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Original poster

Have you ever asked a stranger for san pro?

71 replies

BogglesGoggles · 01/09/2019 15:27

Not a taat but another thread got me wondering. Has anyone ever asked a stranger in the bathroom for a tampon/pad? I’ve never ever done that nor witnessed it. Surely it’s an urban legend and doesn’t actually happen?

OP posts:

thesnapandfartisinfallible · 01/09/2019 17:51

I've offered before. Girl in the cubicle next to me was whispering on her phone begging someone to bring her some so I just knocked on the wall and passed a pad under.

Likethebattle · 01/09/2019 18:37

Been asked at work so not really strangers but I always have a couple of wrapped pads in my bag in case I forget to put some in
When I’m on. I also keep a pack in my bottom desk drawer.

FourEyesGood · 01/09/2019 18:57

When my period arrived four days early (cheers for that, Mother Nature), I was at a festival for the day. I asked one of the stewards if she knew where I could buy a pad or tampon; she just gave me one from her own bag. I was so grateful.

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PaddingtonMare · 01/09/2019 19:09

I was asked at a motorway services. I didn’t have Sanpro on me but gave her change for the machine in the toilets (which was working).

I went to an all girls high school - asking someone, even if you didn’t know them well was usual. You tried not to do it obviously in class or you’d get 20 thrown at you

DPJ1973 · 01/09/2019 19:14

A sales rep came into my old workplace once (never been before) and came up and asked me. Bless her, hard enough job as it is without having to choose which random person to ask for tampons. I kept a box in my locker so was happy to give her a handful of them to keep her going.

Original poster

BogglesGoggles · 01/09/2019 19:42

@Leakinglikeacolander I saw the thing that @NotTonightJosepheen referenced and thought WTF? because I’ve never seen this and then felt a burning desire to know for sure so here we are.

OP posts:

chantico · 01/09/2019 19:47

Yes, I have and am really surprised at the number of people here who haven't. It's a totally normal thing if a period turns up unexpectedly.

I think PaddingtonMare makes a good point. I went to an all girls school too, and it was way better to ask whoever was in the toilets or cloakroom with you, rather than go and ask a member of staff

Scarlett555 · 01/09/2019 19:49

Yes but come to think of it 99% of the time in nightclubs. I've been asked by colleagues before too.

The best company I ever worked for had a basket of tampons and pads in each ladies toilet cubicle so employees could help themselves.

OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny · 01/09/2019 19:57

I've not asked but have been asked.

I was in the toilets at a mountain bike weekend event (so mainly men competing and spectating) and a female rider in the toilets was asking every woman who came in as she had come on unexpectedly.

I felt very sorry for her as she probably could've done without that during a 24hr competitive event. I couldn't help though as I had nothing on me.

OhLookHeKickedTheBall · 01/09/2019 20:10

I have asked and felt really embarrassed. Which is odd as I've been asked more than I've asked and I've always said when the person asking is embarrassed not to be, it's natural and sometimes we can't plan. Sometimes the person asking isn't embarrassed at all, just thankful and that's so much easier. Note to self: stop being embarrassed.

itsahippo · 01/09/2019 20:13

I've been asked and I've always helped. Whenever mine starts I get zero warning, until the huge gush appears, so I always have a huge selection on me.

I remember one time a lady asked and I opened my handbag like it was some kind of Mary poppins bag of san pro. I had a seemingly endless supply with every variation you can get. I was the only one embarrassed afterwards, because of the sheer amount I had on me

CaptainMyCaptain · 01/09/2019 20:14

Never asked but a stranger gave me a tampon in the toilets at Morrisons because the machine was empty. I was extremely grateful.

I have been in bars that had them free in the toilets but I think they were all in Spain and Portugal.

NoWordForFluffy · 01/09/2019 20:23

I've not asked, but was asked in the loo at a Biffy Clyro gig in Berlin last year. Luckily I had a tampon I could hand over!

Dinosauraddict · 01/09/2019 20:30

A few months ago I asked a lady in a bathroom. My period came on very unexpectedly (PCOS so irregular, and was on treatment for infertility) and I had a new handbag with me which didn't have my normal supplies. My period was stupidly heavy (bled through pads in less than an hour) and I was incredibly grateful that she gave me a spare pad. Until this thread I didn't think this was a weird thing to do. I thought any woman would understand. And I wouldn't have asked if I hadn't been desperate...

Telesto · 01/09/2019 20:51

I have never asked anyone but a woman I worked with once asked me if I had any tampons she could borrow and I have also been asked by a teenage girl when in a shopping centre toilets. I didn't have any on the latter occasion but gave her money to buy from the machine in the toilets.

PinkBuffalo · 01/09/2019 21:25

dinosaur I don't think it's weird at all either. It's such a little thing (tampon/pad) and I usually have one or two in my work bag etc just in case. I use cloth pads now (but my period has been gone about 6 months at the moment due to my weight!) but always have a couple of disposables for an emergency. If someone needs one and I've got a spare, why would I worry about helping out!
Much better to help someone out if I can

AutumnCrow · 01/09/2019 21:32

I would ask for change for the machines.

I really don't recall asking for actual tampons or sanitary pads from a complete stranger in a pub toilet.

I do give them to strangers though via Red Box and food banks.

RiftGibbon · 01/09/2019 21:44

I asked a staff member at a hotel which was hosting a wedding I attended.
I had unexpectedly heavy bleeding and had used everything I had brought with me.
She was very kind & helpful.

bwydda · 01/09/2019 21:52

Have asked numerous strangers ( I'm irregular and thankful that women's toilets are a friendly sharing place) and been asked. It's something that warms my heart and stirs confidence in humanity. There's always someone who will help.

picklemepopcorn · 02/09/2019 14:04

@Dinosauraddict, people don't think it's weird, and do understand. It's more that it's not an every day conversation women have in the loos, more of a pretty occasional panicked last resort!

Dinosauraddict · 02/09/2019 15:37

@picklemepopcorn definitely a panicked last resort!

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