AIBU to be so naive - embarrassing question!!!!

[loveyouradvice]

Almost too embarrassed to ask... so simple, so ignorant....

Im a long-term Lillets user... occasionally I buy Tampax as desperate and nowt else to buy....

So much stuff... Lillets, everything flushes down the loo....

Tampax - nice little paper wrapper AND double tube thing.... At home, where do you put these? Presumably neither flush....

I've spent last 3 days, carefully wrapping in loo paper and putting in bathroom bin... feel a bit ridiculous... but they feel too revealing just lying there for all to see in the bin.....

Guessing Im missing something really obvious....

I've been using tampons for 25 years and always flushed them. After reading this thread I'm stopping Immediately!

Also had no idea you shouldn't flush tampons - thank you MN for illuminating me once again

I have a separate lidded bin. I don't have any teenage boys or any males whatsoever in my house!
It's just what I choose to do!

I have a mooncup which is a revelation. I can't recommend it highly enough. Without going into too much detail, I have incredibly heavy periods and it copes fine. It's so much than better than tampons. 😁

unapaloma do you really have a good look in a bin though? If I use a bin I just pop it in, I can't say I have a good old eyeball at its contents. Wrapped in some toilet roll should be enough.

I was introduced to moon cup as the global answer to all our female problems no waste, forget about periods during day etc, etc. First of all I couldn't get it out and when I eventually found it after trying for what seem likes ages a flood of blood came out all over my hands toilet bowl it was like something from a horror movie. Also, I question whether a pool of blood should be collecting inside us, with tampons etc its absorbed and changed regularly whilst moon cups are designed to stay in longer.

No wonder plumbers charge so much if unblocking pipes of ancient half rotted tampons is in their job description.

These sons are going to grow up to be boyfriends and husbands. Please don't let them grow up hiding the realities of female bodies

Only ever used pads as tampons were so uncomfortable, never figured them out. Obviously that all goes into the next one's wrapper and into the bin.

After having to change it approx a million times in one day last week I went out and bought a mooncup. Bit scared to try it now, I don't want it to get stuck 😨

I use a moon cup (for heavy days) and thinx period pants for light days - best invention ever. The pants are expensive but my god they are a life changer!

I seriously had no idea that tampons are not meant to be flushed! I hardly wear them now as I use a cup and cloth pads but I've never heard that they shouldn't be flushed 😳

I used to use Lillets as they expand widthways unlike Tampax. Used to flush until our drains blocked and ExFIL rodded them

I got my mooncup as I was fed up with spending so much money on tampons due to having to change them every hour for 3 days then every couple of hours for 5 days a month... even had to get up in the night to change and that was with a night pad too.
It was honestly a life changer for about 10 years, didn't stop the heavy periods but saved me a good few £££. Mind you the tranexamic acid and mefanemic (sp?) tablets didn't work either.

Fast forward another 10 years and I got a Mirena fitted, having refused one for years. Best decision I ever made, periods for 3 months then nothing since. It's been over a year now

I can only use plastic also due to birth injuries. Luckily in the States now there are a few biodegradable, plant based plasticy options. People who use the pearl ones with no need to make me .

All sanitary products must go in bin and not down the loo. They either block the drains or end up in the sea.

I use non applicator ones as there's less waste and used ones go in our woodburner! Have thought about using a moon cup but they sound a bit scary 😱

Surely should be big bold letters somewhere talking about hazards of flushing down the loo so people actually notice it

It says it in pretty much every public toilet everywhere. Any more obvious and there would be complaints about the nanny state stating the bleeding obvious, if you'll pardon the pun.

A tampon is a plug. They were used in medicine to plug wounds before they were used for menstruating women. It's a plug designed to absorb fluids. A drain is designed to allow fluids through it. Why would you think sticking a plug in a drain was a good idea unless the purpose was actually to block the drain?

I always use nappy sacks, cheap and cheerful & slighly perfumed.

I've always flushed them & consider myself quite ecologically friendly. Think when I started periods & had those period/puberty education lessons in the 90s they were all cardboard applicators & marketed as being flushable & biodegradable. I've also not re-read the packaging ever! I knew not to flush in places with poor plumbing (old houses, & some places abroad) but really thought most uk plumbing was fine to flush tampons in & I had no idea not ecologically friendly!!

Ps in public loos I always thought that referred to towels - we were taught in school NOT to flush those!

"but they feel too revealing just lying there for all to see in the bin....."
Are you serious? Lol!
1958 called, it wants its attitude towards periods back.

Bad ignorant! Only toilet paper and tissues go into the loo! I cant understand why people wouldn't know this? Same goes for cotton pads and cotton balls or ear buds and baby wipes! If you don't want to wrap it in the paper they came out of or are still visible, then why not buy mini disposable plastic or paper bags to put them into and then into your bin.

I also learnt from mumsnet that you shouldn't flush them. It seems so obvous now! But it's what my mum taught me to do, over 30 years ago and it's what I'd been doing every since.

She taught me to flush a sanitary towel too, by ripping it open lenghtways before putting it in the toilet. (I haven't used them since my teens though!)

I bet LOADS of women still flush tampons - it's used to be what everyone did.

I agree they need a big warning on the box!

I have nappy sacks in every bathroom for nappies, wet wipes, tampon tubes, used tampons and sanatry towels.

Don't use plastic nappy sacks just wrap in paper. There is far too much disposable plastic in the world inc in the sea (look up Atlantic trash vortex on google if you haven't seen it, it's horrific) and it never degrades. It's taking up space and polluting the seas. The fish eat it, doing them harm, so it ends up in the food chain and then does us harm. Use as little disposable plastic as you can.

Mine usually fall out and down the toilet when i sit lately. Ill probably end up having to get husband poking around with drain rods soon! Ewwwww