Maura Higgins has revealed her terrifying ordeal with Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) after medics found a three-month old tampon attached to her cervix.
The former Love Island contestant said that she went through a "very bad experience", and is hoping to raise awareness about the risks of menstrual products to others by speaking out.
Although TSS is usually associated with tampon use in younger women, it can affect anyone and has the potential to become fatal if not treated in the appropriate manner.
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The Mirror reports that Maura, 31, is set to appear on Shopping with Keith Lemon - where she will discuss the experience among other things. Recalling her experience, the former grid girl explained that she genuinely worried for her health, saying: " I'm not a doctor, I don't know much about that, but I know you are not meant to leave a tampon inside for more than, in 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 and I was so ill, I did not know what was going on."
Maura also noted that she was "so ill" before adding that she had to leave the room after the removal of the product due to the smell.
She continued: "There were people that have died from that happening. Young girls might not have noticed, like you go on a night out, what if you got really drunk and forgot, like, 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 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."
Shopping with Keith Lemon is available to watch on ITV and the ITV Hub.
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