Pads & Tampons (Men beware!)

I have to use pads, but I hate them, they make me feel unclean and the never stay in place and I always have issues with leakage. I would love to be able to use tampon as the are just so much easier, but my body doesn't seem to like them, with in and hour of putting one in I am being sick. I would like to use them more now but since I've had children I am trouble with my flow, it seems as though I am constantly having a period, but anyway I hope you manage to find something that helps you out.

cosmic

 

Well i use pads unless im swimming or anything like that and i find they both work fine. But if im at someones house i find tampons easier cause u can flush them and u dont need a bin. I have no idea what this moon cup thing is !!!

 

You know that has happened to me too. I thought it was my old age. I feel better now that you've said it. I also wondered if maybe they were defective tampons that somehow separated. You think we'd know if we were putting in a tampon on top of another one.

 

I don't think the tampons are defective. I did that once when I was in a hurry to get out the door to soccer practice after school. I think it just happens when you're in a hurry and the first one has become soft if it's been in use for a while, so you probably wouldn't notice it when you're putting the new one in. Still, I am always extra careful now... it was quite shocking, although hardly painful or unpleasant...

 

I despise pads. I seriusly only use maybe two per period. One on my first day and one on my last, just to make sure everything got out alright.

But keep in mind I am a swimmer. I have practices at least once a day, weekends twice a day....

I still remember being 13 on my first period and my mom goes *hands box of tampons with directions inside* "Go to practice, it may take a few tries, but you better get your butt in the pool." :eusa_doh: I had to have a really nice old lady explain to me how they worked. I was so embarassed...She still says hi to me to this day when I see her at the local YMCA where we practice...

 

I'd love to try Mooncups the next time I have a period, I've always been a little curious about them. However, I haven't had a period heavy enough to fill a regular-sized tampon in about 3 years, bizarrely enough.

 

This whole thread has made me laugh so much. The boys' input is surprisingly accurate too. I still remember when my mom use to give me sanitary towels before I started. I use to go on school tours and she didnt want me to feel embarrassed asking a teacher so she always use to put some in my bag. The funniest thing was that I would get to the camp and then empty my bag and there would be more pads and tampons in my bag than clothes! (and that was before I started!).
My family is mediterranean and so big and loud (picture "my big fat greek wedding") and when I actually started my period my mom started crying. She then proceeded to ring my aunt, who then came over and gave me a kiss and also started crying. This process continued with many other family members. Well I've been brought up in the UK and that's just not normal here!!!

 

Ha ha ha. All the comments about the moon cups are hilarious!! All I have to say is don't knock it if you haven't tried it. They saved my butt (er vagina?) big time the last time I was at an environmental science field camp out in the middle of nowhere (or more accurately, in the middle of a forest in the middle of nowhere). I got my period on the first day of this ten day venture - we were up and about from 7 AM to at least midnight every single day, looking at frikkin' rock formations on the side of highways, and writing up projects. There were no toilets or anything anywhere. I never even had to think about the fact that I was on my period except when we got home and when I got up in the morning.

The blood doesn't drip down your arm or anything. In fact, it's totally great for times when you want fool-proof protection. My only complaint is that I'm pretty small inside, and so it hurts for a second to take it out. But other than that, it's really the best menstrual solution I've ever had.

 

I prefer tampons. You don't feel them, so that's the biggest attraction for me. Pads make me feel uncomfortable, like I'm wearing a wet diaper, and since I'm usually in a bad enough mood on my period, I don't need that discomfort on top of it (between hormones and cramps and my emotions freaking out...yeah)

I don't think I'd ever use a moon cup or other menstrual cup. Yes, it's eco-friendly. No, I'm not completely averse to trying it. I just don't like the idea of the blood sitting in a pool down there. It doesn't seem...as healthy as a tampon (which sucks in the blood) in my opinion. I guess if you've ever had Toxic Shock (someone I know had it and she can never use tampons again) it's a better option than a pad, but yeah. Also, tampons can be flushed away whereas pads can't. They have to handled and rolled-- much more stressful than pulling a string and flushing.

 

Am I the only girl who still uses pads?

I've tried putting a tampon in, but I was always afraid I'd do something wrong and hurt myself. But I think they're useless. You'd probably have to take several minutes to go all the way in there and shove it in, which is yuckeh and kind of painful (due to cramping), only to put on a pantiliner for back-up protection. Wtf? You put on a pad and you won't need that extra coverage. I used to wear pantiliners with my pads, until I found the right one. It's thin, dry, and covers a lot of areas.

You rip the pad off, fold it, and then place it inside the little, individual packets that they put the pads in. Barely even messy.

 

I'm primarily a pad user, but I use tampons on occasion, most especially for swimming and for taking showers during the heaviest parts of my period (usually early Day 2). I use Stayfree Ultra-Thin pads, and have no problems with them...they don't really feel diaper-like at all. With tampons, I sometimes do run into the problem of the wrong flow level, although my flow is often pretty predictable once the heavy part starts. They're also just not very comfortable...I don't think I'm good at getting them high enough up, so I feel them, whereas I don't notice the ultra-thin pads that much.

I've never tried moon cups, but I once had a roommate who swore by them. I don't really like the idea of not being able to change them discreetly in a public restroom, so I probably won't bother with them.