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This study aimed at comparing the anesthetic efficacy of lidocaine injection versus pledgets soaked in lidocaine and epinephrine during radiosurgery of inferior turbinates. The study prospectively enrolled 120 outbound patients, who were randomly assigned to group 1 -anaesthesia with tampon soaked in lidocaine and adrenaline- or group 2 -anesthesia with tampon followed by lidocaine and adrenaline injection. The following parameters were evaluated by a visual analogue scale 1 h after surgery: pain, anxiety, chocking sensation and difficulty swallowing. Nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing, headache and inferior turbinate size were evaluated preoperatively (T0), after 1 (T1), 2 (T2) and 3 months (T3) to surgery. The data collected were analyzed by statistic tests. Group 1 showed lesser pain than group 2 during the procedure (p < 0.01); no statistically significant differences were observed for anxiety, chocking sensation and difficulty swallowing. All patients, independently from the belonging group, significantly improved the nasal symptoms comparing T0 and T1 (p < 0.01), T2 (p < 0.01) and T3 (p < 0.01), without statistically significant differences among the groups. Radiofrequency turbinoplasty allowed to all patients to reduce the turbinates hypertrophy. Local anaesthesia with tampon allowed to obtain the same results the injective anaesthesia in term of surgical outcomes; the use of tampon allowed patients did not experience pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Products that may reduce menstrual flow from the endometrial cavity to the vagina (i.e. tampons and menstrual cups) could facilitate retrograde menstruation and the spillage of blood into the myometrium, two mechanisms which could be major determinants in endometriosis and adenomyosis pathogenesis. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the evidence regarding the mechanical role menstrual products may have in the pathogenesis of these two conditions. Evidence in this regard is inconclusive. While Darrow and colleagues observed that 14 or more years of tampon use were associated with endometriosis (OR 3.6; 95% CI, 1.04–13.5); in Meaddough and colleagues' retrospective study, the percentage of women using pads only was significantly higher among those with endometriosis than among those without the condition (31% vs 22%). Three further groups failed to find an association between endometriosis/adenomyosis and any type of menstrual product. The only case that may be considered as a sort of proof-of-concept of the association between products potentially reducing anterograde menstrual flow and endometriosis was reported by Spechler and colleagues, who described the case of a 41 year-old who developed endometriosis after having used a menstrual cup on a regular basis. However, the number of studies on the subject is scarce, study populations are exiguous and a greater attention to temporality of endometriosis onset in relation to when women started habitually using a specific menstrual product is needed. Confounding variables including type and quantity of endocrine disruptors contained in menstrual products should also be addressed. At the present moment, no recommendation can be provided on the safety of one type of menstrual product compared to another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Access to good menstrual products is a human rights issue. Yet, there are rising health concerns of women regarding traditional–plastic sanitary napkins. The usage of these products has raised apprehensions towards the environmental pollution due to the plastic content. The solution for both these issues lies in the sustainable menstrual products. As menstruation is a public health issue, this study aims to identify the role of health beliefs on attitude of women towards sustainable menstrual products. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted for the purpose of data collection. The study uses questionnaire as a research instrument to gain an insight on women health beliefs towards sustainable menstrual products. Data was collected from 527 women respondents through convenience sampling. SPSS and Smart-PLS 4 were used for analysing the data. Findings: Results of the study indicate that all the health belief perceptions had a significant impact on attitude. Women with more positive health belief and less negative health beliefs are the potential consumers for sustainable menstrual products. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this the first study that uses health belief model to explore and add to the menstruation literature especially sustainable menstrual hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A menstrual cup is a menstrual hygiene device which is inserted into the vagina, made of silicone can be reused for 10 yrs. Today in the era of reduce, reuse and recycle, menstrual cup provides a suitable, safe, and feasible option for sustainable menstruation. This study aimed to assess the awareness, acceptability, and feasibility of menstrual cup among student population. Materials and methods: A descriptive longitudinal study done including the female medical and dental undergraduates. All eligible participants consenting to participate were provided with a predesigned questionnaires. The data collected were entered in MS Excel and analyzed into descriptive statistics like percentages. Results: 462 female students received the questionnaire, out of which 459 completed the questionnaire. Of the total participants, 93.5% were aware of the cup as a menstrual sanitary product with social media as the leading source of information (75%). In the study, 5.9% were active cup users. The main reason cited for not using the cup was lack of information regarding the correct insertion and removal techniques (45%) and the fear of insertion (31%). Among the cup users, the common problem faced was difficulty in insertion and removal (66.6%), while 46% of the users did not face any problems or difficulties with usage of the cup. About 75% of the non-users showed a willingness to change over to cup. Conclusion: From our study, it can be inferred that though the awareness regarding availability and safety of the cup is on the rise in the last few years, the popularity is still low. Thus, more awareness programs regarding proper usage technique, safety, and additional benefits of the menstrual cup needs to be arranged particularly focusing on the student population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the intersection of menstruation and politics, highlighting the cultural and legal dimensions of how society views and treats menstrual periods. It discusses how menstrual issues have become politicized, despite menstruation being a biological process. Key initiatives discussed include providing free menstrual products in schools, eliminating the tampon tax, and ensuring product safety.

Objective: Non-dissolvable nasal packs (Rapid Rhino and Merocel) are widely used in secondary healthcare centres for the control of epistaxis, with some side effects. Methods: A prospective, observational cohort study was conducted of adults who required Rapid Rhino or Merocel packing for acute epistaxis management in a large healthcare centre between March 2020 and 2021. A validated modified version of the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test was used. Results: A total of 80 adults requiring non-dissolvable packs were recruited. Seventy per cent of patients had Rapid Rhino packs inserted. Embarrassment was greater in patients who used Rapid Rhino than Merocel. Merocel packs had a significantly higher mean pain score on removal compared to Rapid Rhino. There was no correlation between rebleed rate and type of nasal pack used. Conclusion: Non-dissolvable Rapid Rhino and Merocel nasal packs have similar efficacy in controlling epistaxis. Rapid Rhino packs are more embarrassing for patients in comparison to Merocel packs, but are less painful to remove. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marketing researchers are often interested in estimating causal effects when a randomized experiment is infeasible. The synthetic control (SC) method has emerged as a powerful tool in these quasiexperimental settings. It is important to verify the SC parallel pretrends assumption, the testable part of the identifying assumption, because its violation may lead to biased estimates. However, no formal test exists, so researchers have to rely on visual inspection. Even with a formal test, researchers still need to know how to balance the bias-efficiency trade-off for the estimate. We fill this void and advance the two-step synthetic control (TSSC) approach that comprises a formal test for the SC pretrends assumption in the first step and recommends an appropriate method that balances the dual goal of reducing bias and increasing efficiency in the second step. Simulations show that the TSSC approach performs favorably in the bias-variance (bias-efficiency) trade-off. Applying the TSSC approach, we find that New York State's repeal of the tampon tax caused a positive and significant (2.08%) increase in weekly tampon sales. Using theory, simulations, and empirics, we demonstrate the importance, validity, and usefulness of the TSSC approach. This paper was accepted by Matthew Shum, marketing. Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4878. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals who menstruate grapple with diverse challenges in menstrual and reproductive health. This includes financial burdens, societal stigmas, and negative mental and physical health implications. Period poverty, marked by insufficient access to menstrual products, education, and sanitation, remains a prevalent and poorly addressed issue. Alarming statistics highlight the extent of this problem and shed light on the staggering number of individuals lacking access to essential menstrual products. The discourse extends to the safety and accessibility of a diverse array of menstrual products. A comprehensive comparison of the cost of available period products was conducted using data obtained from various retail websites. The often-overlooked potential indirect expenses and profound impacts on quality of life were also discussed. Amidst other public health initiatives, pharmacists have emerged as pivotal advocates and educators. Pharmacists are poised to drive initiatives that increase access to menstrual products through public health education and advocacy. By providing education on different menstrual product options, pharmacists can empower individuals to make informed decisions based on their needs. This perspective illuminates the complex impacts of menstruation on individuals and proposes that pharmacists can play a role in overcoming barriers to access. The proposed strategies, rooted in education, research, and advocacy, pave the way for enhancing access, reducing stigma, and elevating the quality of life for those navigating the intricate complexities of menstruation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article the problem of improving the quality of demarcation of rocks and oil and gas-bearing horizons is analysed. The results of theoretical and experimental studies of expanding tamponing compositions based on mixtures of dolomite powder for mine construction (PDM) and tamponing Portland cement PCTI-100 are presented. New expanding tamponing compositions (ETC) based on mixtures of dolomite powder for mine construction of PDM and tamponing Portland cement PCTI-100 with density of 1710-1800 kg/m³ have been developed and researched. Components: dolomite powder for mine construction (PDM), tamponing Portland cement PCTI-100. The technological properties of tamping solutions based on ETC, the technological temperature modes of ETC hardening according to the criteria of strength, adhesion, gas permeability and expansion of cement stone, and corrosion resistance in aggressive environments were determined. The selection of optimal recipes of ETC was carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives The primary objectives were to determine the proportion of modern menstrual method (MMM) users among college going women in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu; and to estimate the unmet needs associated with use of MMMs in comparison with other menstrual hygiene methods (MHMs). We also assessed the factors that determine MMM use among college going women. Methods This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among college going women in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India between October 2022 and January 2023 using a purpose predesigned, pretested, semi-structured proforma that included validated Menstrual Practice Needs Scale (MPNS-36). Results Only 1.4% of the study participants used MMMs – menstrual cups (1.3%) and tampons (0.1%). Sanitary pads were the most common MHM of choice (96.3%); of which majority (98.6%) used disposable pads and more than half (50.4%) used non-biodegradable pads. Importantly, one in six (16.5%) were not aware of nature of sanitary pads (biodegradable or nonbiodegradable) used. The unmet needs associated with MMMs (menstrual cups and tampons) were significantly lower than that for other MHMs (including sanitary pads), in particular, the unmet material and home environment needs, unmet material reliability concerns, unmet reuse needs and unmet reuse insecurity. However, we found no significant difference between MMMs, sanitary pads and other MHMs in terms of unmet transport, college environment, change and disposal insecurity needs. The significant predictors of use of MMMs were age (more than 21 years of age), residence (urban), type of stay (off campus including home), socioeconomic status (upper), fathers’ and mothers’ education (high school and above), and presence of personal income. Discussions with friends (or peers) both before and after menarche regarding menstruation resulted in higher adoption of modern menstrual methods. Conclusion MMMs provided comparative advantage with lesser unmet needs for material reliability and reuse insecurity concerns, particularly in home environment. However, none of the MHMs fulfilled the user expectations for transport and disposal insecurity concerns, particularly outdoors.

Objectives: The primary objectives were to determine the proportion of modern menstrual method (MMM) users among college going women in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu; and to estimate the unmet needs associated with use of MMMs in comparison with other menstrual hygiene methods (MHMs). We also assessed the factors that determine MMM use among college going women. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among college going women in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India between October 2022 and January 2023 using a purpose predesigned, pretested, semi-structured proforma that included validated Menstrual Practice Needs Scale (MPNS-36). Results: Only 1.4% of the study participants used MMMs – menstrual cups (1.3%) and tampons (0.1%). Sanitary pads were the most common MHM of choice (96.3%); of which majority (98.6%) used disposable pads and more than half (50.4%) used non-biodegradable pads. Importantly, one in six (16.5%) were not aware of nature of sanitary pads (biodegradable or nonbiodegradable) used. The unmet needs associated with MMMs (menstrual cups and tampons) were significantly lower than that for other MHMs (including sanitary pads), in particular, the unmet material and home environment needs, unmet material reliability concerns, unmet reuse needs and unmet reuse insecurity. However, we found no significant difference between MMMs, sanitary pads and other MHMs in terms of unmet transport, college environment, change and disposal insecurity needs. The significant predictors of use of MMMs were age (more than 21 years of age), residence (urban), type of stay (off campus including home), socioeconomic status (upper), fathers' and mothers' education (high school and above), and presence of personal income. Discussions with friends (or peers) both before and after menarche regarding menstruation resulted in higher adoption of modern menstrual methods. Conclusion: MMMs provided comparative advantage with lesser unmet needs for material reliability and reuse insecurity concerns, particularly in home environment. However, none of the MHMs fulfilled the user expectations for transport and disposal insecurity concerns, particularly outdoors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feminine hygiene products, used by millions of women worldwide on a daily basis, come in various forms. Among them, tampons are a prominent type that aims to absorb menstrual blood directly in the vagina. However, the underlying mechanisms governing liquid absorption in tampons have received limited research attention and remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate these mechanisms by examining the two main types of viscose fibres used in tampons and their effects when employed in tampon production. The sole distinction between the fibre types lies in their geometric shape—round or trilobal—while all other fibre parameters remain constant. To explore these mechanisms, tampon proxies made from these fibres were created and subjected to tests measuring liquid absorption. In addition, a novel method employing infrared thermography was utilized to infer the stored energy within the compressed tampon. Furthermore, individual fibres were characterised for chemical composition, surface properties, fine structure, liquid interaction, mechanical parameters, and friction behaviour. The results revealed that trilobal fibres exhibited higher tampon absorbency compared to their round counterparts, despite sharing similar chemical composition and comparable mechanical characteristics. This disparity can be attributed to the greater specific surface area of trilobal fibres, leading to enhanced liquid uptake through fibre swelling. However, single fibre swelling only accounted for a minor fraction of the total liquid absorbency of a tampon. The most influential fibre parameter was the geometric shape, as trilobal fibres facilitated the construction and maintenance of a bulkier network with increased available volume for liquid absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article explores the use of menstruation cups to manage period hygiene and promoting environmental sustainability. The primary goal of this paper is to review different types of commonly used menstrual products such as tampons, sanitary pads, reusable cloth pads, menstrual cups, and period underwear, including their affordability, environmental impact, and health effects. Menstrual cups are found out to be a better alternative for managing menstruation because it is reusable, affordable, and does not cause harm to environment and human health. The paper also looks at how menstruation cups empower women and help to eradicate period taboos. Menstrual cups not only offer a sustainable menstrual hygiene solution but also support larger social and cultural changes by giving people the knowledge and ability to make conversant decisions. In this review article, few case studies are discussed which highlights the transforming potential of menstruation cups. The article serves as motivating examples for governments, non-government organizations and businesses to encourage the usage of menstrual cups in female and thereby help in developing a more inclusive and sustainable future. This study also aims towards eliminating period poverty and help in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) i.e., SDG 3 (Well-being and Good Health), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Hygiene), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catamenial products like menstrual tampons for managing menses and vaginal pessaries for managing urinary incontinence and uterine prolapse are products that can be inserted and removed from the vagina repeatedly over a woman's lifetime. In the United States (US), these products are considered to be medical devices and are regulated by the Center for Devices & Radiological Health (CDRH) of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As such, they are subject to both premarket and postmarket regulatory controls. Both tampons and pessaries have a long history of safe and effective use, and FDA applies a risk-based approach to both premarket entry as well as continued postmarket regulatory controls. Practicing clinicians are often the initial source of ideas for medical device improvements. This article is intended to help such clinicians to understand the regulatory challenges faced by development teams who seek to introduce these kinds of products to the US market. It explains FDA's risk-based classification of medical devices and the 510(k) premarket notification as the primary regulatory mechanism for market entry. It also highlights key FDA guidance documents and encourages early engagement with FDA when appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many women report embarrassment as the cause for their avoidance of routine gynaecological screening appointments. Methods of self-collection of bio samples would perhaps encourage women to participate in routine screening programs. The vaginal microbiome plays a key role in women's health and reproductive function. Microbial disturbances can result in the loss of lactobacillus dominance, also known as dysbiosis, associated with an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy complications and infertility. Our primary aim was to determine if vaginal microbiome screening results are comparable between two methods for self-collected sample acquisition: tampons and lower vaginal swabs (LVSs). Secondary aims included the assessment of the effect of pre-analytic storage on the data (to streamline processing), the prevalence of dysbiosis and the acceptability of the tampons to the participants. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in the microbiome data, from tampons versus LVSs or fresh versus frozen samples. The prevalence of dysbiosis in this population of healthy volunteers was 42.9%. The questionnaire data revealed that 52.4% of volunteers use tampons every period, and the majority of volunteers rated the tampons as 5 on a 1–5 Likert scale regarding their perceived comfort using tampons. All (100%) of volunteers were happy to provide a tampon as a sample for testing. The findings from this study show that tampons and LVSs were comparable when analysing the vaginal microbiome, with potential superiority of the tampon with regard to patient acceptability. Self-collection of vaginal secretions for gynaecological screening using tampons warrants further research as this could change the screening landscape, ensuring wider participation and increasing efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On average, women menstruate for approximately half of their lives. Little is known about whether and how health-related quality of life (HRQOL) differs across users of different types of menstrual products. To answer this question, this study collected data from 1,245 female university students in Taiwan through an anonymous online survey and compared users of different types of menstrual products in four HRQOL domains. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed significant differences in all four domains. For instance, regarding physical health, tampon users reported better HRQOL (β =.054) than pad users; regarding social health, tampon (β =.059) and menstrual cup (β =.071) users both reported better HRQOL than pad users. Furthermore, factors influencing HRQOL also differed between pad and tampon users. For example, having many premenstrual symptoms affected both pad (β = -.115) and tampon (β = -.172) users' physical HRQOL; while pad users with many premenstrual symptoms also had worse psychological (β = -.085), social (β = -.100), and environment (β = -.104) HRQOL, their tampon-using counterparts were not significantly affected. Bisexual tampon-using college women reported worse social HRQOL (β = -.149) than their heterosexual peers. In addition, relationship status and varsity team membership had differential significant associations with the four domains. Future menstrual health education could focus more on introducing the different features of various menstrual products. Our empirical findings can help empower women to make informed decisions about which menstrual products could best suit their needs and improve their HRQOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial published in the journal Frontiers in Reproductive Health. It discusses the importance of safety, efficacy, and regulatory oversight for medical devices used by women throughout their lives. The editorial highlights several articles within the journal that cover various urogenital devices used for managing menstruation and pelvic health. These articles address topics such as safety assessments, regulatory processes, and the impact of urogenital devices on women's health globally. The editorial concludes that the articles provide valuable information for those interested in understanding the need, safety, and regulation of these devices. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: We illustrate a comprehensive tampon safety assessment approach that assures products can be used safely. Material biocompatibility, vaginal mucosa assessment, vaginal microbiome evaluation, and in vitro assessment of potential risk of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome expressed through growth of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and production of TSST-1 are the four essential portions of the approach. Post-marketing surveillance informs of possible health effects that warrant follow up. The approach meets or exceeds US and international regulatory guidance and is described through the example of four tampon products. Methods/Results: Each product is comprised mostly of large molecular weight components (cotton, rayon, polymers) that cannot pass the vaginal mucosa, are widely used across the industry, and replete with a vast body of safety data and a long history of safe use in the category. Quantitative risk assessment of all small molecular weight components assured a sufficient margin of safety supporting their use. Vaginal mucosa assessment confirmed that pressure points, rough edges and/or sharp contact points were absent. A randomized cross-over clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03478371) revealed favorable comfort ratings, and few complaints of irritation, burning, stinging, or discomfort upon insertion, wear, and removal. Adverse events were few, mild in severity, self-limited and resolved without treatment. Vaginal microbiota assessment in vitro presented no adverse effect on microbial growth. Culture-independent microbiome analyses from vaginal swab samples obtained during the clinical trial showed no differences attributable to tampon usage, but instead due to statistically significant subject-to-subject variability. Growth of S. aureus and TSST-1 toxin production in the presence of any of the four products in vitro were statistically significantly reduced when compared to medium control alone. Discussion: The data fromthe four elements of the comprehensive safety assessment approach illustrated herein confirm that tampons evaluated using this system can be used safely for menstrual protection. A post-marketing surveillance system that monitors and responds to in-market experiences indicated in-use tolerability of the product among consumers, thus confirming the conclusions of the pre-marketing safety assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the factors influencing the tampon tax rate using cross-sectional data from 193 countries in 2021. From simple linear and logistic regression models, this study finds that higher press freedom, gender equality, and female representation in legislation are positively associated with lower tampon tax rates than the standard VAT rate in the sample countries. Among those three factors, press freedom is the most critical, albeit modest, factor in the multivariate linear and logistic regression models. These findings suggest a possible direction of the social movement to overcome period poverty, especially for journalists and politicians, and the possible means to push governments towards lowering or even eliminating the tampon tax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the role of insider-outsider alliances and framing strategies in the campaign to end the "tampon tax" in Canada. Drawing on Kingdon's Multiple Stream Framework (MSF) and feminist policy studies, the study aims to explain how and why efforts to remove the federal sales tax on menstrual products succeeded in 2015 when previous attempts had failed. By mapping developments in the problem, policy and politics streams, the study shows how outside activists worked with political insiders to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the broader political and policy systems, successfully moving the issue of the tampon tax onto the government's agenda. The article concludes with suggestions for future research in feminist policy studies and menstruation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding current menstrual technologies is essential to empowering menstrual well-being and identifying heavy menstrual bleeding. Menstruation is a personal and cultural experience with financial and health implications. Menstruation historically has been managed with disposable commodities, including tampons and pads. New technologies, including underwear and menstrual cups and discs, have emerged to address diverse menstrual needs such as prioritization of sustainability, discretion, and inclusivity. New technologies are not routinely integrated into history taking or validated questionnaires, which currently rely on traditional tampon and pad use for identifying individuals with heavy menstrual bleeding. Review of menstrual technologies and accessories provides insight to empower gynecologists and other clinicians to take comprehensive menstrual histories, including strategies for identification of heavy menstrual bleeding and troubleshooting menstrual disturbances, within the context of new menstrual technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scarcity of tampons in China has attracted scholarly attention. Extending the theory of planned behavior with social network structure, this cross-sectional online survey (N = 763) found that exposure to tampon-related information on social media was positively related to Chinese women's tampon use intentions. This association was mediated through attitudes, descriptive norms, and self-efficacy toward using tampons. Furthermore, the effects of social media exposure differed among people with different network structures. Our findings shed light on the promotion of nonconventional feminine hygiene products, which, in turn, may enhance Chinese women's well-being and gender equity across the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study integrates the theory of planned behavior with a structural approach to examining social capital to investigate how bonding social capital affected Chinese women's tampon use intentions. Bonding social capital was operationalized as network closure, which included two main dimensions: density and hierarchy. Results from an online survey (N = 766) showed that network density was positively associated with attitudes toward, social norms about, and perceived behavior control around tampon usage, while network hierarchy negatively predicted attitudes only. Moreover, the indirect effects of network density on tampon use intentions were mediated by descriptive norms and perceived behavior control. Examining women's intentions to adopt a rarely used product in China, this study extended the theory of planned behavior into the realm of social capital in an understudied context. The findings provide practical implications for health communication practitioners in public education concerning feminine hygiene products and gynecological health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the association between tampons and toxic shock syndrome (TSS) in menstruating women. We found only case and control Studies. We conducted a search strategy on each of the following databases: MEDLINE through Ovid, EMBASE, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register Center (CENTRAL), and LILACS. Then, we extracted data and assessed the risk of bias by the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. We also performed a meta-analysis of the included studies. Of 90 studies evaluated, after debugging the information, six studies were selected, which fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Findings in the meta-analysis show that the global estimate of the OR = 19.60; (95% CI: 8.31–46.24) indicates a conclusive significant effect in using tampons as a risk factor in TSS. The study presented a low level of heterogeneity (I2 = 0%). Also, all studies showed a score greater than three, representing a low risk of bias. Tampons use is considered a risk factor for Toxic Shock Syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: While the availability and use of disposable sanitary pads have increased considerably in the last two decades, awareness about disposal and menstrual waste management has been neglected. This study was designed to determine the knowledge and practice of sanitary pad usage, disposal, and alternative methods of menstrual hygiene attitude toward menstrual leave among Indian undergraduate medical students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study participants were Indian undergraduate medical students. Self-administered online questionnaires were utilized, using Google Forms that requested personal details, menstrual history, usage and disposal of the sanitary pad, alternatives to the sanitary pad, and opinions about paid menstrual leave or sick leave policy. Quantitative data were summarized using mean and standard deviation, whereas qualitative data were summarized using percentages and frequencies. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS software version 20. RESULTS: Four hundred sixty-four students participated in the study. The mean age at menarche was 13 years. Menstrual bleeding lasted an average of 5.2 ± 1.6 days. Cycle length was 21–35 days in 92% of cases. Approximately 42.9% of respondents reported dysmenorrhea. 98% reported using the sanitary pad; among them, 48% reported they use a single pad (nonbio-degradable pads) for more than 6 h, and the most common mode of disposal is by wrapping in a newspaper. Menstrual cup followed by tampons is common alternatives to the sanitary pad. 48.7% reported that sometimes menstruation keeps them away from colleges. Eighty-two percent expressed menstrual leave policy of 1–2 days would be a positive and welcome move. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge about sanitary pad disposal and alternatives is adequate among Indian undergraduate medical students but what is inadequate is the practice. Emphasis should be made on strategies that can be adopted to prevent the dumping of unsorted disposed of unsafe menstrual waste across the landfills resulting in a global health issue.

Emerging literature in Critical Menstrual Studies seeks to contextualize and decentralize the modern Western experience of the menstrual cycle, by paying closer attention to its various historical and cultural specificities (especially in the Global South). This paper extends the discussion by focusing on Soviet and post-Soviet Russia. The post-Soviet case is distinctive because, despite the USSR being a ‘developed’ country by international standards, Soviet menstruators relied on do-it-yourself substitutes and improvisational bodily techniques instead of industrially produced disposable tampons and sanitary pads. However, the seismic shifts in Russian politics, the economy, society, and culture that accompanied the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of a new capitalist economy also resulted in profound changes in the politics of menstruation.Drawing on the transcripts of recorded interviews with 80 participants, we enquire into the connections to and discrepancies between socialist ideology, scientific expertise, popular knowledge, and personal experiences of menstruation in the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia. In tracing the evolution from cloths and chunks of cotton to sanitary pads and tampons, we remain attentive to the materiality of menstruation, but also approach the topic in terms of the history of the body: going beyond medical discourses of menstruation, we explore menstrual lived experience on a more visceral level.

Background: Intrauterine devices (IUDs) have become an increasingly popular birth control method due to their long-duration effects and high efficacy. Side effects of IUD use are low, but some women do choose to discontinue use due to pain, bleeding, or malpositioning of devices. The purpose of this case report is to describe physical therapy (PT) management of a patient with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction (PFMD) and pain following placement, use, and removal of an IUD. Case Description: This case describes the management of a 24-year-old woman referred to PT for high-tone PFMD and pain. PT interventions included patient education, neuromuscular reeducation, therapeutic exercise, biofeedback, manual therapy, and a home exercise program. Outcomes: Following 8 PT sessions over the course of approximately 3 months, the patient reported decreased pain with tampon use, pelvic examinations, and sexual intercourse. She also demonstrated a significant improvement in perceived disability per outcome measure. Discussion: A PT program designed to improve pelvic girdle alignment, improve breathing patterns, and decrease pelvic floor muscle hypertonicity may have contributed to a decrease in dyspareunia and an improved tolerance for tampon use within a 3-month time frame. PT is a conservative treatment option for musculoskeletal dysfunction. Further data collection is needed to determine the effect of PT for PFMD in patients with a history of IUD use. Informed Consent: This case report is exempt from institutional board review and approval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking the recent relational turn in the discussion on care as a point of departure this contribution aims to ask: What are ways of a critical artistic practice that take care seriously as a challenge to the theatre apparatus, its aesthetic, its dramaturgy and to the way it thinks-with bodies, objects, materiality and more-than-human ways of existence? In which ways can performance find other modes of representation for that which matters within the theatrical frame but that usually exceeds its paradigm of visibility? By focusing on the performance Living Matters (2019) by German artist Eva Meyer-Keller, the article explores relational ways of thinking-with in the apparatus of theatre while interrogating its scopic regime for its exclusions and blind spots. In the performance, where grapes mutate into fluorescent deep-sea monsters under the eye of the microscope and where tampons perform cell division, scientific processes are interrogated rigorously as to their normative structures and presuppositions – but in such a way that consistently takes into account the theatrical peepshow apparatus in which the work unfolds. The article argues for a dramaturgy of response-ability which problematizes the purportedly 'neutral' frame of the black box, its objectifying gaze and the way it constructs objects and viewing subjects. Relationality is thereby understood not as a mere thought experiment, but as a theatrical practice of response-ability towards, with and by (more-than-human) accomplices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This document is a correction to an article titled "Cervicovaginal specimen biomarkers for early detection of ovarian and endometrial cancer: A review" published in Cancer Medicine. The errors in the article are strictly textual and are due to the editing process. The corrections include adding abbreviations for ovarian cancer, correcting sentence structure, and fixing typographical errors. The corrections address issues in the abstract and discussion sections of the article. [Extracted from the article]

Is the way to conceive and develop the uses of argument in an ad for an antiwrinkle cream, a luxury product, a washing machine, a mobile phone, a computer, a perfume, a sanitary towel or a condom essentially the same or different? How does advertising reason? Does the taboo have any repercussion on the argumentative strategies used by advertisers when promoting a product? In order to answer these questions, we will focus on the arguments used in advertising as a whole and particularly on those normally used for some uncomfortable products (or 'unmentionable' ones) such as feminine hygiene products (sanitary towels and tampons) and prophylactics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How much do we know about the historic relationship between the corporations that develop menstrual technologies and consumers? This case study adds to the growing literature on users of gendered technology, examining consumers' role in Unilever's ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful tampon project in the 1970s. Investigating the creation of the absorbent material Lyogel, Unilever's menstrual data collection, and the accompanying "7-Day War" marketing campaign, I demonstrate the link between technology, corporations, and consumers. Anonymous consumers gave Unilever information about their menstrual habits. This provided insight into the lived experience of menstruation and knowledge of menstrual technologies in an era when talking about this topic was taboo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with high-risk human papilloma virus types. Screening is possible and has resulted in decreased incidence rates of cervical cancer by more than 50% from the mid 1970s to the mid 2000s in screened populations. Optimal screening options need to be identified. Objectives: To compare the sensitivity of self-collected to healthcare worker (HCW) collected liquid based cytology (LBC) in detecting premalignant lesions, and to assess if self-collection with a tampon can be used as an additional sampling tool for cytology screening for cancer of the cervix. Method: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among women aged 18 years and older. Selfsampling consisted of ilex tampon use. The tampon was removed by a HCW and placed in a vial containing saline solution followed by subsequent pelvic examination using a speculum for collection of a endo-cervical sample using Cervarix brush placed in a PreserCyt solution. Both samples were sent for cytology analysis. A two-sided statistical test comparing HCW collected with self-collected samples. P-value of <0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: A total of 220 women were enrolled in the study. HCW collected LBC samples had more abnormal cervical lesions 50.9% vs self-collected samples of 19.5%. Women aged 30-49 had high prevalence of abnormal cervical lesions LSIL (22.7% vs 3.2%), HSIL (17.5% vs 3.8%) and ASCUS (10.4% vs 7.7%) in both HCW and self-collected samples respectively. There was 51.4% agreement between the two methods and a kappa score of 0.3 was obtained, which is an agreement that is fair. HCW collected samples had a sensitivity of 78.0% compared to 47.1 % of the self-collected samples for detection of pre-malignant lesions. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a fair diagnostic correlation between self-sampling and HCW collected sampling for the diagnosis of premalignant cervical lesions. Self-sampling using the ilex tampon device had a low sensitivity in detecting premalignant lesions compared to doctor collected LBC samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpura fulminans (PF) is a syndrome characterized by the sudden onset of progressive skin hemorrhage, necrosis of the extremities, and thrombotic occlusion. Although the cause is believed to be protein C deficiency, many aspects of this syndrome have yet to be clarified. A 45‐year‐old Japanese woman, G2P2 (vaginal delivery), developed fever and lower abdominal pain. It was her 5th day of menstruation, and a tampon had been in the vagina for a few days. Septic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation were diagnosed, and multidisciplinary treatment was started. Also, toxic shock syndrome due to tampon use was suspected. The purpura on the limbs turned into blisters and then blackish‐purple spots, leading to hemorrhagic necrosis within a few days. Moreover, imaging showed that the uterus and both adnexa had enlarged significantly, and raised suspicion of abscess formation. Total hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy were performed, and the histopathological diagnosis was hemorrhagic necrosis due to extensive thrombus formation. In men, PF affects the scrotum and penis, leading to autoamputation of the male genitalia, while there are no reports of PF involving the female genitalia. Regarding the PF, in this case, we considered the possibility of pathologic conditions progressing to the female genitalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Background Endometrial sampling for the surveillance of women with Lynch syndrome is an invasive and painful procedure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a less invasive procedure of collecting vital cells by vaginal tampons. Methods This was a prospective feasibility study of women scheduled to undergo annual gynecological surveillance, including endometrial sampling. We included consecutive asymptomatic women with Lynch syndrome or first-degree relatives and asked them to insert a vaginal tampon 2–4 h before attending their outpatient appointment. Feasibility was evaluated by the following metrics: patient acceptance, pain intensity of each procedure (assessed by visual analog scale; range 0–10), and the presence of vital cells obtained by tampon-based or endometrial sampling methods. Two pathologists independently evaluated all samples. Results In total, 25 of 32 approached women completed the tampon-based procedure, with 23 of these subsequently undergoing invasive endometrial sampling. The median visual analog scale scores for tampon use and invasive endometrial sampling were 0 (range, 0–10) and 5.5 (range, 1–10) (p