To think sanitary pads are the work of the devil?

[theimposter]

Just had an op and not allowed to use tampax for a while so for the first time ever having to use pads. The most uncomfortable thing ever if you actually want to move around and do outdoorsy stuff. Who actually chooses to use these?! Any tips on brands and what doesn't irritate your lady gardens gladly received. I don't wish to have to go totally bald down there to reduce irritation as re growth will be even more painful!

[LeBearPolar]

I'm another one who can't bear tampons - vile idea having cotton wool shoved up inside you for hours. The only time I use them is when swimming, apart from that I use Bodyform unscented and unwinged. Am intrigued by the sound of the cotton ones though - might have a look at those.

Am laughing at the innocent comment about flushing tampons - that thread a couple of weeks ago pretty much tore to shreds anyone who still thought it was OK to flush towels or tampons!

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I used tampons very happily for years and years, after terrible traumas with towels as a teenager. I have had a Mirena coil for about 6 years, so only spotting now and use towels or pantyliners for that, maybe use a tampon twice a year. I used Natracare towels post birth and post gynae surgery a couple of years ago and they were pretty good, things have come a long way since I was a teenager, but still find towels pretty unpleasant, uncomfy and fear of leakage (they always leak at night for me)

[Keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal]

Yanbu, they truly are the work of the devil, I know we're all different but I can't see how/anyone would choose to use them!
I have bought the standard brick maternity towels to use after giving birth as well as 'thin' ones but think I'm more scared of having to wear them than going through labour & birth!

[KeepOnKeepingOnAndOnAndOnAndOn]

Hate them! I wear them overnight and generally will leak at least once in each period. Tampons are much better

[YeGodsAndLittleFishes]

I'm another Always Ultra with wings user.

I will never buy Bodyform. When I was a teenager their TV adverts made them out to be every girl's and woman's gateway to freedom and the wearing of white trousers. This was the only towel my local shop stocked. The grim reality of their sanitary towels was a weirdly shaped thing with a hard lump of stuffing just where it can cause most pain when sitting. They claimed there was more absorbsion where most needed or some tosh. Didn't work. Blood ran off the damn things and ran around the lump, or if the stuffing separated, straight through the middle. I had a white skirt with red spots. I imagined a boardroom of men coming up with this idea and I oft dreamed of ways they would meet their demise.

[SheherazadeSchadenfreude]

I use with tampons as "belt and braces" for a few days each month. Hate them. Especially the ones with wings, as the wings always seem to come unstuck and attach themselves to my arse crack. The new Always ones (I think they are always) in a shiny box seem to be the least worst option, or the Lil-lets towels, which feel more cottony. Can't stand the plasticky ones - always feel sweaty and smelly.

[Bunbaker]

"Who actually chooses to use these?"

DD. She has just started her periods and isn't ready for anything else yet.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

YeGods - Bodyform were a lifeline for me in the horrendous teenager years (this was in the 80s), they worked far better than the normal sort for me.

[scarletforya]

Those infinity ones are made from the same stuff that shoe insoles are made of!

[StarDustInTheWind]

I love the whole pads v tampons debate.... would you rather wear a nappy, or shove chemically treated fluff up your bits....

I'd rather find a way to safely cancel periods altogether than try to figure out ways to get women to spend yet more bloomin money on a monthly necessity...

[scarletforya]

Some people have no choice but to use them!

[YeGodsAndLittleFishes]

I was talking about the 80s, who! I wondered who was buying them. Really didn't work for me at all.

[StairsInTheNight]

I used to use bodyform, as hated the scented always ones. Actually, I was having to use Tena Lady during a lot of the time- bodyform 'night' were for light days. This thread brings back horrible memories of flooding in various places .

You know, taking ibuprofen regularly during the first 3 days of your period can really reduce the blood flow- I was so amazed when I found this out!

[Deathraystare]

I had to use both. Really heavy at times. Howevr I think that has stopped now but still (TMI) get dischare occsinally and now have a very upset fanjo - well, vulva - had a nasty thrush episode but at the same time had sore lumps and pustules appear (not an STD honest!!!). Unfortunately I have to apply for temporary services at the drs, but was seen as an amergency case. Have had antibiotics, but need to go back. Howevr, my birth certificate is back in London and you have to show some proof of who you are. I am one of those people without present passport, no car =no driving licence and all my utilities come out my rent.

I smother myself in vagsil and sudo med but for very worse lumps, pustules - if it is not in a very sensitive area I pop a bit of TCP on overnight and that seems to all help. Hence I am still wearing sanitary towels although preferably would not want to wear ads or knickers at the moment, just not feasible.

[JodieGarberJacob]

Agree, stuffing chemically treated cotton wool inside your body is is completely euurgh and unnatural. Do they still use dioxins to bleach the stuff? I would always have a pack indoors to use for sport or swimming but pads are the norm in our house.

[Birdsgottafly]

Sovery, when my bleeds were horrendous at the start if the Peri Menopause, it was suggested that Tena's were more effective, they worked overnight for me. I still had to change, but my bed didn't look like a horror film scene.

I have a "heart" shaped inverted womb, I think this is why I never could wear tampons comfortably.

So perhaps those that can't haven't been diagnosed, as not being a standard shape/position.

[scarletforya]

Didn't know that stairs ! If so can't wait to try it!

[Phineyj]

The Naty brand are brilliant - discovered them when I was pregnant as NCT recommended them for hospital bag, and I've used the, ever since. They never leak and are really thin.

www3.naty.com/en-gb/women-care/sanitary-towels/sanitary-towels-night/

[MarianForrester]

The Lillets pads are pretty good too. No scent and less irritating.

[Fourarmsv2]

Always infinity or Tena lady works well at the moment.

Although it's washables and a mooncup usually :)

[bumblingbovine49]

I had to use pads for several years before my periods stopped completely as tampons just always leaking. I also found that using tampons lead to much worse period pain and I mean doubled over in agony pain with 2-3 hours of inserting a tampon. I have no idea why and neither did any of the doctors. I am afraid I don't have any advice other that I just got used to it but it did curtail any hard physical activity during my periods. I don't believe anyone has ever been so glad to have a sightly early menopause.

It made me realise why women really did have more difficulty in doing a lot of things in the past and why for some women periods really did interfere with them doing a lot of physical stuff.

I did have to shower more often and also I found using very comfy big pants and the super absorbent but thin ones helped a bit.

Sorry not to be of more use

[SirChenjin]

I'm another towel wearer. Tampons are utterly useless - never, ever worked for me (always had leakage no matter what absorbancy or brand) and uncomfortable (that horrible, squeaky feel of dry cotton wool going in, and trying to get them into the right place -yeuch). Always with wings every time.

[ToAvoidConversation]

I had years of having to wear tampons and towels at the same time because I was such a heavy bleeder as a teen/young adult and it was just horrific. Mooncup is a million times better. If you have to wear towels then the re-usable ones look ace.

[Tiptops]

I dislike tampons, but will use them when I'm very heavy if I need to go out. Dislike the feeling of pads too but I don't think having cotton inside you absorbing not just blood, but also upsetting your natural PH balance is a brilliant idea either. Btw, for those who solely use tampons, the manufacturers themselves advise you have at least one day where you use an alternative product.

Really want to try reusable pads but don't know which ones to go for. Any recommendations?