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A tampon is a disposable absorbent plug, ususally made from cotton, that a woman inserts into her vagina during her menstrual period to absorb the flow of blood.
Design and Packaging
Tampons come in various sizes, which are related to their absorbency ratings and packaging. The shape of all tampons is basically the same; cylindrical. Tampons are sold individually wrapped to keep them clean, although they are not sterile. They have a string for ease of removal, and may be packaged inside an applicator to aid insertion.
Tampon applicators may be made of plastic or cardboard, and are similar in design to a syringe. The tampon rests inside a hollow tube, which has a narrower tube nested inside one end of it. The open end of the applicator is placed and held in the vagina, then the woman presses the narrower tube in with her fingers. The narrow tube slides into the wider tube, pushing the tampon through and into the vagina.
Absorbency Ratings
Tampons come in several different absorbency ratings, which are consistent across manufacturers in the US.
- Junior absorbency: 6 grams and under
- Regular absorbency: 6 to 9 grams
- Super absorbency: 9 to 12 grams
- Super plus absorbency: 12 to 15 grams
- Ultra absorbency: 15 to 18 grams
They can be used instead of sanitary pads.
The Food and Drug Administration of the United States regulates tampons as medical devices.
Toxic shock syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome can be fatal. For this reason, one should never sleep with a tampon inserted.
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