What if I forget about my tampon? At first, using a tampon might seem like a big deal to a girl. But once you get more comfortable with it, you might even forget you have one in. But it can be a problem if you forget for too long. Tampons should be changed every 4–6 hours. If not, bacteria can grow and cause an infection. You also might notice an odor. Leaving a tampon in too long also increases your risk of a serious illness called toxic shock syndrome. If you do forget about your tampon, remove it as soon as possible. One common mistake is to insert a new tampon without removing the old tampon. If that happens, remove both. Toxic shock syndrome is rare, but be sure to tell a parent if you are feeling sick and you recently left a tampon inserted for too long. See more Personal Questions Back to Articles Related Articles Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.