To think that sanitary towels should not be scented!

[bumbleymummy]

What were Always thinking? They were the only brand in the shop and they smell vile! Why? Why would anyone choose this?

I'm another Always refugee, can't stand the pong and they make me itch like crazy - which reminds me, must stock up on a load of Boots own brand while I'm in town.

Lemonade - sorry you've had a bashing. Your first post was maybe not as well worded as it could have been, but you came back and apologised and I can't see why people are still mulling over it. FWIW, I use them because I'm so bloody absent minded I'd probably forget a tampon and leave it till I got toxic shock! (Left a diaphragm up there for 3 days once - v. embarrassing).

I agree that towards the end of a period just about any sort of pad leaves you feeling dry. I actually ended up lining some old knickers with strips of face flannel for those last couple of days when it's just a few rusty streaks. Changed a few times a day, thrown in the wash - works fine. (Obviously not advocating this for the start of the period when I bleed like a stuck pig).

Washable pads and a mooncup. Don't have to buy anything each month or get caught out. No nasty smells, no risk of toxic shock. Comfy, good for the environment. What's not to like?

I agree with you but only because of the godawful fragranced they use, I'd rather fragrance-free and give myself a bit of a spray up there if it mattered to me that much.

There was a very unhelpful myth in circulation at the time that you couldn't bathe or shower during your period.

Eurgh. So you are telling me that a group of teenage girls were going around school for up to a week without washing? I would actually think the BO smell from a week's worth of sweat and grime accumulating on the remainder of your body (especially armpits and feet) would be strong enough to hide the period smell.

Well for me:

1. I don't bend down and sniff my sanitary towel, so don't notice.
2. For us with heavy periods it masks the smell.

Washable pads and a mooncup. Don't have to buy anything each month or get caught out. No nasty smells, no risk of toxic shock. Comfy, good for the environment. What's not to like?

This^

Plus, toxic shock is really worth worrying about www.vice.com/en_uk/read/meet-the-model-who-lost-her-leg-to-toxic-shock-syndrome-611

Washable pads and a mooncup. Don't have to buy anything each month or get caught out. No nasty smells, no risk of toxic shock. Comfy, good for the environment. What's not to like?

Maybe would be suitable for home use, but I personally would be comfortable wearing either of these out.

Washable pads- I can be out the house at work for up to 10 hours, and am likely to need to change about 4 times. I don't fancy carrying 4 soiled pads around for hours, even if they are in a waterproof, door absorbing sealed pouch.

Mooncup- would still need to empty and wash out at least once or twice (I understand they hold more than pads/ tampons?) So would need to bring a water bottle into the toilet. It just sounds messy and an extra hassle that I don't really need.

*wouldn't be comfortable

"I actually ended up lining some old knickers with strips of face flannel for those last couple of days when it's just a few rusty streaks. "

Hmm. Now there's an idea. And ecologically sound.

"I don't bend down and sniff my sanitary towel, so don't notice."

I didn't need to when I used the scented ones (briefly, as an experiment and because I had used Always for so long that I was reluctant to stop). I found that I could smell them as soon as or before I opened the packet and was aware of the smell during the day. Admittedly my sense of smell is fairly acute but if I could smell them, there's a good chance other people could too. Now I'm not that bothered about people knowing whether or not I'm menstruating and the "shh, isn't your body embarrassing" style of advertising really pisses me off. However, I don't want people thinking I smell of car deodoriser.

Ninaaa I take your point. I'm a stay at home mum so it's all good

Oh god I hate them. Can't put them in your bag or anything the smell is so strong. Also, they use that scent for nothing else. It wouldn't be so bad if it smelled like Fairy fabric conditioner or something but no, they've chosen a unique "it's that time of the month" scent for it.

do people usually get up to change their pads at night?

You have never suffered from heavy periods then, you are lucky.

On my heaviest day/night I have to wear a super plus tampon and a huge pad (Tescos) and have to change up to every 30-60 minutes as it just floods straight through. Costs me a fortune in tampons.

At night I can be up two or three times (tampons plus pad) and will nearly always flood the bed.

It must be lovely to have just one pad that lasts the night, Im so, so envious. I've also just realised that I'm going to be 'on' during my holiday next month, as I was last year. Nooooooooooo!

IHateStampysVoice, have you been to the doctor about your heavy periods? The pill should really be able to help a bit with that. And I learned from MN that there's a specific pill (not contraceptive) you can get to reduce or stop the bleeding temporarily (for your holiday next month!).

Eurgh. So you are telling me that a group of teenage girls were going around school for up to a week without washing?

Pretty much. All girls school though. I suspect in co-ed the soap dodgers would have bathed daily regardless. You have wonder why their mothers weren't doing more about it.

Having read this thread, I bought Bodyform today which don't have scent.

I buy the newish Always Night Secure, not sure if they are scented or not, but they are the only ones that are big enough to give me a chance of not wrecking my underwear/PJs on my heavy nights. So I have to go with the scent! I don't think a Mooncup would work on its own though I might look into the washable pads for my lighter days. I do find towels itchy, but thought it was the material not the scent.

When I was pregnant I had an acute sense of smell. I don't remember smelling blood but I used to go into the loos at work and smell dehydrated urine, which was worse. I'd be thinking ladies please please PLEASE drink more!

As for tampon use, I've used maybe 10 in my life, to go swimming.

Stampy I would agree with Smillas, I have been to the doctor for "heavy periods" that were less than half as bad as what you have described.

muminhants I have found the bodyform night to be just as absorbent as Always night (but they may not be as absorbent as secure night?)

Ash me too i feel much better when i wear the scented ones.
I can smell the smell when some people ( including myself) are on, no matter how frequently i change.
I just feel more confident wearing the scented ones, funny thing is, i can't smell the 'really offensive flowery smell' through my clothes!!
I'm just very thankful being on the pill, that i rarely have to deal with this.

Lemonade your posts were not nice, that is why so many people had problems with them.

Smillas its noristerone you can take to lesson bleeding if you don't want to take the pill.
I had to take it when i had a blood clot and it caused horrendous periods. ThAt sorted it thankfully.

Surely if you're at risk of ruining your mattress, you use something more absorbent or with better coverage or, failing that, put a protective pad down under you? I've occasionally woken up needing a change (tends to be the cramps or hot flushes that wake me up, rather than being soaked - the deluge tends to happen when I get up to go to the loo) but I simply take extra precautions if my flow is likely to be very heavy, just in case I don't actually wake up uncomfortable.

Kal, you can really smell when others are "on" ?

I'd far rather smell the natural smell of you bring on than the awful flowery horror of your scented pads.

I haven't used Always for some years now for the Febreze smell reason. I don't normally endorse Tesco stuff, but their 72p a pack towels are the best of the own brands I've come across.

Those of you with heavy periods, esp peri-menopausal, ask your GPs about Tranexamic Acid. I worship the stuff, it has changed my life from being impossible for one week out of every four back to the minor hassle that periods used to be back in my twenties.

And obviously not denigrating the experience of people with very heavy periods, but pointing out that a leak doesn't have to lead to a ruined mattress.

DS2 has a waterproof mattress cover in case his incontinence pad leaks. We also have a supply of disposable mattress pads as they're useful for a whole host of things likely to ruin stuff.

Yes silly me Ourvye not to think of obvious solutions like a mattress protector or extra layers.

Thank goodness you came along!