Does anyone ever ask women they don't know for a tampon/sanitary towel in public toilets?

[TurtleyLost]

I'm nearly 40 and I've never done this, or had anyone ask me. Friends yes, strangers no.

Is this something that women really do?

Why do we still try to pretend we don’t- even with other women?
I find that an odd comment. I have never come across this before.
Friends talk about their periods and how heavy or light they are or how infrequent they've become if they are going through the menopause.

All the places I've worked there's has been no coyness around them, whether it's been throughaway comments like' Jeez, I'm cramping bad this month, periods eh' to a general discussion where everyone has an opinion.

Where I work we have San pro in the bedrooms on a dressing table with other toiletries such as deodorant and soap. We never know who is going to choose which bedroom until the teenagers arrive so the items arent t 'hidden away' and readily available to who ever needs them.

I don't care about this but I do hate when other women have asked to use my hairbrush

Oh thats gross former

I don’t possess a hairbrush or comb...hairs too short

I haven't specifically been asked but a few years ago I was on a night out and my period started unexpectedly. I said to my friend "I've come on, I can't believe it" hoping she would have some San-pro with her but she didn't. A very nice young girl who was doing her lipstick approached and handed some over.

I haven't specifically provided any to someone either but we have some in a basket in our work bathrooms and I saw someone walk towards them before realising the basket was empty so while she washed her hands I put some of mine in.

I wouldn't bat an eyelid if someone asked me for some - it's awful to be caught short, especially while out and about.

Never been asked or had to ask

I've only been asked at work as pupils were of an age where it was easy to be caught out. For that age group, they would have to have a personal confidence in being able to ask a particular person.

In my irregular days, pre-DC I was well stashed for the random occasions when it occured. Since then I've used reusables so don't have anything to give away, and I've never been asked anyway in a random situation. Disposables get too tatty after months of being lugged around so I wouldn't keep them on standby, but I have kept the unused spares at home in case anyone ever needs them. I'm regular these days with a good set of warning symptoms and it's easy to prepare by just wearing a reusable as they are comfortable anyway. The one time I was caught out was when I was still adjusting to a shorter cycle, but I was at DM's so no need to ask a stranger.

There's a lot more discussion about menstruation online because it's not something randomly chatted about in real life. With a close friend, you might mention how you feel that day if it's affecting you, but not as a general topic of conversation. Most of the time, women just plough on and get in with it without comment and tend to be prepared to their body's needs.

I've been asked a couple of times (and supplied tampons) and asked once. My period came on really suddenly and heavily and I had nothing as I wasn't expecting it for another 10 days or so.

Very kind woman gave me 2 tampons and a couple of painkillers as I stood there miserably with blood running down my legs despite the wad of toilet roll I'd just lined my knickers with. Oddly enough never had such a heavy period before or since and of course it had to be a hot summers day when I was wearing a shortish dress. I look back and wonder now if it was possibly an early miscarriage though that and stomach cramps were the only symptoms.

I remember the thread where the mumsnetter got into trouble for not having "guest sanpro" in her house.

Does this thread mean that those of us who no longer need sanpro should carry some with us in case a random stranger asks us?

Actually now I remember that I have asked for a tampon and it was only because we were getting changed to go swimming and I realised I needed one. Couldn't really have done the usual rolled up loo roll trick.I asked the woman at the reception desk though as their machine had none in it.