How often should I change my
pad and/or tampon?
A: You should change a pad before it
becomes soaked with blood. Each
woman decides for herself what works
best. You should change a tampon at
least every 4 to 8 hours. Make sure
to use the lowest absorbency tampon
needed for your flow. For example, use
junior or regular tampons on the lightest
day of your period. Using a super
absorbency tampon on your lightest
days increases your risk for toxic shock
syndrome (TSS). TSS is a rare but
sometimes deadly disease. TSS is caused
by bacteria that can produce toxins. If
your body can’t fight the toxins, your
immune (body defense) system reacts
and causes the symptoms of TSS (see
below).
Young women may be more likely
to get TSS. Using any kind of tampon
puts you at greater risk for TSS
than using pads. The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) recommends
the following tips to help avoid tampon
problems:
• Follow package directions for insertion.
• Choose the lowest absorbency for
your flow.
• Change your tampon at least every 4
to 8 hours.
• Consider switching between pads
and tampons.
• Know the warning signs of TSS (see
below).
• Don't use tampons between periods.