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?

@AbsentmindedWoman I've wondered what people do about emptying/washing/replacing them in public loos too. Wouldn't want to do this in the toilets at work! It's taken me til nearly 30 not to be embarrassed about the ruffle of a sanitary towel wrapped in a public or the office loo.

Stocked up a few weeks ago on a double pack of towels and noticed then that there was a less of a range - I use Always towels (no evil wings), the light green packet. I've never got on with tampons and find them incredibly uncomfortable - always had a fear from TSS from them as well which doesn't help! A girl in my school year had that and that's always stayed with me.

Have come off the pill TTC this year, but before that I was one that back-to-backed the pill so would only have a bleed every 2/3 months...

I don't use branded ones myself-I generally use Sainsburys own label tampons of varying absorbencies but hadn't noticed a shortage when I last bought about 2 weeks ago.
Panic buy sanitary products!

Savers do Always infinity and they are a fair bit cheaper in there too.

Can anyone recommend a particular brand or set of washable pads? Amazon has a load of choice but I have no idea where to start. After being pregnant then breastfeeding and not having a period for ages they have returned and I'm horrified at how much more expensive pads are and I am not enjoying being reminded of how uncomfortable they can be either!

@absent my periods are random & heavy.. the cup is a godsend.

To answer your questions & TMI warning for the squeamish !!

If I’m at work, or in a public loo, I just empty into the loo and reinsert (ie I don’t take it to the sink & rinse which i do at home).

You need to have lots of loo paper as you get bloody fingers so a working sink to wash hands is essential . Also some of the blood tends to Leave a residue at the bottom of the loo bowl after flushing, which I don’t recall pre-cup (or maybe that’s just me!), so I put loo roll on top after flushing in public loos if there’s a queue.

@purple - like a PP, it can take a bit of trial & error to get used to them so i guess leaks in then early days are common, but sleeping / standing / sport are all no problem at all once you have the knack.

I’ve probably not sold it, but honestly - it’s very, very easy, convenient & eco friendly.

I haven't been able to get Tesco nightime towels nor their really cheap own lable towels (which I use just incase I start) for a couple of months now.

I’ve noticed the lack of choice up here as well- I’ve taken to sniffing the different brands to find the unscented ones. I’ve had many knowing looks on that aisle from fellow shoppers. I do use a mooncup and washables as well, sometimes (like for the gym) I just need a decent disposable.

Good to know about Boots stocking Infinity- they were my favourites.

I recently discovered Morrison’s own range. What joy! Reasonably thick pads with no perfume or anything. Sainsbury’s stopped doing their own brand thick night pad I liked. Tesco value one was rubbish. I used to like always before they went crazy with the perfumes etc.

I have noticed that the pads section is still as large as ever but that more than 50% of it is incontinence pads so there are significantly less sanitary towels and tampons for sale than in previous years.

I've found my people - definitely an issue round here. I can't even get boots own brand super plus lillets in boots ffs.
Sainsbury's own brand are my favourite now.

Try Superdrug for lite tampons - only place I can ever find them.

I had assumed my local Aldi were doing the pretends "there's no stock left, you weren't quick enough" with the pads.

For those of you with a mooncup is it supposed to go where a diaphragm does? I'm asking as I tried the latter but could reach to get the beggar out. Don't want to waste money on a mooncup if it's not going to happen.

*couldn't reach

Yes! I usually use Tesco’s own but, as mentioned, they’ve changed their range completely and I managed to nab the very last pack (of any variety) on the shelf when I went the other day. Bastards have stopped stocking the only dog food that doesn’t upset my dogs stomach as well so I feel a change of supermarket coming on, might give Asda a whirl.

Always infinity are great but difficult to buy/find in shops. I ordered mine in bulk online (6 months supply).

WHICH reusable pads are good?

Yes, I haven't been able to get my regular pads. Haven't noticed a difference in tampons, but that's because I use a moo cup.

*moon cup

InProgess - I don’t know about diaphragms , but menstrual cups have a sort of ‘tail’attached to them that you trim to size if you need to - so you can pull it out.

Same here - haven’t been able to find cardboard applicator regular tampons in Sainsbury’s for the last two or three times. And couldn’t find cardboard applicator ones in my local (small) Boots.

Also don’t know how people manage washing out a mooncup at work? How many hours does it last with a relatively light to regular flow?

I'm desperate to use a moon cup (or similar) again but I have a prolapse and I can't find a cup that works. I'm gutted as I hate going back to tampons and pads. I've tried various sizes and brands of cups, too - spent a fortune on things for my fanny that don't even work. They sit too low and are uncomfortable. :(

What's LaTC

Washing out a mooncup at work (from pre kids when I could use one and loved it) - you just take a bottle of tap water into the loo with you, pour, rinse out the cup and reinsert.

I don’t rinse the mooncup when I’m at work .. I just empty out into the loo & re-insert.

Done that for three years with no problems...

I noticed this too! Went to buy tampons the other day in Asda for the 1st time in a year and they literally only had 3 choices....I have used tampons for over 15 years and always remembered there being much more choice?
A few weeks ago I thought the same about pads as I had just had a baby and had to stock up at savers when I saw them!