To be annoyed that Sainsbury's will no longer sell plastic applicator tampons?

[caddywally]

It's not a massive issue at the moment because I can buy them elsewhere, but if other shops follow suit I'm going to be condemned to a life of using pads because I don't get on with non-applicator or cardboard applicator tampons. I can't use menstrual cups, either.

I understand the problem with plastic but don't see why women who rely on plastic applicator tampons should suffer when there is excess plastic everywhere. I already live a fairly eco-friendly life - no car, 1 holiday in the past 10 years, rarely eat meat, most of the stuff I own is second hand (mainly for financial reasons than anything else, admittedly) - and I don't see why I should have miserable periods when there are people whose lifestyles are much worse for the environment than mine. I also don't flush sanitary products down the toilet, which I assumed was common sense. I probably am being unreasonable and should just suck it up for the sake of environment!

Um every woman is different. I am 48 and have had 2 DCs naturally. I have never been able to use tampons, even with applicators or a 'just shove your finger up'. Equally i have very serious problems having a smear due a internal problems. (I had a bad car accident when I was 19. no-one has ever told me what is wrong with my innards, except to say that things are strange down there).

penetrative sex also is an issue, and before I stopped drinking used to involve loads of wine. Now it involves painkillers and diazepam.

So I found it hard to understand people apparently just do not 'get' that things that are SO damed easy for them may not be the same way for others.

@Crybabyghoul they are more more hygienic and less likely to cause complications for babies. The convenience level also greatly increases the quality of life to the main carer parent (much easier to go out, arrange childcare etc if you use disposables not to mention less frequent nappy changes and no washing associated with the washing of the nappies). The world wouldn’t end without them but they are hardly a frivolous luxury.

Don’t women also use disposable razors, Rachie? Possibly more so than men as if you shave regularly, you are more likely to use something more long lasting!

And disposable razors are definitely not single use. And at least the plastic is an integral part of the product. With sanpro, Tampons are the single use product so the plastic applicators are just used for a few seconds to enable the use of the product after which they are superfluous. So in that case, I don’t think there are a million things that can be done first. While I have sympathy with the women unable to use an alternative, I am sure the majority of women who use them just buy them because they exist.

@JapaneseBirdPainting, did you ever have a diagnosis? This sounds much like me (hope you don't mind me asking)

@BogglesGoggles I was just making a comparison as people seem to think that having a need for plastic applicators isn't necessary it's a luxury. I'm of the mind that we all could be more aware but if we need something we should not be shamed into not using it. I don't actually think nappies are a luxury I was just using a previous poster's logic.

@Crybabyghoul they are more more hygienic and less likely to cause complications for babies.

No they bloody aren't. Where did you come up with that one?

CottonSock no, no diagnosis. i had 'counselling' a few years ago because I fell apart when I was having an (unsuccessful) smear. I was discharged when i started a new job and could not go to the sessions due to them being only held during the week.

I was told by my GP a few years ago to drink a bottle of wine and put on scented candles because I had gone to her with worries about my lack of libido and the effect on my sex life. It did not feel helpful. i have since got diazepam for my back issues and take them. DH is very understabnding, but had not tried to initiate sex for a few years now.

Passenger42 - check out my earlier post. Because of mobility issues applicators make it easier and plastic even easier.

Get ride of men disposable razors before a tampon!! Yet another sign this is a mans fucking world!! Anyone saying it's better for environment, there is a million other things that could be done first!! But know it's the women that have to suffer.

Whataboutery at its finest!

I can’t get on with tampax compaq or pearl (the plastic ones). I find the, hard to position correctly, and at least one time in about every eight insertions the tampon simply doesn’t come away from the applicator as it’s supposed to and the whole thing comes out when I try to remove the applicator, rendering it useless.

I’ve always got on well with tampax original (cardboard ones) and am struggling to imagine how they would ‘nip’ or rub, though I believe other women might have that experience.

I can't believe they started making single use plastic tampon applicators in the first place... I thought it was a shocking waste of the earths resources with negative environmental impact

when they came out and my then partner tried them...love the reusable applicator idea.....whoever posted that thanks you.
I am the other way I hate applicator tampons as find them too long and have to use diddy lillets...I cant get on with moon cups either ...
I worked for the sea life centre over twenty years ago and we were trying to educate people to the dangers of plastics in our seas etc back then and its always dismayed me about the environmental destruction the last seventy years have caused....people still are when needing to upgrade to the latest mobile, tv, car or throwaway fashion using artifical fibres in places like primark etc ....
Don't mean to sound self righteous sorry

@JapaneseBirdPainting, I was told it was this during labour.
Maybe a bottle of wine before my next smear is a good option.
Haha, my last smear nurse was insisting I was an alcoholic as it was.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaginismus/

I hate the plastic applicators. They bite my vag and half the time don’t even release the tampon.

I’ve used Thinx period pants for 18 months now and love them. Feel MUCH happier about my periods. Ok. Not happy. More at peace with them.

Unfuckingbelievable

Reusable applicators seem like a great idea.... but what do I do to clean it while at work? Thought the same thing with the mooncup we have a single ladies cubicle with an anteroom and 1 sink shared with the men’s loo.... I would not feel comfortable rinsing it out there

This thread came up on my feed directly after one on sanitary cups! Why not take a wander over there op :) mooncups are fab. There was also one just upthread on washable nappies, which are also fab :) I was fairly horrified to learn about the existence of tampons with plastic applicators the other day when I was given one by a friend, just seems like the epitome of single use plastic waste, 2 seconds up a fango then into the landfill forever more :S

Ps I did spot you said you can't use cups, which would be fair enough. But there are lots of brands and styles out there so could be worth checking. On the thread I mentioned someone linked to a quiz to help work out which one might suit you.

Tampax Compact Pearl are the only tampons I can use, otherwise it would be pads. I don't want to use a cup and nothing anyone will say will change my mind.

Compact Pearl are currently 99p a box in Savers, stock up ladies I know I will.

@indecisivelurcher

For some people, me included, the waste is necessary, at least currently.

@BogglesGoggles

All of things you mentioned are not necessities. They are at the far end of luxury and excess waste.

The plastic wrapping if food is actually a controversial one. The wrapping is offset by saving more food from spoiling in the shop and therefore creating less food waste. It takes more energy to produce the food than goes into the wrapping.

That said- it should all be biodegradable.

There are many areas of our lives where causal single use plastics have crept in (mostly to make thing cheap and encouraging consumer spending).

I’ve just bought a safety razor and it is brilliant. Am also using newspaper instead of plans coated wrapping paper that isn’t recyclable.

I thought menstrual cups come in different shapes so they're suitable for all? I've not looked back since having one, it's a game changer.

YANBU, I much prefer the plastic ones too. I find the cardboard applicators often just don't work!

I actually agree with you with regard being unable to use cardboard or non applicator tampons. Sanitary towels don't contain me enough, and reusable products (mooncup and reusable sanitary) don't agree with me. I always use pearl.

BUT, that DAME reusable applicator looks brilliant, rather a large initial splurge but i am definitely going to give it a try.

Menstrual cups can come in every possible shape and size, Robots. Big, small, slim, rounded, in the silhouette of The Queen’s nose. But if they CAN’T physically be inserted, they aren’t much use to the woman in question.

I've just read up thread (guilty of skipping), I see a lot of people are promoting mooncups and variations of the product. The problem with that is these products are not cheap, and suggesting people try out a few fldifferent ones until they find one that suits isn't practical financially, I for one could not afford to waste money on a different sanitary cup every month until I found one that worked for me. I just don't have the funds.