—u/AwfulDjinn
For context, as stated by Mayo Clinic, “Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare, life-threatening complication of certain types of bacterial infections. Often toxic shock syndrome results from toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus (staph or S. aureus) bacteria.” That is to say, TSS can affect anyone. However, risk factors include the use of tampons, as well as skin wounds, surgery, and contraceptive devices.
TSS was first identified in children, including both boys and girls, in 1978. By 1980, TSS dominated headlines as an epidemic associated with tampon use. That same year, the Center for Disease Control created the Toxic Shock Syndrome Task Force to learn more about the disease, and implicated Rely tampons as “the single tampon most contributing to the onset of toxic shock syndrome.”
In 1975, Procter & Gamble released Rely, a brand of superabsorbent tampons. Rely tampons were advertised to absorb nearly 20 times their weight in fluid. While other tampons of the time used cotton or rayon, Rely tampons were made with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) — an edible thickener used in foods like puddings and ice cream — and compressed polyester “beads” for better absorption. As a result, the brand claimed to hold up longer than other tampons, which meant people could leave Rely tampons in for longer, too.
Because Rely’s branding focused on super absorbency and allowing people to wear them longer, and because the CDC reported that Rely users were at increased risk for developing TSS, many people believed TSS to be caused only by leaving a tampon in for too long. While high absorbency tampons of any brand are associated with a higher risk for developing TSS, tampons themselves do not cause TSS. TSS is caused by S. aureus bacteria. Therefore, Rely was likely implicated for reasons more complex than the length of use.
As explained in a 2011 essay published in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, the gelled CMC that Rely was made with “acted like agar in a petri dish,” providing a suitable environment in which bacteria could grow. The polyester beads further offered extra surface area for growth. While the vagina normally has an acidic pH to keep bacteria in check, it’s been hypothesized that tampons introduce oxygen and carbon dioxide into the vagina. This, coupled with the super-absorbent, long-lasting nature of Rely tampons, left the vagina drier than usual. It also increased the risk of minor ulcerations when inserting or removing Rely tampons, leaving an opening for bacteria. In addition to the length of time used, these factors combined led Rely tampon users to be at a higher statistical risk for developing TSS.
Consequently, Procter & Gamble voluntarily recalled Rely in September of 1980, after the CDC released its report.
Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/victoriavouloumanos/discontinued-products-lawn-darts-pregnant-barbie
