If you use tampons and get any of these symptoms, take out the tampon and tell an adult immediately. This string is meant to sit outside your body so you can use it to pull it out when your tampon is full and needs changing., How do I choose the right tampon for me? Some girls find that a slender size, applicator-style tampon is easier to use when they first start their periods. Though theres still have a lot of work to do, more and more companies are taking a more inclusive approach in the design and marketing of their products. Plus, they dont make the whooshy diaper sound that disposable pads often make. Lastly, pads are non-absorbent, meaning that your natural fluids will not be trapped nor will any other unpleasant odors be retained. Public Goods asked Maddy Siriouthay, co-founder and Chief Content Officer at Ovee, a brand promoting health for people with vaginas, about the differences between tampons vs pads, and the pros and cons of each. Make sure to have one bag for clean tampons and another well-marked waste bag for used ones. Cumulative exposure and feminine care products. Pads are a great option for women who dont like the idea of inserting anything inside their body. If youre going to try menstrual sponges, be sure you buy natural sea sponge, as some retailers sell synthetic sponges that are dyed and not necessarily safe. We all want to make sure we have a safe and happy period. Pads are rectangles of absorbent material that you stick to the inside of your underwear. You cant feel them when theyre in properly. Heavy flows and cramps can be a common experience during your periods. Pads are much more environmentally friendly to dispose of since they are made of biodegradable materials. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Your email address will not be published. Its for this reason that other internal, having-to-touch-the-blood methods like cups and sponges havent yet gone mainstream. Overwhelmed by the ever-growing world of period underwear? Many people with vaginas have been brought up to experience shame around our menstruation. When you try one for the first time, wash your hands well, follow the directions carefully, and be sure to relax. It also helps to first try a tampon on a heavier flow day, so that the tampon slips in easier. And 70 per cent of women said they were comfortable with continuing to use the cups. But when the sticky backing pulls at your pubes, its back to tampons again. Plus, today you can find reusable cups, washable pads, and period-proof panties, among other things. It is 2018: time for menstrual pad users to reclaim their rightful role at the apex of the feminine hygiene product hierarchy and stand up for what they believe in. The answer to this question depends on the individual. Thanks for signing up. Tampons and pads aren't the only two options by any meanssome girls prefer to use menstrual cups or even period pantiesbut they're certainly the two most common ways to handle your period. If you're willing to pay a little extra for convenience, extendable tampons will set you back between $0.19 and $0.23 per tampon. You can also reduce waste by choosing tampons without applicators. Inserting a tampon in your vagina is more comfortable if you're relaxed. A fellow Mashable employee who genuinely asked to be called "Padable" shared this experience with me: "I havent been shamed a lot for using pads, but I also dont bring it up a lot because I always felt it was weird. How do you know which one is right for you? Lastly, there may be religious or cultural concerns that discourage or prohibit the use of tampons. Incidents of TTS have dropped since then and are currently estimated to affect 0.8 to 3.4 per 100,000 people in the United States. Im always a bit conflicted about the deployment of a menstrual excuse: I think doing so has some unintended costs for women; for feminism. I had my periods when I was 13! They each have pros and cons that could make them a great option for certain lifestyles and an inconvenience for some. A tampon's absorbent material is pressed tight into a small cylinder shape. Pads can be thought of as a safer option than tampons, as pads do not come with the same risk of TSS. An extension of this is discomfort physically or just psychologically at having something inside you for stretches of time each month. In Rio, explaining her third-place swim, Yuanhui blamed it on cramps. It also offers up to 10-hours of leak-free protection to . For far too long, people who use menstrual pads have been doubly stigmatized: first for their periods, and second, for their feminine hygiene product of choice. I'd always offer the sexy super maxi pads I stole from my mom's bathroom to the popular girls in the locker room after they complained about this beautiful, mysterious ailment they called "cramps.". Early tampon commercial starring Courtney Cox. Menstrual cups are flexible cups made of silicone or rubber that you wear inside your vagina to catch menstrual blood. (Take it from someone whos endured the horror of watching her pad float on by while swimming with friends.). On this occasion, however, a happy consequence of Yuanhuis comments is that she has shed light on options. Let's stop playing and make it happen. Get medical help immediately if youre wearing a tampon and are experiencing any signs of toxic shock syndrome. Many women use menstrual cups as an eco-friendly alternative to tampons. Tampons are cylindrical inserts that go inside your vagina, whereas pads are absorbent linings designed to stick to your underwear. Try to use the least-absorbent tampon that you need. Here are some tips and tricks to help you find the answer to "Wordle" #623. Tampons are compact and easy to transport especially if you go without the applicator, said Siriouthay. Toxic shock syndrome. Steps for removing tampons: Give a package of sanitary napkins a try! She loves small terrible dogs and responsible driving. .css-azif86{color:#000000;display:block;font-family:GTWalsheim,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-azif86:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-azif86{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.3;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-azif86{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-azif86{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.3;}}Are There Different Types of Vaginas? There are several different factors that go into every menstruators product choice. But nearly a century into commercial tampon availability in the West, where does our pad preference come from? It also means less landfill waste and fewer trees being cut down to make paper-based options and packaging. Firstly, you might be using a tampon with a lower absorbency than is required for your menstrual flow. If you try to take out the tampon and have trouble finding the string at first, don't worry. Perhaps it's because menstrual pads, unlike tampons, bring the user into closer contact with their own menstrual fluids -- one of the most despised fluids on the planet. But a small, angry, and vocal minority of tampon users outshout everyone else. Many users of the product are proudly tolerant or indifferent to the feminine hygiene choices of others. Pads are much more environmentally . We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Allergies can also cause irritation, discomfort and other symptoms, so if you find that this is the case then its a good idea to consult your doctor. Yes, pads usually hold more blood than tampons. Carry disinfecting wipes with you in case blood gets on other surfaces. However, some users can experience skin irritation from menstrual pad use, especially in hot, moist weather conditions. Menstrual cups are flexible devices made from silicone or rubber that are inserted into the vagina, with the aim of collecting menstrual blood. How often you change your pad depends on how heavy your flow is, but a good rule of thumb is to change it every three to four hours. They're also less visible under clothing. Yuanhuis story stood out for me not because of the cramps, but for the swimming-while-bleeding possibility. Additionally, it is much easier to use a pad versus a tampon, especially when it comes to disposal of the product. When you start having your period, you can use a pad or tampon to soak up the menstrual blood. The answer could be a mix of the two. Some women strongly prefer tampons over menstrual cups, and there's nothing wrong with thatjust be sure to bring enough tampons to last for your trip. Push the tampon into your vagina using the applicator or your finger, depending on what kind of tampon you have. Menstrual pads are apparently an extremely confusing product for young men, according to one of the latest viral trends sweeping TikTok right now. In the broader world, however and most certainly in the blokey realm of professional sport to bring blood out of the bathroom and into a mixed-company, live Olympic broadcast was outright shocking. Double! A feeling of extreme weakness or dizziness, Always follow the directions on the label even if youve used tampons before.. Specially designed for heavy flow days, these pads feature special FlexFoam technology for a thin and flexible pad you can barely feel. Things can get messy because you have to use your fingers to fish it out of your vagina, then dump and rinse it. I was too embarrassed to say that I had my period and I hadnt yet learned to use tampons. Some women prefer menstrual cups because they are a tampon alternative that can be safely worn up to 12 hours. Pad users, in their minds, are . One possible explanation is that your body may be reacting to the increase of pressure in your uterus when the tampon is inserted. It . Together, we can build a world where people aren't defined by what hygiene product they have between their legs. No woman alive would be unaware of those will I still be a virgin if I use tampons? concerns. Getting toxic shock syndrome through tampon usage is rare, however. In 2011, when I was writing a book about menstruation, women through zero prompting on my part would share their period stories and ask me incredibly elaborate questions (mistakenly under the impression I know anything at all about whats going on). Your email address will not be published. Pads are rectangle-shaped pieces of absorbent material which you can stick onto the inside of your underwear. It really depends on the person and what they prioritize in their menstrual care, said Siriouthay, who tests menstrual products. No, it is not weird to use pads instead of tampons. Each of these options is reusable, meaning they have less of an environmental impact than disposable pads and tampons. An applicator is a plastic or cardboard tube that guides the tampon into the vagina. A small minority reject the binary and use both tampons and maxi-pad, or even diva cups and period underwear, alternating based on the flow of their period or how sexy they're feeling that day. Pads are often the go-to choice for first-time period users, as they are more visible, larger, and easier to use than tampons. University of Melbourne provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU. If you have a lighter flow, you may have more flexibility in your choice of product. ), hurting the environment (definitely true), and being old virgins (totally accurate, but that had nothing to do with the tampons). ", Mayo Clinic: "Bacterial vaginosis," "Toxic shock syndrome," "Yeast infection (vaginal). Other . All of these features make pads the preferred choice for many people. Could I have it, too? If youre a woman who enjoys this activity, tampons may be a better option. Some of us use exclusively one kind of product; many of us use a mix. I didn't turn gay or grow a vagina. These little cotton cylindrical pads that fit inside your vagina are currently the most popular menstrual product. Toxic shock syndrome is treated as a medical emergency. The amount and duration of your period is determined by a variety of factors and usually does not change with free bleeding. All rights reserved. A 2000 study by Procter & Gamble found only 2 percent of women in Mexico plugged up during their time of month; the figure improved only slightly in a 1990 Public Health Report survey that showed . From reducing waste to recycling and upcycling, our e-book shows simple ways to make choices you can feel good about. There are, however, some common considerations that menstruators may want to think about when choosing the best products for them, including safety, comfort, lifestyle, and environmental impact. I ended up finding out on my first visit to the gynecologist that my vaginal opening is pretty small, which explained to me why tampons never felt right. Dramatically overstated fears of TSS still see some women disinclined to use tampons. They are confident that their hygiene product is the superior one. The choice to use tampons, pads, or a combination of both is a personal one. If youre comfortable using tampons, but not inserting them with your fingers, you may want to choose tampons with applicators. They're soft, they're flexible, and they're even more adept than paper towels at cleaning up dog piss on the floor. Some people simply may feel uncomfortable with inserting a foreign object into the body and prefer to use other forms of feminine hygiene products such as pads. Asking for tampons, complaining about tampons, saying they were better than pads because pads are like diapers. ", TeensHealth from Nemours: "Toxic Shock Syndrome. Exploring menstrual practices and potential acceptability of reusable menstrual underwear among a Middle Eastern population living in a refugee setting. Additionally, it is important to note that tampons are not meant to be worn for more than eight hours at a time and that wearing one for longer can increase the risk for toxic shock syndrome. When you insert a tampon, make sure it is inserted far enough so that the string is below the opening of the vagina. Tampons (say: TAM-ponz) also absorb menstrual blood, but they work from inside the vagina. Being reusable means you save a lot of money. Spread your knees farther apart than you usually might, so that you have maximum access and visibility while you figure this out, or you can squat and sit like a frog on the toilet seat. Reusable products, on the other hand, challenge the out of sight, out of mind mentality of menstruation. For example, if you are a regular swimmer, tampons will be a better option than pads when you are on your period. There was a long period of time in my life where I all wanted to do was bleed out of my front hole, and catch it with a napkin. You need to fish them out with your fingers, which can be quite messy. If tampon is left in too long, it gives germs a chance to grow and cause infection. (2018). You dont have to worry about them being visible (minus the whole issue of tampon strings in swimsuit). Some tips to remember for safe use tampons include: There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to menstrual care products. It is important to remain aware of proper hygiene while swimming on your period and take steps to prevent discomfort and the spread of bacteria. (2018). Overall . Ahhh, the age-old dilemma of tampons vs. pads. Discovery alleges that Paramount undercut their $500 million deal. Natural pads may be more comfortable and provide healthier options than those containing chemicals. The Nemours Foundation. Cue iron deficiency at best, exsanguination when it gets a little worse. Reusable products arent for everyone, however: Menstrual cups can be difficult to insert for menstruators who arent as comfortable touching their own vaginas, and period panties require easy laundry access. Enter your email for 25% off your first order. We avoid using tertiary references. Since theyre worn on the underwear, pads are known to shift around, and you can bleed on your clothes and undies, said Siriouthay. The tampons vs. pads debate has been around for what feels like forever. Alternate between tampons and pads when your flow is light. 1995-2023. July 1, 2020. Before you ask: Yes, it's worth the price. Female swimmers will often take precautions when they experience their period while swimming, such as wearing special period-proof swimwear, using special tampons designed for swimming, or using a menstrual cup. 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