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!

[theimposter]

MrsCripps the cat story is hilarious!!! We do have cats actually so I'll bear that in mind should I invest!!

[Takver]

Mooncup is fine when cycling, though it took me 3 - 4 cycles to get the hang of getting it seated right.

Pads if you have to - I'd suggest Natracare, a bit pricey but obv for 1 month that isn't a big deal. I've got hideously sensitive skin and they are fine.

[afterthought]

I used to hate pads and was a tampon only girl from the age of 11. A few years ago, I was out with my D of E group. My periods are completely irregular (mini pill) but seem to just 'know' when I'm on D of E or got Guide camp.

I had to change my tampon in a bush and it scarred me for life. The whole squatting without overbalancing, holding clothes out of the way and trying to pull the damn thing out without it swinging and hitting my clothes was just awful. A pad was so much easier. I started using them all the time after that - bodyform ones with wings from the pink packet.

[Bean89]

Horrid horrid horrid. I started my periods when I was 10 and my mum wouldn't let me use tampons. I had a heavy flow (fortunately no wide-set vagina) and leaked EVERY time. I had to always ask at reception at school if they had any because I never seemed to have enough spares. They were like sponges. I could have wrung them out and reused them.
I'm not sure I'll get over the trauma. Shudder.

[Bean89]

Also my dog once managed to get one of my used ones out of the bin and proceeded to rip it up. All over my older brothers room. Thanks Sparky y'knob!

[Takver]

Re. mooncup, 3 - 4 menstrual cycles, not bike rides!

[MrsCripps]

She is a very sweet cat but prone to nicking stuff to play with !

Arf @ wide set vagina - can you predict the weather with your breasts Bean ?? ( Mean Girls reference in case anyone thinks I am bonkers !)

[Bean89]

I didn't even go to that school!!!

[Bunbaker]

"I'm really curious - do those of you who wear tampons never leak??"

No. I used Lillets as I couldn't get on with the applicator ones. They expand widthways and I never had a problem. Even after having DD I still found them excellent. I had never heard of a mooncup back then. In fact I'm not sure how long they have been around, but I would have used one if I had known about them.

Fortunately this is no longer an issue for me, but it is for DD. How soon can I introduce her to tampons? I don't think she is ready for a mooncup yet.

[MrsCripps]

Haha! I must watch it again

[EBearhug]

afterthought - My periods are completely irregular (mini pill) but seem to just 'know' when I'm on D of E or got Guide camp.

Mine too. An extra challenge the boys didn't have. (Didn't have any traumatic bush experiences, though.)


Bunbaker - DD. How soon can I introduce her to tampons?

I used them from day 1 when I was 13. My mother gave me a selection of pads and tampons (but reminded me I went swimming a lot) and left me to it, saying to call if I needed anything. (The worst bit was having to wake up from her Sunday afternoon nap to tell her I had started.)

[sergeantmajor]

Lovely recent report about the Indian creator of sanitary pads that women make themselves in impoverished areas:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26260978

[MrsMaturin]

I have used pads for the last 20+ years. No irritation or discomfort at all. Tampons oth - ugh. So I think there is a certain element of individual anatomy at play.

I use the lil-lets towels. VERY good.

[SirChenjin]

I loved that story Sergeant - what an amazing man

[mousmous]

the natracare ones are great.
weird thing is, despite them being very thin they hold up well.
makes me wonder what they put into the conventional ones that the period seems messier or more bloody.

[catsofa]

I wish my mum hadn't assumed I "wasn't ready" for tampons when I first started my periods, I would have skipped the horrible towel traumas and leakage and smell altogether. But of course she had no idea how familiar I already was with my own genitalia, I had been enthusiastically amusing myself for quite some time...

I'm a regular cyclist and I love my mooncup, yes it was an absolute revelation, I would also evangelise, write love letters etc as others above have said.

I find that I just need to push the edge past the first ring of muscles, and then it slips into the right place on its own with a little squeezing of those muscles.

Only problems I ever have with it are

1. occasionally forgetting to take it out because it really does make me forget that I'm even having a period - but leaving it in too long is not as dangerous as leaving a tampon in anyway.
   
   
2. You're supposed to sterilise it from time to time by boiling it in water, and I have accidentally cooked TWO mooncups by forgetting and letting it boil dry. I now use the microwave because it stops automatically.
   
   Also when you get a new one it has a long stalk sticking out of the bottom to help you pull it out. I always cut those off completely as I find they pinch, and I don't need them at all for removal I can do it just fine pulling the bottom of the cup.
   
   Honestly, this could be the best £20 you spend all year.

[AlexTurnersmicropone]

I'm amazed that so many people use tampons without a towel, I could never dream of doing this, I always leak

[SirChenjin]

Are Mooncups really as good as you all say? Do they have to be rinsed every time you empty them? (can't imagine doing this in the work sinks!) Do they leak like tampons? Is one brand better than another?

Questions questions questions...

[goodasitgets]

I hate tampons. But I love my mooncup. Horse ride, gym, spin class and pole fitness with it, no issues at all
Generally I need to empty it twice a day so I'm usually at home. If I'm out, I just tip it out in the loo and wipe with a bit of loo roll
I have a meluna and a mooncup, the meluna is a large one so more capacity, I use that at work or heavier days

[TillyButton]

Don't like tampons and I find winged towels difficult to unstick.Mooncup with a cheap ownbrand towel on heavy days and at night is fantastic.I wish I had known about them sooner.DM has never heard of mooncups!

[goodasitgets]

Oh and I had a small leak or two at the beginning and occasionally now but nothing a liner won't cope with

[AmberLeaf]

I hate towels. Only used them for my very first period and then went straight onto tampons, also had to use them post birth obviously.

I use non applicator tampons, the applicator ones I don't like as IME because they expand lengthways, they are more likely to leak and you can feel them as they have moved down lower. Widthway expanding non applicator ones much better. I think the applicator ones are not great at getting it comfortably in place either, maybe some of those who haven't had much luck with them hadn't tried non applicator ones?

Rarely have I leaked when wearing a tampon, if I did, it was because I was not able to get to a loo.

I think that medical issues aside [like vaginismus] most people that can't get on with tampons for reasons like being able to feel them, haven't learnt to use them properly. Vaginas are incredibly stretchy,they can cope with a penis and babies passing through, tampons are nothing compared to those!

My Mum told me to practice inserting them by lying on my back on my bed, with my knees up then apart [like when you have a smear] once I got the hang of it, inserting them while seated on the loo, or standing was fine.

I also think for various reasons, some women can be a bit funny about touching themselves 'down there' IYKWIM and that puts them off tampons.

[Mrsjayy]

Bodyform ones with wings, in the pink packet. Pair of big grannie pants: very comfy, very thin, very absorbent.

there as the best i have found been using them years i cant use tampons for a few reasons so i am used to pads , the worst i found i was caught short in town one day ran in and bought a cheap own brand and i felt like i was wearing a pamper

[AmberLeaf]

Sorry OP, my post didn't answer your question!

[TarpalCunnel]

I still buy Dr Whites. They are like pillows