Medical Alert: Tampon shortage across the U.S.

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SHOWERS AND STORMS RETURNED BY WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. JENNIFER: THANKS, TAYLOR. IN THIS MORNING’S MEDICAL ALERT, WOMEN ARE NOT ONLY FACED WITH A BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE, BUT NOW, TAMPONS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU CAN’T FIND WHAT YOU NEED? JOINING US THIS MORNING IS DR. YVES RICHARD DOLE FROM MERCY MEDICAL CENTER WITH MORE INFORMATION. THANKS FOR JOINING US. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. JENNIFER: THE ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH SUPPLY CHAINS. ARE YOU HEARING ANYTHING FROM YOUR PATIENTS ABOUT THE INCONVENIENCE OF THIS ALL? >> CORRECT. IT’S UNFORTUNATE THAT WOMEN ARE BEARING THE BRUNT OF THIS SHORTAGE, BUT WE’VE ALL BEEN HEARING REPORTS OF SHORTAGES. THERE ARE MATERIALS THAT ARE USED TO MAKE THESE PRODUCTS SUCH AS COTTON, PLASTIC, AND THEY ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY. THERE’S ALSO THE INCREASED COST OF FUEL, WIDESPREAD LABOR SHORTAGE, SHIPPING DELAYS AND PORT CONGESTION, SO IT’S UNFORTUNATE NOW THAT WE WERE INITIALLY HEARING A SHORTAGE OF BABY FORMULA, AND NOW WE ARE HAVING TO DISCUSS THE LACK OF NECESSARY FEMININE PRODUCTS. JENNIFER: WOULD IT MAY CAUSE SOME WOMEN TO DO IS TO LEAVE A TEAMPON IN LONGER THAN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. CAN YOU REMIND PEOPLE THE LENGTH OF TIME SOMEONE SHOULD BE USING A TAMPNO FOR? >> CORRECT. I ADVISE PATIENTS NOT TO STRAY FROM THE PACKAGE INSTRUCTIONS. ATTEMPTED PROLONGED USE CAN BE DANGEROUS, AND THAT IS MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS. THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INFECTIONS, SUCH AS TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME. JENNIFER: DESCRIBE WHAT THAT IS. >> A SERIOUS WIDESPREAD BODILY INFECTION THAT CAN LEAD TO DEATH IN A QUICK MANNER. JENNIFER: AND SO, SO MANY PEOPLE GET STUCK ON THE BRAND THAT THEY ARE USED TO USING, FOR WHATEVER REASON. ARE YOU ENCOURAGING WHATEVER BRAND YOU FIND, GRAB WHEN YOU SEE ONE? >> I AGREE. WHATEVER YOU NEED FOR YOUR HEALTH AND TO MAINTAIN THE CONTROL OF THE BLEEDING DURING THAT TIME OF THE MONTH, I WOULD USE THAT PRODUCT. WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO DO IS WHAT SOME REPORTS OF SOCIAL SAYING, PEOPLE USING DUCT TAPE OR RIPPED SHEETS. JENNIFER: OH MY. >> WHEN THEY ARE OUT OF OPTIONS. THERE ARE MENSTRUAL CUPS, PERIOD UNDER WORK, WHICH MAY BE A LITTLE MORE — UNDERWEAR, WHICH MAY BE A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE. THERE ARE SOME CHARITIES COLLECTING DONATIONS, SO YOU CAN CALL YOUR LOCAL CHARITY. JENNIFER: FOR A LOT OF YOUNG GIRLS, THEY DON’T LIKE TO USE PADS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. TO EACH THEIR OWN. WHAT ARE YOU SUGGESTING MAY BE FOR THAT YOUNGER SET AS WELL? >> SURE. THE SHORTAGE CAN PREVENT WOMEN FROM PARTICIPATING IN CERTAIN ACTIVITIES, SWIMMING AND INTENSE EXERCIS. IT’S UNFORTUNATE THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DO THAT. PADS, IF YOU CAN FIND THEM, YOU CAN USE THEM. AND IT’S UNFORTUNATE, AND I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO DISCUSS THE HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES, BECAUSE AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE ISSUES WITH THINGS SUCH AS FIBROIDS, TUMORS THAT CAUSE HEAVY BLEEDING. JENNIFER: ABSOLUTELY. AND THEN JUST TALK ABOUT THE ACCESS TO IT, SONY PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD, ESPECIALLY WITH GAS PRICES, TO GO FROM STORE TO STORE TO STORE LOOKING FOR WHAT IT IS THAT THEY WANT. >> CORRECT. IT’S UNCLEAR HOW LONG WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT THIS MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE ARE SEEING DURING THE SUMMER. JENNIFER: WE HAVE HEARD IN ALL. YOU KNOW WE HOARD TOILET PAPER, BUT PRICE GOUGING IS A REAL THING WHEN IT COMES TO THESE FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, REALLY A