Love Island’s Maura Higgins reveals health battle after leaving tampon in for 3 months

A reality television star has opened up about her terrifying health battle after she forgot to take her tampon out.

Love Island UK contestant Maura Higgins revealed that she could have died after she accidentally left a tampon in for three months.

The 31-year-old spoke about her terrifying experience on a British talk show in a bid to raise awareness of toxic shock syndrome.

The Irish woman contracted the disease after she forgot to take a tampon out, which caused her to become increasingly sick.

Maura said she couldn’t understand what was causing her illness, but was shocked after a doctor discovered the three-month-old tampon stuck up against her cervix.

“I did have a very bad experience,” she told ITV’s Shopping With Keith Lemon.

“I’m not a doctor, I don’t know much about that [TSS], but I know you are not meant to leave a tampon inside for more than, I think it’s nine hours, I think that’s the max.

“There was a tampon inside me for three months.

“When the doctor found it, it was stuck to my cervix. I was so ill.

“I did not know what was going on.”

Toxic shock syndrome can be fatal, and is caused by certain strains of Staphylococcus bacteria getting into the body and releasing harmful toxins.

It is typically associated with tampon use, but can also occur if bacteria gets inside the body via an open wound.

Maura explained that the shame and stigma that can often surround the topic of menstrual health could be a reason why many are unaware of toxic shock syndrome.

“Young girls might not have noticed,” she said.

“Like you go on a night out, what if you get really drunk and forgot. These things actually do happen and people don’t speak about it.

“I remember even being in school, I used to get my tampon out of the bag, push it up my sleeve, and then go to the toilet like that.

“Thinking back, why was I doing that? It’s nothing to be ashamed about, that’s why I think it’s an important topic, isn’t it?”

According to Health Direct Australia, those who use tampons should use the lowest absorbency needed and change them every four to eight hours.

Symptoms of toxic shock syndrome

• diarrhea
• sudden high temperature (40°C or above)
• confusion
• dizziness
• tiredness
• vomiting
• aching muscles
• headaches
• low blood pressure
• red eyes, mouth and throat
• red rash like sunburn found on the hands and feet that peels
• seizures