Tampon use in women with endometriosis

Karen E. Lamb, K Lamb, Lamb K, Berg N, Nancy Berg, N Berg
Journal of community health · 1985 · vol. 10(4) , pp. 215–225 · doi:10.1007/bf01371015 · PMID:3913684 · W1986229623
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⚙ AI-generated summary by gemini-2.5-flash-lite+body, 2026-06-12 ⓘ

This study found that tampon use rates among women with endometriosis were similar to the general population, but these women initiated tampon use at progressively earlier ages.

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This paper examined whether vaginal tampon use differs in women with endometriosis by analyzing questionnaire-based case histories from 470 white members of the Endometriosis Association (average age 31±5.2), stored in a registry at the Medical College of Wisconsin. The authors compared reported tampon-use rates (including 82% who reported routine use) with historical general-population rates derived from control groups matched for toxic shock syndrome. Rates of tampon use among women with endometriosis were similar to general-population estimates (75–83%), but initiation of tampon use varied by age, with tampon initiation occurring progressively earlier as age increased (ANOVA, p<0.001), consistent with prior findings in adolescents after toxic shock–related changes. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it specifically assesses tampon-use patterns in women with endometriosis and compares them to general-population rates.

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Abstract

This study examines the potential role of vaginal tampons in women with endometriosis. In light of the fact that some medical practitioners view an appliance worn internally as a form of medical device, and in light of the recent knowledge about tampons gained during the crisis surrounding Toxic Shock Syndrome, little published information about women's menstrual patterns and practices was found. The data used here were provided by 470 members of the Endometriosis Association. These respondents' medical, surgical, and fertility case histories are stored in the Association's Data Registry housed at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Cases in this study are white; the average age is 31 +/- 5.2 years and 82 percent report use of tampons routinely. In contrast, general rates of tampon use, derived historically from several published studies using control groups matched to cases of Toxic Shock Syndrome were used for comparison. Results showed that rates of tampon use for women with endometriosis were similar to rates reported for the general population, 75 to 83 percent. We did find that within this group of mature white women, initiation of tampon use varied by age. Supporting Irwin and Millstein's study of tampon use in adolescent girls, an analysis of variance showed these women initiated tampon use at progressively earlier ages (p less than 0.001).
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Abstract

This study examines the potential role of vaginal tampons in women with endometriosis. In light of the fact that some medical practitioners view an appliance worn internally as a form of medical device, and in light of the recent knowledge about tampons gained during the crisis surrounding Toxic Shock Syndrome, little published information about women's menstrual patterns and practices was found. The data used here were provided by 470 members of the Endometriosis Association. These respondents' medical, surgical, and fertility case histories are stored in the Association's Data Registry housed at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Cases in this study are white; the average age is 31±5.2 years and 82 percent report use of tampons routinely. In contrast, general rates of tampon use, derived historically from several published studies using control groups matched to cases of Toxic Shock Syndrome were used for comparison. Results showed that rates of tampon use for women with endometriosis were similar to rates reported for the general population, 75 to 83 percent. We did find that within this group of mature white women, initiation of tampon use varied by age. Supporting Irwin and Millstein's study of tampon use in adolescent girls, an analysis of variance showed these women initiated tampon use at progressively earlier ages (p<0.001). Similar content being viewed by others

References

Williams TJ: The role of surgery in the management of endometriosis.Mayo Clinic Proceedings 50:198–203, 1975. Weed JC, Holland JB: Endometriosis and infertility: An enigma.Fertil Steril 28:135–140, 1977. Buttram VC: Conservative surgery for endometriosis in the infertile famale: A study of 206 patients with implications for both medical and surgical therapy.Fertil Steril 31:117–123, 1979. Greenblatt RB, Tzingounis V: Danazol treatment of endometriosis: Long-term follow-up.Fertil Steril 32:518–520, 1979. Kistner RW: Current concepts in endometriosis: An international review.J Reprod Med 19:299–328, 1977. Dmowski WP, Radwanska E: Current concepts on pathology, histogenesis, and etiology of endometriosis.Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand Suppl 123:29–35, 1984. Sampson JA: Peritoneal endometriosis due to the menstrual disemination of endometrial tissue into the peritoneal cavity.Am J Obstet Gynecol 14:422–469, 1927. Osterholm MT, Davis JP, Gibson RW, Forfang JC, Stolz SJ, Vergeront JM: Toxic shock syndrome: Relation to catemenial products, personal health and hygiene, and sexual practices.Ann Intern Med 96:954–958, 1982. Sherrid P: Tampons after the shock wave.Fortune 104:114–129, 1981. Todd J, Fishaut M, Kapral F: Toxic-shock syndrome associated with phage-group-I staphylococci.Lancet 2:1116–1118, 1978. Davis JP, Vergeront JM: The effect of publicity on the reporting of toxic-shock syndrome in Wisconsin.J Infect Dis 145: 449–457, 1982. Shands KN, Schleck WF, Hargrett NJ, Dan BB, Schmid GP, Bennett JV: Toxic shock syndrome: Case control studies at the Centers for Disease Control.Ann Intern Med 96:895–898, 1982. Davis JP, Chesney PJ, Wand PJ, Laventure M, Vergeront JM: Toxic shock syndrome: A critique of the 1980 Wisconsin case-control study.Ann Intern Med 96:892–894, 1982. Kehrberg MW, Latham RH, Haslam BT, Hightower A, Tanner M, Jacobson JA, Barbour AG, Noble V, Smith CB: Risk factors for staphylococcal toxic-shock syndrome.Am J Epidemiol 114:873–879, 1981. Helgerson SD, Foster LR: Toxic shock syndrome in Oregon: Epidemiologic findings.Ann Intern Med 96:909–911, 1982. Irwin CE, Millstein SG: Emerging patterns of tampon use in the adolescent female: The impact of toxic shock syndrome.Am J Public Health 72:464–467, 1982. Author information Authors and Affiliations Additional information Karen Lamb, R.N., Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine and Nancy Berg, B.A. is Coordinator of the Uihlein Family Health Project, Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226 This research, and the Data Registry, are partially supported through a philanthropic award from GeorgAnna and Joseph Uihlein, Jr. to the Medical College of Wisconsin. Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Lamb, K., Berg, N. Tampon use in women with endometriosis. J Community Health 10, 215–225 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01371015 Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01371015

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Menstrual Hygiene Products Adolescent Adult Age Factors Endometriosis Female History, 20th Century Humans Menstrual Hygiene Products Menstrual Hygiene Products Menstrual Hygiene Products Menstruation Middle Aged Shock, Septic Shock, Septic Socioeconomic Factors Surveys and Questionnaires Time Factors United States

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