Toxic Shock Syndrome or TSS, is a rare but serious condition that has been linked to the use of tampons and may cause death. TSS is caused from toxins produced by the ‘staphylococcus aureaus’ bacteria, more commonly known as ‘golden staph’. This bacterium is mostly found on the skin, in the nose and in the vagina, and is mostly associated with young women using tampons. While tampons don’t actually cause TSS, they can provide the perfect environment for the bacteria to produce more toxins than normal, and therefore increasing your risk of TSS.