Tampax pearl

[BasinHaircut]

I usually just use the compact ones but bought a box of pearl.

The applicators are weird and they seem to expand too much sideways and are uncomfortable to pull out.

Have I got a dodgy box?

[PumpkinPie2013]

I hate the pearl ones! Weird applicators and uncomfortable to remove.

I stick with the normal tampax.

[Pointlessfan]

I'd actually quite like to give a mooncup a go too (despite my earlier comment!) but I don't want to waste the money if it doesn't work for me - can't imagine I could sell it on!!!!

[BasinHaircut]

So it's not just me with the pearl then? And I don't have a - ahem - dodgy box

I've never used non-applicator, I dont really know why as I'm sure you can't really go much wrong putting them in!

[Pumpkinette]

In my pre mooncup days I used lillets non applicator tampons. I always found applicators to be pinchy. The cardboard ones were marginally better than the plastic. Another one here who liked the widthways rather than lengthways expansion.

I managed to (stupidly) accidentily throw out my moon cup a few months back so resorted to emergency tampon stash until I could get to boots for a new mooncup. Needless to say I ended up with thrush for the first time in years. I don't think I could ever go back to tampons again.

[vicarinatutu]

i love pearl in the absence of lillets applicator ones.

i prefer the ones that expand width ways not length ways - i find the them way more comfortable.

[ouryve]

And I have a mooncup. It's had approx 20 minutes of use. Made me feel queasy.

[ouryve]

Ida that's all I get after my first day and I just use a panty liner, on those days. Anything more substantial is pointless.

[ouryve]

I can't cope with the expansion 2 ways. I stick with regular tampax, also.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Ida I reckon a mooncup would be perfect. Whack it in in the morning empty out before bed (there prob won't be much to empty)

Because it isn't absorbent you wouldn't have that horrible pulling out dry tampon feeling. It's absolutely fine to have a mooncup in when there is no period at all (as long as you clean periodically obvs)

[coffeenowalnuts]

Pearl is my favourite brand and I stock up when they're on sale. I find cardboard has a tendency to 'nip' if I'm not careful, and periods are such a pain that I'd rather use something I like and be marginally more comfortable. I couldn't get on with mooncups - I once had the horrendous experience of having to walk a couple of miles with it pinching me internally with every step. So fuck it, bring on the plastic applicators!

[IdaClair]

This seems a good a place as any whilst we are tmi-Ing.

Start tmi.

I would prefer to use tampons or moon cup but don't feel like I can because of the way my periods go, I'm not sure I have a 'normal' flow. It is intermittent, and very light. In fact it could not be called a flow, more like a smear. There is no way it could drip. I never get fresh blood, just smears of browny stuff or watery brown stuff when I move, very occasionally. Using a tampon is very uncomfortable because the lack of actual flow means no expansion occurs meaning it feels like it is going to fall out and pulling it out dry is not a nice experience. I need to use something or I wreck all my knickers, but if I wore nothing at all it wouldn't make it through jeans.

But I am not sure if the lack of actual volume of 'flow' would work with a moon cup, because it is not liquidy as I am imagining a cupful of anything would need to be...it is a little bit of crappy bitty mushy stuff - not flowing at all.

End tmi.

Can any moon cup/tampon people advise?

[PipAndPosey]

I think they are so wasteful! I've always used the non applicator type and find they always slide into the right spot!

[FortyCoats]

My cycle has totally changed from medium-flow for 5 days to torrential for 2 days then light for a day.

I'm using 3 always nighttime pads on the 2 heavy nights and still destroying myself, knickers, sheets and mattress and the fucking floor when I get up to run to the bathroom. I'm absolutely sick of it and seriously considering adult nappies only I don't want to do that because it would be more embarrassing sleeping beside him whilst wearing a nappy

I want the whole lot out to be honest. I've lost both tubes to ectopic pgs and I'll never carry another child so I don't see why I can't have it all removed but doc having none of it! She said because of hormone changes but if they leave the ovaries surely it wouldn't be too bad and I could go on hrt anyway couldn't I?

My ovaries aren't producing quality eggs anymore and I was told by the ivf clinic after our failed cycle that I should expect early menopause. I think, with all that in mind I should be allowed a hysterectomy and not have this torture every 3 weeks!

Sorry, thread hijack. Rant over.

I'm going to buy a mooncup tomorrow and give it a go.

[Brummiegirl15]

I love Pearl!!!

But admit the applicator can be a bit pinchy at times

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Depends how heavy your flow is. Many people can get away with emptying before they leave in the am and after they return in eve.

At night either do a middle of the night empty if begins to leak or back up with a night time towel (reusable of course ;) )

[FortyCoats]

I really want to give mooncups a go but I'm worried about nighttime and if I'm using a public bathroom. I'm not sure I'm graceful enough to delicately remove a cup of blood from my vagina whilst trying to hover over a public loo and keep the ends of my trousers of the wet pisscovered floor. I don't want to leave the stall like a murder scene!

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I don't know about anyone else but I want them to suck moisture out of my vagina. That's kind of the point

Too be more specific, as they are a non-absorbant cup they catch stuff flowing (also useful for heavy discharge - much nicer than panty liners) but don't absorb your vaginal secretions.

[MoJangled]

Mooncup

(Bought one 6 months ago and wish I'd discovered it 20 years ago)

But re tampons, have never got on with Tampax at all; they leak, slide out, feel uncomfortable and never once have I found myself roller-blading behind 2 Dalmatians in white jeans while using them. Bloody plastic crappery just adds insult to ineffectiveness. Sainsbury's applicator tampons all the way for me

(until advent of Mooncup joy oh joy)

[FortyCoats]

I hate them! There're too fidgety with the slender, sticklike applicator BUT I didn't know they expanded widthways so I might give them another go. Think I have some sort of prolapse, bladder maybe, and the cardboard applicator ones are not staying put anymore!

Do some people flush the cardboard? I didn't think you could.

pollypocket I thought I was the only juvenile here but I did lol when I first read it, thinking the op was questioning the accommodating ability of her fanjo!

[magimedi]

[paulapompom]

Thanks sparkling x

[Sparklingbrook]

Not at all paula. They aren't for everyone, and I wouldn't even consider it no matter how many times they get mentioned on here.

[paulapompom]

I'm a bit scared of trying a mooncup - is that ridiculous? Tis isn't it? I had big twins natural birth, but little bit of plastic? Oohh!

[eggyface]

mooncup mooncup mooncup mooncup!!
Mooncup!!!!!
:-P

[Panzee]

Basin that's rubbish. :(