Maura Higgins nearly died when she suffered toxic shock syndrome (TSS).
Maura Higgins had a 'very bad experience' from toxic shock syndrome
The former 'Love Island' star had a "very bad experience" when a tampon got stuck inside her for three months, leading to TSS, a rare but life-threatening condition caused by bacteria getting into the body and releasing harmful toxins.
She said: "I did have a very bad experience. I'm not a doctor, I don't know much about that [TSS], but I know you are not meant to leave a tampon inside for more than, I 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 has spoken out to raise aware of the dangers of TSS.
She said: "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 isn't it?"
The 31-year-old star also believes more women need to teach themselves how to orgasm rather than rely on a man being "good".
Speaking on Thursday's (27.10.22) 'Shopping with Keith Lemon', she adds: "Most girls I know have never had an orgasm.
"But do you know what it is? I don't think people understand, you actually have to teach yourself how to orgasm, it's not about how good the man is or whatever, it's about you as a woman.
"Us women don't understand, how lucky we are, the woman that can, do you know what I mean?"
'Shopping with Keith Lemon' concludes Thursday on ITV2 at 10pm.
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