Boards
Oh…you again. I can hardly wait. |Source: Shutterstock
I stuck with pads until college, when my period showed up a couple days early. Oops! I was unprepared, with no choice but to buy a tampon out of the machine in the restroom. I sat in the stall for a few minutes before I could even try to insert the thing. I did better this time: at least it was in the right way, but I hated the way it felt–like some alien appendage up in me–and I switched it out for a pad as soon as I got home.
My friends swore by tampons, saying they were super convenient and even comfortable, but I just couldn’t see (or feel) it. I’d only used tampons a few other times: another period emergency, on a morning kayaking jaunt, and when I was in a costume where even a thin pad wouldn’t do. And, um, NONE of those were pleasant occasions. The thought of women walking all around the city wearing them and smiling (smiling!) was so freaking confusing to me.
…until a few days ago. It’s summer, it’s hot, and when you’re sweaty, pads bunch up, which make them even more unpleasant. I was tired of the mess and the idea of even one more pad in 100-degree heat…well, I thought it was time to try tampons again.
More unhappiness from my vagina. I put the tampon in, but it was like I’d also shoved some air up there too, and my pelvis felt bloated (a symptom I generally don’t get on my period). It hurt. I was not happy. A couple more tampons, same problem. But I wasn’t about to let the evil tampon win this time. I knew there had to be a way to make it work, so I searched online for advice, which was mostly: try another angle. So I did, and! No more bloaty feeling! No pain! Convenience! No pad messiness! It was like a new world opened up.
Me n tampons – we’re cool now. | Source: Shutterstock
I need more practice, but I really do think I can get the hang of this thing called a tampon string.
Have you ever been scared to use tampons? What do you use for your period? Tell me in the comments!
Do You Know How To Use Tampons Safely?
I got my period about a year ago and just recently decided to start using tampons. I got my period about a week ago again and borrowed a few of my mum’s tampons and yes at first they were a struggle but they are great. I am only 15 and yes at first struggled getting them in and took me a lot of attempts and positions but I found that for teenage girls just starting out its better and a lot easier to use ones without applicators and your fingers. I even for the first few times used water-based lubricants over the teared end. It helps a hell of a lot more and with practice I no longer need the lubricants. For those girls who haven’t started their periods yet I would strongly recommend using pads at least until your comfortable enough and know your way around the lower region of a girl’s body. It reduces your risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome if you only use a tampon for 4-6 hours at a time and alternate between pads and tampons. I myself am a fairly active girl and find that with physical activity there are no problems with tampons as they don’t make you pull or adjust your underwear constantly to accommodate for changes.
Also I find it easier to use Libra’s teenage girl range of mini tampons and to use either one leg on a toilet/bath, squatting, sitting with legs spread apart as much as it doesn’t hurt and pulling apart the skin of the vagina near the pee hole or laying on your back with the legs cuddled up near the breasts part of the chest or laying flat alone the ground just slightly separated. I’m only a new-comer myself to this whole thing but with practice I will be able to do it a lot less awkwardly.
P.S. I rather tampons a lot more than pads because they don’t crumple and bunch up with excessive movement and the heat of Summer.
Hope this has helped ❤❤❤xx
I started my period about a year ago and just recently got my period again and borrowed a few of my sister’s tampons and at first couldn’t get them in far enough but now it’s just natural. I switch between pads and tampons now to be safe and when I wear a tampon I’ll wear a thing panty liner to be safe. I’m a very active teenage girl and although they may not go in first time every time I know that with tampons practice is needed. When in properly you can’t feel them it’s like you have mood swings and cramps for nothing. Tampons are a hell of a lot better than pads because unlike pads they don’t crumple once you’ve been seated for a while or summer. They’re so easy to use ❤
Loool idc tampons scare the shit outta me.
I have tried to use them and I need them because I have a swimming lesson to go to and I can’t avoid it. I have tried 3 times before and each time, I couldn’t find the hole. I feel so embarrased about it and I don’t know what to do or how to find it. Help?
I didn’t use tampons all the time till I was a senior in high school. I was in 7th grade and went to the beach and happened to be on my period. I didn’t use it properly and I hated them. At first they were uncomfortable and irritating and they scared me. As I matured I used them more on vacations and they became normal to me. I had a scare when the string was to short and it got stuck inside me, I was alone but I handled the situation well and got it out. I continue to use them. Don’t worry girls they arnt bad, there more of a lifesaver. No more irritating feeling of pads. Just change them regularly then you won’t have to worry about leaking and you will soon learn your “flow” and know how to manage tampons. Just relax, you can enjoy life when Mother Nature tries to bring you down
I havent even started my period yet! i want to use tampons but i cant even imagine sticking that thing in my vagina! All my friends use them, but im just scared! I think im going to just stick with pads until highschool!
I was on vacation, when I got my period and I wanted to swim so I tried tampons. I used the whole box without a single one going in, they terrified me. As you can probably guess I didn’t swim that day, but once I arrived home when my next period came I decided to try again I got the o.b tampons again I used multiple more than half the box (of 40). I tried the a tampon with an applicator And at last I relaxed and it slipped in and it is comfortable. I will probably try soft cup because there is no risk, but if I had to tell anyone anything about tampons it would be to relax, and I know that’s all you hear about tampons it’s true even when I thought I was relaxed, I usually wasn’t. Good luck to anyone who is trying tampons!
Tampons upset me so much. i feel like i have to use on because i swim competitivly, but i’m so scared and i don’t feel ready. but i can’t just miss swim practice. so sad.
I swim competitively, and I didn’t use tampons until just recently. Even now I only use them when I am swimming and I get really paranoid about the amount of time I have had it in. I used to get really embarrassed when I would go to practice without one in. I would say that my number one piece of advice would be to just keep trying until you can get one in, then it doesn’t seem so scary, but until you do it, just keep your legs together when you are out of the water so you don’t drip and try not to be nervous.
i’m EXTREMELY scared of tampons. first up, i’m a virgin and i fear that using tampons will break my hymen. or i don’t know. secondly, i’m scared that it will leak. thirdly, i’m scared of the pain. 4th, i just can’t stand the idea of having something inside my vagina for 6 hours or something. 5th, and most important. I’m scared that it will get stuck inside my vagina and won’t come out :/ I know it’s paranoid but i’m never going to use a tampon!
ALTERNATIVE TO TAMPONS AND PADS……..DIVA CUP
I can’t explain all the great benefits there’s too many to list of a diva cup from no bleach because its made of silicon, never get toxic shock syndrome because its not made of cotton, you save so much money and so much better for the environment since you don’t have to keep buying anything because it’s reusable and its like a bell shape so it fits to everyone’s body and when inserted right never leaks and doesn’t have to be changed often like a tampon can be left there for hours and hours at not harm just look it up online the best invention ever!
I’m a sophmore in high school and I’ve had my period since 5th grade. I’ve never tried a tampon and I’m terrified of them. I’m afraid that I’ll put it in wrong or pop my cherry and it’ll hurt.
I started today! (HELP!!!) And i haven’t told anyone its too embarrassing!! My sister and mum both use tampons but I tried one and i was really scared and i couldn’t do it!!! Someone help!!!!
I’ve never been scared to use tampons. I got my first period when I was 14. And, by the second one I was completely over feeling like I was wetting my pants. I got a box of my mom’s, read the directions, and tried. It took a while to get the hang of it and to be completely comfortable with it, but since I’ve tried tampons, I’ve never looked back. They’re lifesavers!
I’m pretty new to tampons (well, I’m pretty new to my period altogether) and the thing I’m terrified of is leakage! I have the “normal” absorbency, and I’m just paranoid. I’m still getting used to how it feels inside me, too. But when I first tried tampons, it was my 2nd period ever. I was on a week long trip to a juggling convention with 20 other people in my group, and of course, that time of the month hit THE DAY BEFORE I FLEW OUT THERE. I knew I was going zip lining, and I needed to use a tampon. I spent ages in the bathroom sucking it up to just shove it in. However, I wasn’t sure about the leakage thing. So, I did what I could think of.
MY TAMPON TIP TO YOU ALL is that if you’re testing a new brand, absorbency, etc., just try wearing a thin pad underneath. That way, if it starts to leak, your pad will catch it! I did that all week on the trip. I personally don’t find pads terribly uncomfortable unlike some people, so I’d rather just throw on a thin pad when using new tampons than running the risk of bright red panties.
If you guys have tampon absorbency tips or advice (like how long they last generally without leaking) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me. I’ve only had 2 periods before, so I’m still a noob who needs help. Thanks guys!
Tampons, whatever! I want to hear about juggling conventions!!! That’s an article I would definitely read.
i started with pads. then i was terrified and moved to tampons. the first time i used a tampon was at 13. it was a super large cardboard one. imagne how much that hurt! haah. likabitch. but now i use small plastic ones. they dont hurt. just a little bit when you put them in. but other then that, i cant even feel them.
For me tampons are more convenient. They’re sleek and versatile as far as storage goes. For putting them in there’s multiple ways, I usually lay on my back and insert it and push it in towards the small of my back, but to each her own. They last up to eight hours, Tampons have a high absorbency rate but i would recommend to still wear a pad/pantyliner in case of leakage. But when it comes to buying them look at how much they absorb and that should tell you what size tampons to get, just look at how many grams each tampon holds. Hope this helps.
I think everyone’s afraid of tampons at the beginning. I still have friends who refuse to use them! But they aren’t so bad– assuming you insert them properly. The first time I tried a tampon, I didn’t insert it in far enough and couldn’t seem to yank it back out. OW. I’m pretty sure I flinched when my friend suggested we go bike riding. I waddled like a penguin for an hour until I finally fixed my ‘situation’. Now I have no problem with tampons. It’s like you’re not even on your period! (besides the bloating, the mood swings…
)
I’ve only used a tampon once and that was a month ago. As soon as i put it in, it hurt so much and i felt dizzy, so I took it out. I’m not completly sure their for me.
I would try again if I were you, you probably put it in at the wrong angle like the author (I even used to and I hated them) but once you find your “sweet spot” or the perfect angle it shouldn’t even feel like there’s even anything in you!
Tampons always seemed illogical to me. I might just have no idea what happens.. But I get scared thinking about one being in there. It makes me worried that it won’t suck up the blood and it will just sit there, filling up until I have a blood clot. I have no idea how a little tampon could hold all that blood for up to 8 hours. It freaks me out haha
Oh I hate tampons too. So uncomfortible, no matter what I do.
They’re not exactly healthy either.
BleedingSun… its not that they aren’t healthy, you just have to know how to use them. If you leave them in for a long period of time it can cause a disease called Toxic Shock Syndrome. But if you watch how you wear them and for how long, you won’t have a problem. I switch between pads and tampons during my period. My first day, I have to wear a bad because a tampon will cause me cramps to be worse.. Other than that, it’s all about what I feel like wearing.
Tampons are actually more sanitary than pads because less oxygen in getting to the blood and so less germs are festering in there verses a pad where the blood, air and germs are all mingling together, yuck!
I prefer pad because they’re more comfortable and i have a lighter flow. Also bleedingsun has a point, because pads AND tampons are bleached to be white so they “look” clean. I also dislike tampons because it is uncomfortable, and i have sensitive skin. Bleached tampons, or most tampons, can irritate your lady bits whether you have sensitive skin or not. Plus i personally dislike the idea of something absorbing fluid that is supposed to leave my body.