know may have TSS, call a doctor right away. Depending on the symptoms, a doctor may see you in the office or refer you to a hospital emergency department for immediate evaluation and testing.

If doctors suspect TSS, they will probably start intravenous (IV) fluids and antibiotics as soon as possible. They may take a sample from the suspected site of the infection, such as the skin, nose, or vagina, to check it for TSS. They may also take a blood sample. Other blood tests can help monitor how various organs like the kidneys are working and check for other diseases that may be causing the symptoms.

Medical staff will remove tampons, contraceptive devices, or wound packing; clean any wounds; and, if there is a pocket of infection (called an abscess), a doctor may need to drain pus from the infected area.

People with TSS typically need to stay in the hospital, often in the intensive care unit, for several days to closely monitor blood pressure, respiratory status, and to look for signs of other problems, such as organ damage.

TSS is a very rare illness that’s usually not fatal if recognized and treated promptly.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: January 2007
Originally reviewed by: Joel Klein, MD Printer-friendly versionEmail this article to a friendSend email to us