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?

I've switched to an entire stock of modibodi pants - expensive to buy all in one go but nice to miss sanpro off the grocery shopping now

Never heard of scented pads ??!!

Never heard of scented pads ??!!

Loads of them about and I hate them all. The fragrance is nauseating most of the time and I don't get why anyone would need that. Surely by the time anyone's pad is anywhere near starting to smell, the person would just change it! If not, that fragrance wouldn't help. And, no doubt, it adds further chemicals to the pad!

I was coming on to recommend Cheeky Mamas bamboo washable pads to all the people asking for recommendations - but I've just checked on Amazon and they don't seem to be available on Amazon anymore. I just went by customer reviews for my first order. Loads of washable pads getting good customer reviews. I have found the more times they are washed the better they fit.

The scented pads are why my dd,15,has just got a moon cup.I had one when younger but only for light days.Its early days but she seems to be managing fine.She likes it because when she stands there is no flooding.Also great for very light days.
I am stuck as I am fed up going round trying to find non scented liners and there dies seem to be less choice but lots of incontinence pads on the same shelves.

I tried a mooncup and couldn't get the blasted thing in! Spent a full period battling with it. Just ended up flinging blood around the bathroom so I gave up. I'm a plus sized lady so I was wondering if that was a factor in it? Have struggled to use tampons for the last 7 years so have plodded on with towels. The body form orangey pink ones. Hate scented towels and like others have definitely noticed them becoming a rarer commodity!

I’m size 18 and have never had a problem putting in a mooncup.

I want to try a mooncup but scared I won't be able to get it in or out. i hate tampons without an applicator.

I've been having a hard time finding sanitary products I need for a couple of year, it goes through phases sometimes I can't find the purple light flow tampons and others I can't find super. Very bizarre.

Never heard of scented pads ??!!

Euphemistically described as "fresh" or "odour control" but makes your crotch stink like a cheap car freshener.

I tried a mooncup and couldn't get the blasted thing in!

Did you fold the top of it?

My conformation means I'd never cope with a cup. Big boobs, long torso, short arms... I just can't reach.

What questionablemouse said!

I just can't get comfortable with either of the two cups I have (Lily cup and the lily cup with the stem valve) so I'm sticking to a combination of reusable washable pads and Naturacare pads (from Amazon) which are a lot less irritating on my nethers.

Having PCOS flairs at the moment so I'm bleeding in various degrees probably 3 out of every 4 weeks, so I'm definitely going to invest in more reusable pads.

I thought this was just me!

I like lillets with the plastic applicator (so shoot me), could only get them in a big boots near me so I stocked up.

I hate pads so not changing to washables and I'm not up for a mooncup.

I’ve just changed to modibodi pants. I am surprised by how good they are and wish I had done it ages ago. I purchased them over a few months and have been phasing out the pads and tampons.

I haven't had a period in 5 years because I've always been either breastfeeding or pregnant but even 5 years ago I notice

• every sanitary pad is bloody scented (itch alert)
• super tampons are practically non existent
• lads ALWAYS have wings, which I hate as they just pull at your pubes.

Who the hell is designing our san pro?

I switched to a menstrual cup for my most recent period so haven't looked this month, but I'm also in London and had been finding it nigh on impossible to find the light tampons I previously used. DP was out for hours looking for me when my cramps were so bad I was bed bound.

But using a menstrual cup has been revolutionary for me, no discomfort or worrying about leaks, I'm an evangelical convert, honestly can't recommend them enough.

Converted to tesco own and loving it at the minute as their old range is 30p off whilst they change over so I stocked up yesterday.
Am I the only person on the mini pill that has regular as clockwork periods?

I think the disposable sanpro makers have had an attack of conscience and are deliberately making disposable sanpro as bad as possible to encourage everyone to switch to reusable options.

I've noticed this. I do big stock ups. I get through nearly every size of non applicator lillettes (from blue to green and occasionally purple), they're the only sanpro I've really clicked with and some sizes are getting harder to find. They're also the only sanpro that lets me sleep knickerless so I don't wake up sweaty and itchy, worried I smell and likely having leaked.

Fwiw I am on LARC - old style copper coil with 9-10 day heavy days 4-7 periods!

I was in a local Savers today and they were well stocked with Always Ultimate, Bodyform, Lilets non-applicator and Tampax applicators (the card ones) in all sizes. Cheap too. So anyone struggling to find stock if suggest tracking your nearest one down.

A question for the mooncup users.

How are they with an extremely heavy flow? I have to change super tampons every 2 hours for the first 5 days of my period.

Research today in asda - they had tampons (75p a box) in regular, super, super plus, and super plus extra.

They don't seem to do 'light' any more but their regular ones always seemed teeny to me anyway.

Just having a look at mooncups and someone is selling a pre owned one on eBay......and it’s got a bid!!😳 I personally wouldn’t buy a pre owned one!

On a serious note, for users of a mooncup, how do you find them at night? I don’t like using pads at night as they feel bulky and uncomfortable but I worry about toxic shock with a tampon. I do change it as soon as I wake.