Is it safe to use tampons or menstrual cups after a C section delivery?

Are tampons better after a C-section delivery or sanitary pads? Dr Seema Sharma tells you.

Tampons are increasingly finding favour among the younger generation of women for their ease of use and as a double protection with sanitary pads. Find out what is better tampons, sanitary pads, menstrual cups, cloth pads or period panties. Your vagina is sensitive after a C-section and you need to take extra care to prevent any kind of infections. Dr Seema Sharma, owner of Srishti Healthcare Centre, New Delhi, and consultant at Apollo Cradle Hospital shares her views on the use of sanitary products during menstrual cycle post-delivery:

Tampons after C-section delivery

The answer to the question whether one should use tampons to catch the heavy menstrual flow after a C- section delivery is both yes and no. Though theoretically there is no problem in their use even after a C- section, the risk of infection can be there which will hamper her wound healing. Also, new moms are very busy caring for a small baby and there is a chance that they may forget to change their tampon often. This soiled tampon would accumulate germs along with blood and mucus, which may increase the risk of TSS. Human vagina normally has some bacteria which are harmless to a woman. But if they overgrow they produce a toxic substance which can cause an alarming situation called Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). This can cause high grade fever in a woman along with fainting and requires urgent medical care due to sudden fall in her blood pressure.

However, if one can change the tampon frequently, say every 4 hours, one is in a safe zone and then the risk of any harm is extremely small.

When can one safely start using tampons after a C- section?

As soon as you feel that you can take care of your tampons by changing them frequently, it is safe to start using them. Six weeks after a C-section, almost all the pregnancy changes have gone back to normal, the baby starts to settle down in a routine and new moms get settled into their new lives. Your period may not return for up to a year if you are breastfeeding your baby and once they resume, the first few cycles may be heavy and erratic. One can then start using tampons at this stage.

A word of caution however is that one must never use tampons at any time other than during periods like for controlling heavy vaginal discharge. It increases chances of infections and is painful to remove due to friction. Here s what you can do if vaginal discharge is making you uncomfortable.

Does the same apply for menstrual cups also? Are sanitary-pads the only safe thing after C-section delivery?"

Menstrual cups function by sitting on the mouth of uterus like a cap and collect all the menstrual blood coming out of uterus. One must choose the size of cup wisely as an incorrect size would not only be ineffective but also painful to insert in the vagina.

The same principles for use apply to menstrual cups also and one needs to remove them and wash them every 3-4 hours. Read: 10 menstrual hygiene tips every woman must follow.

Sanitary pads remain a safe option at any given point in time as they are placed outside the body. Maternity pads are available to catch the heavy flow of blood in the initial few days after delivery. They can cause friction and rashes if the skin is getting rubbed against it too often as may be the case in women with bulky thighs. It is recommended that sanitary pads be changed at least every 6-8 hourly to keep the skin dry and infection free.

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