Diva Cups and TSS
adriennes:
Since I’ve made it my mission to spread the gospel of Diva cup, I’ve been having a lot of conversations about them lately. One friend’s OBGYN, when recently asked about Diva cup safety, told her that he had only been asked about it by a patient once before and didn’t know much about it, but assumed that it might pose greater risk for toxic shock syndrome. I think it’s a shame that more people, and especially medical professionals, don’t know much about them when they have been available in some form or another for many years. Maybe there are just big payoffs from Tampax and OB.
Regarding TSS, it feels like a prevalent threat to our lady parts since we see the warning pamphlet every time we open a new box of tampons, but it has greatly declined since the early 1980s when it first became a big problem. A study showed that it only occured in 3 to 4 tampon using women out of 100,000 in 2004. This 2005 article in the Seattle Times says that at the time it appeared to be on the rise, but I cannot find any more recent information about it. It is not much of a threat, but quietly exists nonetheless.
As far as Diva cups go, no cases of TSS from menstrual cup use have been found. They catch the flow, rather than absorbing all moisture as tampons do. The University of British Columbia is currently conducting a study comparing the safety and user satisfaction rates for tampons and menstrual cups that will conclude in 2010, and I’m interested to see what they turn up.
TSS aside, I also found this tidbit about tampons that makes me even happier to have abandoned them:
Tampons may contain pesticides used on the cotton and chlorinedioxin. A study by the FDA done in 1995 says there are not sufficient amounts of dioxin to pose a health risk; the amount detected ranged from undetectable to 1 part in 3 trillion, which is far less than the normal exposure to dioxin in everyday life. (Wikipedia)
Until they come out with startling statistics about their risks, I’ll continue to encourage as many women as possible to make the switch. Do it! Just be sure to order online instead of being robbed by Whole Foods and their $38 pricetags.
