Menstrual toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a severe, fatal, superantigen toxin‑mediated illness, which leads to multiorgan system failure early in its course. At the time of writing, there are no local data available on menstrual cup‑associated TSS. Reported is a 30‑year‑old healthy Filipino, diagnosed as a case of menstrual cup‑associated TSS. Diagnosis was confirmed by case definition criteria and supported by vaginal discharge culture of methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The patient was treated empirically with antibiotics that led to successful treatment outcomes with no recurrence. At present, when women empowerment is of utmost importance, we support women’s decisions pertaining to their health, including their choice of menstrual hygiene products. This case is reported to raise awareness, promote wellness and safety among menstrual cup users and to educate clinicians on the course and management of menstrual cup associated toxic shock syndrome to prevent its catastrophic sequelae.
Menstrual Hygiene Products ; Shock, Septic

PURPOSE: This study was to explore the perception about menstruation and discomforts of using disposable menstrual pads in menstruating women. METHOD: A survey was conducted of 132 menstrual women recruited by convenience sampling. Data were collected by a face-to-face interview and a study questionnaire, and analyzed by frequency and chi-square-test. RESULT: More than half of the subjects expressed a negative perception about menstruation, while 25% expressed a mixed perception and 24.2% expressed a positive perception. Women who perceived their menstruation negatively had more menstrual pain than the others (p<.001). The most frequently experienced discomforts of using disposable pads were an unpleasant smell (18.9%), leakage (18.9%), and discomfort (16.6%). Adverse effects of using disposable pads were reported as an itching sense (23.1%), skin rash (20.2%), and skin irritation (10.6%). Alternate materials were reported with tampons, alternate washable pads, and maternity pads. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that disposable menstrual pads cause several discomforts and common adverse effects such as skin problems. To decrease these discomforts and relieve adverse effects, planned nursing education including women's personal hygiene methods and information about an alternate pad may be helpful.
Dysmenorrhea ; Education, Nursing ; Exanthema ; Female ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Menstrual Hygiene Products ; Menstruation ; Pruritus ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Skin ; Smell

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of use of menstrual hygiene products and genital organ hygiene management in unmarried women. METHODS: Data from 161 unmarried women were used for analysis. The instruments consisted of self-reported questionnaires that included 40 items: 20 on General Characteristics & Sexual Health Related Characteristics, 8 on Using Status of Menstrual Hygiene Products, 12 on Genital Organ Hygiene Management. RESULTS: The subjects used disposable sanitary napkin as the most frequently but the satisfaction was low, while the use of reusable sanitary napkin and tampons were few, but satisfaction was high. Sixty-seven percent of the unmarried women had sex experience, and more than 60% experienced abnormal symptoms in the genital organ. There was a significant difference in genital organ hygiene management according to sex experience. Among subjects of this study, 44.1% wanted to use menstrual cup, and 98.8% wanted to have education for their menstrual hygiene products. CONCLUSION: Based on results of this study, a nationwide survey of the demand for menstrual hygiene products used by Korean women is needed, it is necessary to educate about the proper use of menstrual hygiene products and genital organ hygiene management.
Education ; Female ; Genitalia* ; Humans ; Hygiene* ; Menstrual Hygiene Products* ; Menstruation ; Reproductive Health ; Single Person*

PURPOSE: In this study the impact of pro-environmental behavior, well-being oriented behavior, and use of cloth menstrual pads on dysmenorrhea in Korean female adults was examined according to the theory of reasoned action. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 195 Korean female adults. Data were collected from June to August, 2010 using self-report questionnaires. Data were analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, multiple regression, and logit regression with STATA 10.0. RESULTS: Pro-environmental behavior explained 48% of well-being oriented behavior. Well-being oriented behavior explained 10% of cloth pad use. Use of cloth pad explained 4% of dysmenorrhea and 5% of menstrual pain. The path through well-being oriented behavior had a significant effect from pro-environmental behavior to cloth pad use. CONCLUSION: Use of cloth pad was significantly related with well-being oriented behavior, pro-environmental behavior, social influence, dysmenorrhea, and menstrual pain. The results of this study suggest that pro-environmental strategies can help health care providers diminish clients' menstrual symptoms. Nursing intervention can support pro-environmental behavioral strategies.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dysmenorrhea/*psychology ; Environment ; Female ; Humans ; Menstrual Hygiene Products ; Middle Aged ; Questionnaires ; Socioeconomic Factors

The majority of South Korean females use sanitary pads, which contain various organic solvents which could be excreted before and during their menstruation. However, they are not provided with findings from studies about the health effects of sanitary pads. Therefore, this study aims to establish a list of potential health hazards of sanitary pads and address the need for further extensive research by pointing out the limitations of the previous literature. A systematic review was adopted to conduct quantitative and qualitative reviews based on the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses). Studies from electronic databases such as PubMed, RISS, and Google Scholar were retrieved for the final analyses. In accordance with our findings, we proposed a set of limitations of the previous studies. A systematic review revealed that there were effects of sanitary pads on vaginal or vulvar skin, endometriosis, and vaginal microflora. The review also revealed that organic solvents, which sanitary pads are composed of, bring potential harmful effects on pregnancy, autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, and neurological development. Social environments such as hygiene use or puberty education also turned out to affect female health. It was inferred that a lack of non-occupational and domestic studies reflecting the distinguishing features of sanitary pads with a reliable sample size remains as an important limitation. This study suggests that organic solvents in sanitary pads may increase some health risks bringing reproductive, autoimmune, cardiovascular, and neurological effects. Due to a lack of studies, a more extensive study can contribute to the public health of South Korean females.
Adolescent ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Education ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Menstrual Hygiene Products ; Menstruation ; Pregnancy ; Puberty ; Public Health ; Sample Size ; Skin ; Social Environment ; Solvents