FDA also regulates the absorbency ratings for tampons. TSS is the only disease with a proven association to tampon use, according to FDA and the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Any fear still surrounding tampon use likely dates from a time when TSS was first identified. About half of all cases occur in women using tampons, although the exact link between TSS and tampons remains unclear. That's when CDC noticed a sharp rise in the number of cases of TSS, a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by toxin-producing strains of the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium.
Experts believe the bacterium releases one or more toxins into the bloodstream.
Most were among women who experienced onset of illness within a week following their periods. CDC carried out national and state-based studies to pinpoint TSS risk factors and used its national surveillance system to track trends. Research suggested one factor was the use of very highly absorbent tampons made from new materials. This brand consisted of polyester foam and a special type of highly absorbent cellulose, a combination no longer used in tampons. Compared with the 813 menstrual TSS cases in 1980, there were only three confirmed cases in 1998 and six in 1997.