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!

@dayslikethese1 @SinkGirl

I think there's no point. It's clear that these posters either don't believe us, don't care, or want to feel self righteous. I just wonder if they treat themselves, their children and other women in real life with the same cold, uncaring and unsympathetic attitudes that they have shown on this thread.

@Branleuse despite being told that menstruation CAN be a disability for some you are still minimising other people's experiences. Just because YOU don't see it or experience it, it can't be real. How very fucking ignorant. How lucky for you that you have other options that work for you. A bit of empathy would be good but is clearly beyond your capabilities.

I have terrible, terrible periods also, and completely agree with the comments about people not understanding how utterly shit and disabling they are.

I do think, however, that where practical we can all still do our bit. I use reusable products at the start and end, when the flow is lighter than the apocalyptic schlock-fest in the middle. I do rely on tampons for a couple of days, though - and will soak a disturbing number, along with a disturbing number of pads during that 48 hours. I just haven't yet found anything that can substitute. I try to make sure these are the unbleached Natracare ones with cardboard sleeves, and always put them in the bin not down the loo (sometimes if noone is watching and it is winter I put them in the logburner). I know it's not ideal, but it's the best I can do (though would welcome suggestions). I'm hoping to have endometrial ablation soon.

So tampax pearl plastic applicators cure endometriosis now?

"They" meaning the company "tampax" are not responsible for the packaging on fruit, or around toys or magazines. Tampax are reducing the plastic in their OWN products. Their commercial products that they sell to you. Tampax are trying to reduce some of their single use plastic, as they should.
Im sorry if its your tampon of choice and you will be less happy without this specific one. I suggest you stock up or email them about using a biodegrable plastic if any other brand of tampon makes you disabled

A bit of fucking empathy for the planet you are leaving your children would also be useful.

"So tampax pearl plastic applicators cure endometriosis now? "

Sigh. No. The issue comes when you are having to change large tampons over and over and over again, because you are soaking an orange super-plus one in under an hour, for days on end. You get a kind of wear from it, which can soom become like having a graze or even a tear. Some women find that plastic applicators reduce this. I'm one of them. I've chosen to put up with cardboard because I am trying to go zero waste can't bear to put plastic in the bin, but it does make what is already a miserable time even more difficult because it actually DOES hurt.

(BTW, thanks for the reusable applicator suggestion on p1, will check that out!)

@Branleuse I have shown that I have empathy for the planet several times by stating that I've tried various Eco friendly options but the only one that would work for me is too expensive currently. I have not shown in any way a lack of empathy. I do my bit, I just can't currently compromise in this area. You, however, have. Where's your empathy? 😂

Having a preference for tampax pearl plastic applocators isnt a fucking disability. Having heavy periods isnt a disability.

It can be disabling. I have certainly had friends whose periods have been so bad that they ended up having hysterectomies. And those hysterectomies changed their lives for the better. However, under their circumstances, I can't see the relevance of whether tampons have plastic or cardboard applicators.

"However, under their circumstances, I can't see the relevance of whether tampons have plastic or cardboard applicators."

I literally just explained this. Some women find the plastic slides in more smoothly and causes less abrasion, and less injury - which becomes significant when you're having to change more than once an hour.

Sorry, crossed post, verticality.

I have empathy for people in pain. I just dont believe there is a massive need to commercially keep producing a single use plastic product while we are now fully aware of the climate emergency.
Im fed up of everyone's excuses. I will be incredibly surprised if the majority market for them is made up of people disabled by endometriosis. Same as There are many reasons for using disposable nappies. Doesnt mean i wouldnt be happy to see the back of them.

If These things were only ever used as occasional medical need product, then we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place.
I suggest people who feel they have justified reasons for continuing with these products, make their plans to stock up, because all this shitty single use plastic needs to stop being sold, and people need to stop making excuses. I do certainly feel more sorry for the ones that have heavy painful periods than i do the ones that say the cardboard ones are a bit more pinchy or are grossed out by using manual ones, but still, we all have to make changes, and some of them will be inconvenient

@Branleuse really? I didn't see you showing any empathy whatsoever. 🤷‍♀️ But ok I believe you.

I'm sure we're all aware of the environmental issues but until you've been in someone's shoes you shouldn't be so judgemental.

As others have said, this is a really complicated issue.

In the background of it is the fact that many, many women are waiting YEARS for a gynae diagnosis. The delay between onset of symptoms and diagnosis for endometriosis is insane - it's well over a decade in many cases. Many women find themselves trapped in a situation with very little help - with a GP who won't refer despite repeat visits, with a medical establishment that fails to distinguish between 'normal' and 'unacceptably heavy' and won't follow clear NICE guidelines, and with a wider society in which periods are still taboo and therefore hard to discuss with your boss. Some women end up losing their jobs and their social lives as a result of bleeding that is out of control for years before anything is done.

Don't forget that plastic applicators are not the only source of period plastic. Wrappings for towels, and the towels themselves, contain plastic too. Women with heavy periods will easily soak (and I mean SOAK) a super-maxi pan AND a super-plus tampon in 45 minutes. If you really want to reduce usage, then campaign for better-funded NHS gynae services for the epidemic of women who are suffering with these problems, and you'll have an enormous impact on sanpro usage.

And yes, like I said before, we all have to do our bit and I am personally trying to use reusables whenever I can. But really, no woman should be left in the position where she's having to change so often that cardboard applicators are even an issue.

Im sorry if its your tampon of choice and you will be less happy without this specific one. I suggest you stock up or email them about using a biodegrable plastic if any other brand of tampon makes you disabled

ODFO. It’s not my tampon of choice - I can’t wear tampons or cups or insert anything internal during my period. However, unlike some clueless lucky bastards, I understand that if women say that a specific sanitary item prevents injury or pain for them, I believe them. I’ve spent enough of my life having my menstrual issues dismissed by ignorant arseholes.

Again, no one has answered my question... tampax pearl are more expensive, people keep banging on about how the plastic applicators are no better, and simultaneously saying women use them for convenience. If they’re no better, how are they more convenient? If they’re not necessary for some women, and the alternatives work just as well, why are they paying extra for them? The arguments make no sense.

I bet the people on this and other threads who are all hand wringing and militant about how we are leaving this country in such a mess for our children are the ones who have been the worst culprits all along!

Such hypocrisy!

If you really want to reduce usage, then campaign for better-funded NHS gynae services for the epidemic of women who are suffering with these problems, and you'll have an enormous impact on sanpro usage.

Well said.

Totally agree with you OP as I have the same problem as you do.

@SinkGirl #ibelieveyou

When i was a teen my periods were so bad i often ended up in the school medical room .

I had one so bad a couple of months ago i had to go back to bed crying in pain Im 46 and getting close to menopause and usually have a high pain threshold (ive had gallstones) but this floored me like it did decades ago.

Yours sound horrific

And while we are on this i dont know what it was about Sainsburys own brand sanitary towels back in the 90s but they made me very sore.

And im not surprised that disabled people and women are being thrown under the bus. Its not a glamourous Grazia type trend to care about women and disabled people. Especially disabled people. Not trendy or glam enough.

Not read the whole 19 pages - but I'm interested in the period pants, but I'm incredibly prone to thrush. Anyone in the same situation able to tell me if the pants cause a problem? I'd love to use reusables but can't afford to pay out if I then can't use them, already done that with a cup.

Having heavy periods isnt a disability

Of course it is! If you can't go out of the house because you are scared that your clothes will turn a lovely shade of red-brown, of course that is disabling! How can you go to work with such a condition?

'if you can fit a penis you can fit a tampon

I couldn't get a tampon up there (the non applicator variety) until after I had had my son. I started my periods at 13, I had my son at 30. Even now I only use them if I am swimming.

I regularly have to miss college because of my periods. I have endometriosis and suspected fibroids. Tmi but last month I passed a clot the size of my hand. I have horrible pain between my vagina and rectum because of endometriosis. Non-applicator tampons hurt to insert, as do the cardboard ones, plus when you have heavy bleeding the tubes are too slippy to use. Reusable pads are too expensive as I would need a lot. Cups don't work for me and I have wasted too much money on them. That reusable plastic applicator looks great but I can't afford £25+. Do I care about the environment? Yes. But I care more about not being in agony (or being in LESS agony)

So sorry Helena - it’s shitty enough to deal with without the kind of arseholery on display here. I got into an argument here once where people refused to believe that my hands are covered in blood every time I wipe when going to the toilet during my period. Some people do not understand what heavy bleeding really is. If Always Infinity pads go away I’m screwed - I would have to have a hysterectomy and stockpile enough to get me through the waiting list.

Crybabyghoul that’ll be your pouch of Douglas, primary site for really fucking painful disease, one of the most common locations for endometriosis, and the one that causes extreme pain when wearing anything internal. Also causes a lovely random stabbing pain up my arse a couple of times a day.

Do these people tell sufferers of Crohn’s disease that their own poos are totally normal, so theirs can’t be that bad, or liken it to a bout of food poisoning which they managed just fine?

People are so bloody shit sometimes.

if you can fit a penis you can fit a tampon

I can absolutely guarantee you that no penis has ever or will ever come near my vagina during a period, so I’m unsure how this is a good analogy?

If your vagina feels the same whether you’re on your period or not, if you don’t have deep infiltrating disease destroying the area directly behind your vagina so that sex is painful regardless of periods but completely impossible for half the month at least, maybe you should count your blessings and shut up? Just a thought.

@SinkGirl, I get the stabbing pain too, feels like someone is shoving a knitting needle up there. It's really unpleasant and it makes walking up the stairs, sitting, etc really painful.

Luckily once the tampon is in place I don't feel it but the insertion is awful, unless I use the plastic ones which I can only assume cause less trauma and 'dragging'.

Fuck anyone who says we shouldn't be allowed access to period products that don't cause us pain.