What’s the deal with safety and comfort (TSS, irritation, dryness, BV/yeast infections)—are some options better if I have sensitive skin or a history of infections?

Q: What’s the deal with safety and comfort (TSS, irritation, dryness, BV/yeast infections)—are some options better if I have sensitive skin or a history of infections?

A: All mainstream period products are generally safe, but they are not all equally kind to your body. Tampons carry a small risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) and can cause dryness, especially on light days. Pads can irritate sensitive vulvas if they’re plasticky, scented, or sweaty. Cups and discs tend to cause less dryness and are not linked to higher infection rates in healthy users, but you still need to wash them properly.

If you’ve got sensitive skin, chronic yeast/BV, or an easily pissed-off vulva, look for unscented pads, 100% cotton tampons, or medical-grade silicone cups/discs, and avoid fragrance. Comfort and safety are about: material, absorbency, how long you leave it in, and what your hormones are doing.

If you’re constantly playing infection whack-a-mole and feel over it, you can vent and problem-solve with Gush—no shame, just strategy.

Are pads, tampons, cups or discs safer and more comfortable? TSS, irritation and infection risks explained

Let’s talk TSS without scare tactics

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is rare but serious. It’s caused by toxins from certain bacteria (usually Staph aureus) getting into your bloodstream.

Tampons
- Historically linked to TSS when people used super high-absorbency tampons for way too long.
- Current risk is low, but higher than with cups/pads.
- Safety basics:
- Use the lowest absorbency that actually matches your flow.
- Change every 4–8 hours.
- Don’t leave one in overnight for 10–12+ hours.

Cups
- Studies show TSS risk is extremely low but not zero.
- You’re filling a smooth silicone container with blood, which bacteria love if given time.
- Safety basics:
- Empty every 8–12 hours max.
- Wash hands before inserting/removing.
- Sterilize between cycles (boil for ~5 minutes if the brand allows).

Discs
- Even fewer TSS reports than cups, but same logic: don’t leave in over manufacturer’s time limit (usually 12 hours).

Pads and period underwear
- No direct TSS risk because they’re external.

Watch for: sudden high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, rash like sunburn, dizziness, or feeling like you’re dying out of nowhere on your period with a tampon/cup/disc in. Remove it, seek urgent care.

Vulvar irritation and sensitive skin: which products are kinder?

Your vulva’s skin is thin and absorbs a lot. Companies adding fragrance and plastic mesh to pads and pantyliners like they’re making perfume, not medical gear, is rude.

Pads
- Potential irritants:
- Fragrances and “deodorizing” chemicals.
- Plasticky top layers that trap heat and sweat.
- Rough edges causing chafing.
- Better options if you’re sensitive:
- Unscented, breathable pads.
- Organic cotton pads (not magic, but often less irritating).
- Period underwear with cotton gussets.

Tampons
- Potential irritants:
- Fragrance.
- Polyester/synthetic fibers in some brands.
- Using too absorbent a tampon on a light day (drags against tissue).
- Better options:
- 100% cotton, unscented tampons.
- Use correct absorbency; switch to liners or a cup on light days.

Cups & discs
- Usually made of medical-grade silicone or TPE.
- Pros for sensitive folks:
- They collect instead of absorb, so less dryness.
- No added fragrances.
- Watch out for:
- Harsh soaps during cleaning → can cause irritation.
- Not rinsing soap fully off before reinserting.

If your vulva feels raw, itchy, or looks red after your period, your products might be sabotaging you, not your body.

If everything seems to irritate you and you’re tired of playing pad-tampon-cup roulette, you’re not “too sensitive,” your body is just honest. Walk through your pattern with Gush and we’ll help you experiment smarter, not harder.

Dryness, hormones, and why tampons sometimes feel like sandpaper

Dryness isn’t just about products—it’s about hormones.

Estrogen
- Helps keep vaginal tissue thick, stretchy, and well-lubricated.
- Higher during your follicular phase (after your period, before ovulation).

Progesterone
- Peaks in the luteal phase (PMS week).
- Can make some people feel drier and more sensitive.

Add in:
- Hormonal birth control (especially low-estrogen pills, implants, some IUDs) → can reduce natural lubrication.
- Breastfeeding or postpartum hormones → often very low estrogen.

Now throw a highly absorbent tampon at that already-dry tissue. Of course it hurts.

If dryness is your enemy:
- Avoid tampons on super light days.
- Use a lower-absorbency tampon and change it more often.
- Try a cup or disc—they collect blood and usually don’t steal your natural moisture.
- Use a bit of water-based lube on insertion if you need it.

BV, yeast infections, and how products actually affect your vaginal microbiome

Your vagina is not dirty; it’s a self-cleaning ecosystem with its own vibe.

Normally:
- Lactobacillus bacteria dominate → they make lactic acid → pH stays around 3.8–4.5.
- Blood is more alkaline → when you bleed, pH temporarily rises.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
- Overgrowth of other bacteria.
- Symptoms: gray/white discharge, fishy odor, especially after sex.

Yeast infections
- Overgrowth of Candida.
- Symptoms: thick white discharge, intense itch, redness.

How products play in:
- Scented pads/tampons can irritate tissue, making infections easier.
- Leaving any internal product in too long = more warm, moist blood = bacteria party.
- Some people find tampons make their yeast/BV worse, possibly due to drying or micro-abrasions.
- Cups/discs, when cleaned properly, are not linked to higher overall infection rates. Some people actually get fewer infections when they switch.

Cleaning cups/discs safely:
- During your period:
- Rinse with cool water first to prevent staining.
- Wash with mild, unscented soap and plenty of water.
- Between cycles:
- Boil in water for about 5 minutes (check brand instructions).
- Avoid:
- Scented soaps.
- Harsh detergents.
- Hydrogen peroxide or tea tree oil inside your vagina.

If you’re constantly getting BV or yeast flares right after your period, it might be a combo of pH shifts, blood, and your products. That’s a pattern worth bringing to a provider.

Cycle phases, discharge, and when to be worried

Across your menstrual cycle:

- Menstrual phase: Blood + tissue. Using breathable, non-fragranced products reduces irritation.
- Follicular phase: Estrogen rises, discharge increases (milky/creamy). Internal products generally feel easiest here.
- Ovulation: Very stretchy, clear “egg-white” discharge. A good sign of high fertility, not infection.
- Luteal/PMS: Discharge may thicken; vulva can feel more sensitive, and you might react more to irritating products.

Birth control may flatten these patterns, but doesn’t erase them completely.

Red flags to get checked:
- Strong fishy smell or cottage-cheese-like discharge.
- Burning, swelling, or painful sex.
- Bleeding between periods not explained by starting/stopping birth control.
- Pelvic pain that’s new, intense, or one-sided.

So, what’s best if you’re “that person” with sensitive skin or infections?

If your body files complaints every cycle, consider this starting lineup:

- For everyday comfort:
- Unscented pads or period underwear with a cotton gusset.
- 100% cotton, unscented tampons.

- To reduce dryness + internal irritation:
- Medical-grade silicone cup or disc.
- Avoid using tampons on very light days.

- If BV/yeast are your regular uninvited guests:
- Skip fragrance in any product touching your vulva.
- Don’t douche. Your vagina hates that.
- Change internal products on time.
- Talk to a provider about recurrent infections—sometimes you need a longer treatment course or partner treatment.

Safety is not “one right product for all women.” Safety is: does this method work with my skin, my hormones, my history, and my life? That’s the only standard that matters.