A tampon cannot get lost inside the body, according to Tampax. The vagina connects the outside parts with the inside of the body, but there is a dead end at the top of the vagina called the cervix, which is a barrier between the vagina and the uterus. Nothing can get above the cervix unless it is liquid or microscopic in size. If a tampon is retained, it means that it has become either stuck or lost. A tampon can become lodged at the top of the vagina, next to the cervix, when a woman forgets to take it out at the end of her period. The string may still be noticeable, but a tampon cannot get lost in the abdomen. The main concern with a retained tampon is an infection or toxic shock syndrome (TSS), but this is very rare.
Fiber loss happens when a tampon sheds inside the vaginal canal, leaving behind small pieces of filament that look like faux fur. Most fiber loss is caused by the friction of inserting and removing tampons. Although the vagina is a self-cleaning organ, it is not able to flush out pieces of tampon left inside. These can end up near the cervix and have been known to cause pathogen colonization and vaginal infections like thrush and BV. Tampon fiber loss is a common issue that doctors and nurses often have to remove fiber build-up in patients before being able to conduct exams like cervical screening. Tampon manufacturers advise that a tampon should not be left in for more than 8 hours.
There is no information about the ingredients or materials of tampons in the search results.
