Anyone notice a lack of tampons and pads in the shops?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Or AIBUnlucky?

I've tried multiple shops in two parts of London today and Saturday, and there seems to be much less stock and choice, with a lack of pads in particular Has anyone else noticed? If so - why?

Has there been a major shift towards mooncups and washable pads or somesuch?

Yeah I noticed last month that there wasn't much choice in Aldi and the month before that they had became scented . I went shopping today and forgot to stock up as I've just had my period so don't need them at the minute but I did want to check stock levels knowing they were thin on the ground last time.

I usually use own brand pads but I do have a stash of Aldi tampons in the cupboard.

Tampax plastic ones are awful, I find the whole thing pulls back out with the plastic. And as pp said it’s weird to swap to plastic when everyone is trying to stop using it. These are often the only ones available now, probably because nobody wants to buy them

Everyone on tampax needs to convert to lillets. The lengthways expansion on tampax is grim. Use lillets that expand widthways and you will never go back.
Also applicators are bad for the environment! Really doesn’t take long to get used to going without them.

The Lilett applicator ones (the heavy duty ones) are very few and far between.

Everyone I know (who talks about it, anyway) uses menstrual cups and cloth pads. I use them too.

I like the tampax pearl ones with a plastic applicator better than the cardboard applicator ones - they don’t leak as much. I don’t like the compact ones though, they don’t feel like they are sitting in the right place somehow...

I’ve never tried lillets, they only used to do non-applicator tampons in my formative years!

A friend asked me to pick up some pads for her the other day and I could hardly find one pack without perfume.

I agree with the comment re contraception - I haven't had a period in 3 years on the POP.

@Laiste they have Lil-et tampons with applicators in Home Bargains currently, I saw them today (if you have a branch near you) but they didn't have an Tampax regular, only super plus. Annoying.

Ive switched to thinx as cuts down pad bills

Honestly you need to try them. So much more comfortable. And so much less grim pulling them out.
I can’t believe how many women use applicators. They really aren’t neccesary. It really doesn’t take long to ge the hang of going without it and so much better for the environment. Obviously a moon cup is best but non applicator is a half way house.

For some women though, applicators are neccessary for various reasons.

Always short on TENA Lady in my local Sainsburys.

I hadn’t noticed this but now I think about it I haven’t seen those infinity pads for ages. The tampax pearl wher you have to pull the inner part out first kept failing and pulling the actual tampon with it so I never buy those. I like the kind ones in boots. No nasties in them.

Yes. No green tampax compact at all in Tesco yesterday. I had to buy the ordinary tampax ...there is always next month...

Yes noticed this in Dublin!

Had a hysterectomy but noticed this with dd. Who would you ask about this? Boots? The manufacturers?

Thinx pants hold a max of two tampons of blood Some of them only one or one-and-a-half. Not sure they're worth it? That won't take me through a long day.

I’ve not noticed a difference at all, I like unscented with wings and use tampax compact.

I switched to a mooncup last month and won’t be going back.

I wanted to buy some Always size 4 on Amazon and it seems that you can only do this if you are an Amazon Prime member as otherwise it can cost over £20 for delivery!
I wanted to stock up as there are 3 women in this household and we use quite a lot.
But of course, I find out the local Tesco is out of them!

My teen DD uses the lite/lilac tampax and can only fine them in Boots.

Also very cross that TAMPAX is nearly all but gone over to plastic applicators! I hate those compac thongs, they aren't long enough of me!

I haven't been down that aisle in 2 years as I use my trusty cup and washable pads.

But I'm now thinking I should now pop down and stock up when I see some teen pads as my daughter is 11!

I've struggled to get my incontinence pads (manufacturer also produces sanitary pads) in the usual places.

Yep
Orange Tampax is what I need.
Really hard to get hold of. And only small boxes.

I also hate the plastic applicator ones. They just don't work.