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Rely (brand)
Encyclopedia
Rely was a brand of superabsorbent tampon
s made by Procter & Gamble
starting in 1975. It was recalled from the market in September 1980 because it was linked to toxic shock syndrome
.
Following a controversial period of test marketing in Rochester and Fort Wayne, in August 1978 Procter and Gamble introduced superabsorbent Rely tampons to the United States market in response to women's demands for tampons that could absorb more menstrual flow without leaking or replacement.
Unlike other tampons, which are made with cotton
and rayon
, Rely was unique: it used carboxymethylcellulose
and compressed beads of polyester
for absorption - the company released the new product with claims of having conducted extensive research on its safety. This tampon design could absorb nearly twenty times its own weight in fluid.
Further, the tampon would "blossom" into a cup shape in the vagina
in order to hold menstrual fluids. Because of this, its advertising slogan was "It even absorbs the worry!", and claimed it could hold up longer than the leading tampon, because it was made differently. "Remember, They named it Rely" was the last line of most commercials.
The superabsorbent properties of Rely caused vaginal dryness by absorbing the natural humidity
of the vagina. Often this led to ulcerations in the vaginal wall when the tampon was removed, offering pathways for bacteria
to infect the bloodstream. Further, the tampons' superabsorbency meant that the viscosity of vaginal fluids was enhanced, providing a good environment for bacteria growth. In addition, carboxymethylcellulose has features which effectively filter the toxins of Staphylococcus which cause TSS.
Procter and Gamble recalled Rely in September 1980 after the Centers for Disease Control released a report that summer, explaining the bacterial mechanism which lead to TSS, and that Rely tampons were associated with TSS more than any other tampon. As part of the voluntary recall, Procter and Gamble entered into a consent agreement with the Food & Drug Administration "providing for a program for notification to consumers and retrieval of the product from the market". The recall cost Procter and Gamble over USD
75 million.
One very important effect of the attention to TSS in the 1980s was that the FDA implemented regulation of tampons as medical devices and forced manufacturers to standardize tampon absorbencies and include package inserts that warn tampon users of TSS risk. On the market today are tampons made both from synthetic materials, especially rayon, and from cotton only. The key ingredients used in Rely, carboxymethylcellulose and polyester, were removed from the market in 1980.
Reported cases of TSS have decreased dramatically since the 1980s.
Tampon
A tampon is a mass of cotton or rayon or a mixture of the two inserted into a body cavity or wound to absorb bodilyfluid. The most common type in daily use is designed to be inserted into the vagina during menstruation to absorb the flow of menstrual fluid...
s made by Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
starting in 1975. It was recalled from the market in September 1980 because it was linked to toxic shock syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome is a potentially fatal illness caused by a bacterial toxin. Different bacterial toxins may cause toxic shock syndrome, depending on the situation. The causative bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes...
.
Unlike other tampons, which are made with cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
and rayon
Rayon
Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulose fiber. Because it is produced from naturally occurring polymers, it is neither a truly synthetic fiber nor a natural fiber; it is a semi-synthetic or artificial fiber. Rayon is known by the names viscose rayon and art silk in the textile industry...
, Rely was unique: it used carboxymethylcellulose
Carboxymethyl cellulose
Carboxymethyl cellulose or cellulose gum is a cellulose derivative with carboxymethyl groups bound to some of the hydroxyl groups of the glucopyranose monomers that make up the cellulose backbone...
and compressed beads of polyester
Polyester
Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
for absorption - the company released the new product with claims of having conducted extensive research on its safety. This tampon design could absorb nearly twenty times its own weight in fluid.
Further, the tampon would "blossom" into a cup shape in the vagina
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
in order to hold menstrual fluids. Because of this, its advertising slogan was "It even absorbs the worry!", and claimed it could hold up longer than the leading tampon, because it was made differently. "Remember, They named it Rely" was the last line of most commercials.
The superabsorbent properties of Rely caused vaginal dryness by absorbing the natural humidity
Humidity
Humidity is a term for the amount of water vapor in the air, and can refer to any one of several measurements of humidity. Formally, humid air is not "moist air" but a mixture of water vapor and other constituents of air, and humidity is defined in terms of the water content of this mixture,...
of the vagina. Often this led to ulcerations in the vaginal wall when the tampon was removed, offering pathways for bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
to infect the bloodstream. Further, the tampons' superabsorbency meant that the viscosity of vaginal fluids was enhanced, providing a good environment for bacteria growth. In addition, carboxymethylcellulose has features which effectively filter the toxins of Staphylococcus which cause TSS.
Procter and Gamble recalled Rely in September 1980 after the Centers for Disease Control released a report that summer, explaining the bacterial mechanism which lead to TSS, and that Rely tampons were associated with TSS more than any other tampon. As part of the voluntary recall, Procter and Gamble entered into a consent agreement with the Food & Drug Administration "providing for a program for notification to consumers and retrieval of the product from the market". The recall cost Procter and Gamble over USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
75 million.
One very important effect of the attention to TSS in the 1980s was that the FDA implemented regulation of tampons as medical devices and forced manufacturers to standardize tampon absorbencies and include package inserts that warn tampon users of TSS risk. On the market today are tampons made both from synthetic materials, especially rayon, and from cotton only. The key ingredients used in Rely, carboxymethylcellulose and polyester, were removed from the market in 1980.
Reported cases of TSS have decreased dramatically since the 1980s.