Kotex Tampons Recalled for Unraveling Inside Women’s Bodies
Kimberly-Clark, a manufacturer of personal care products, has recalled some Kotex tampons after receiving reports that the feminine-care product was unraveling and coming apart in women’s bodies.
Last week, the company announced that regular absorbancy U by Kotex Sleek Tampons were being recalled in the U.S. and Canada because of “a quality-related defect.” That defect forced some women to seek medical attention “to remove tampon pieces left in the body.”
In a news release, the manufacturer said that some women had also complained of irritation, infections, injuries, and abdominal pain as a result of the tampons falling apart inside them.
The affected tampons were manufactured from October 7, 2016, to October 16, 2018, and were distributed from October 17, 2016, to October 23, 2018, across the U.S. and Canada.
Anyone who purchased Kotex tampons with the lot numbers listed here should not use them, and women who have experienced pain or other complications from using the recalled tampons should seek medical attention, Kimberly-Clark said. Additionally, complications should be reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). [1] [2]
The company did not make it immediately clear if the tampons could be returned for a refund, the total number of tampons affected by the recall, or the exact nature of the defect. [2]
Dr. Jill Maura Rabin, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, said:
“The potential is that something has fallen apart and there are many different sizes and pieces and it is going to be really hard for someone to remove it.
You do not know how the tampons are put together.”
It’s possible, Rabin said, that chemicals or glue used to hold the tampons together may harm the vagina.
Kimberly-Clark said in a Q&A online that it is taking steps to prevent the same thing from happening in the future. [1]
“The safety of our consumers is our top priority. We are putting systems in place to prevent the occurrence of similar issues in the future.”
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