Tampon loss – management among adolescents and adult women

Abstract

The widespread use of tampons carries a risk of tampon loss due to imperfect use. We performed a retrospective study including all women attending the emergency room (ER) with the complaint of tampon loss during 2011–2018. Overall, 72 women presented to the ER with a complaint of tampon loss. In 25% (18/72), a lost tampon was found on physical examination. The lost tampon was found in a higher rate among adolescents as compared to older women (4 (80%) vs. 14 (21%), 15.1, p = .01). Time from tampon loss to referral for evaluation was shorter among adolescents as compared to older women (7 ± 3 vs. 21 ± 21 h, p = .007). In most adolescents with a complaint of a lost tampon – it was eventually found on pelvic examination, as opposed to older women, in whom a finding was present in only one-fifth of cases. This highlights the importance of thorough examination of adolescents presenting due to tampon loss. The study protocol was approved by the Sheba Medical Center review board (March 15, 2018), 6345-19-SMC.

IMPACT STATEMENT

• What is already known on this subject? Very little is known regarding the distinguished phenomena of tampon loss among adult females.

• What do the results of this study add? In most adolescents referred due to tampon loss – a tampon was found on pelvic examination, as opposed to older women.

• What are the implications of these findings for future clinical practice and/or further research? In most adolescents referred due to tampon loss – a tampon will be found on pelvic examination, as opposed to older women, in whom a finding is present in only one-fifth of cases. This highlights the importance of thorough examination of adolescents presenting with a loss of tampon.

Keywords:

• Adolescent
• foreign body
• lost object
• tampons
• vagina

Disclosure statement

No external funding was used in this conduct of this study. The authors declare no conflict of interest.