The short explanation
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but serious illness caused by toxins from certain bacteria. It has been linked with tampons and, less often, with menstrual cups. Symptoms come on suddenly and can include a high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, a red rash that looks like sunburn, dizziness or fainting, confusion, and aching muscles. If these symptoms appear while you are using a cup or tampon, remove it if you can and call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. TSS is very uncommon, and menstrual cups are a reasonable choice for many women, but knowing the signs matters because early treatment is important.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Washing hands before inserting or removing a cup, emptying and rinsing it as the maker advises, and cleaning it between periods are sensible habits.
- Leaving a cup or tampon in much longer than advised increases risk.
- Women who have had TSS before are usually advised not to use internal period products again.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you whether symptoms you are having are TSS. If they match, urgent hospital assessment is needed.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- How long can I safely leave my cup in?
- How should I clean it between uses and between periods?
- Which symptoms mean I should go to hospital?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department now if you have a sudden high fever with a rash, vomiting, dizziness or confusion while using a menstrual cup or tampon.
Get help the same day
- Get care the same day for fever and feeling unwell during a period while using an internal product.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Ask about using a menstrual cup at a routine visit if you have questions.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Vaginal diseases MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Vaginal discharge NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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