Can You Sleep With a Tampon In?

Using a tampon is a convenient and effective way to manage your period. It also, however, carries slightly more risks than other forms of menstrual care. Here's what you need to know about using a tampon during sleep.

Tampax recommends a maximum of six hours before changing your tampon, suggesting a window of 4-6 hours before changing. However, this does depend on the level of bleeding you experience. Those with a heavy flow should change more frequently to avoid leaks. If your tampon seems insecure and too easy to remove, or if the string has blood on it, you should not leave your tampons in for this long regularly.

On the other side of the spectrum, if you find that when you remove a tampon you feel irritated and that the tampon is dry, you may be changing too frequently.

As well as external issues like leaks and stains, keeping a tampon in for too long can actually damage your health - and can, in rare occasions, be fatal. 

Keeping your tampon in for too long - usually beyond the six-hour recommended limit, runs the risk of several health complications including, but not limited to:

• inflammation and itching of the skin and overall vaginal area
• burning or painful sensation
• odours
• excess discharge
• fever
• Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)

Toxic shock syndrome is a rare, but serious and even life-threatening complication caused by an infection typically stemming from the use of a tampon or menstrual cup - usually when they have been kept in for too long.

TSS can go undetected as it often mimics symptoms of flu, such as:

• fever
• muscle aches
• a raised, dry skin rash
• general feeling of unwellness

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, please seek medical advice immediately, as you may be experiencing an infection that is fatal if left untreated:

• dizziness, confusion or slurred speech
• vomiting or diarrhoea
• severe pains in body
• redness of the palms, feet soles, or whites of eyes
• blotchy skin, especially around the mouth, which may be blue, grey, or generally off-colour
• peeling skin
• a rash that doesn't go away when pressed on with a glass - a common symptom of meningitis
• breathing difficulties

Disrupted sleep during your period is one of the most commonly reported symptoms - due to cramping, hormonal shifts, fear of leaks, and countless other symptoms. Many also find that, when possible, more sleep is required during menstruation, as fatigue is also one of the most reported symptoms. 

Generally, it is advised to use a pad rather than a tampon for sleeping during your period. Bearing in mind the Tampax recommendation of keeping in a tampon for no longer than six hours, most people would have to wake up in the middle of their scheduled sleep to change their tampon.

While complications are rare, risks are still real - even non-fatal medical complications, such as skin irritation, are still unpleasant. If you are a heavy sleeper especially and would likely go over your recommended limit between changes, sleeping with a tampon in should be avoided when possible.

Sleeping on your side, in the fetal position especially, has positive feedback when it comes to tackling the pain associated with period cramps. Investing in a side sleeper pillow or hormonal support supplements can help aid a more restful sleep during your period.