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!

@nanbread I got some from a site called Your Moon Time sadly they're a bit small right now but they were good when I tried them. I can't get cups to open either and I have tried and tried.

I suppose I'm of the mind that if you're willing to have sex then you should be willing to use environmentally sound menstrual products, even if they cause discomfort. Because that's what I do.

Sex is often uncomfortable for me. So is using a mooncup. But I do both anyway. I suppose I do so because the outcomes(heh) of both are worth it for me

Oh lord there is so much wrong with this. Good on you for being 'willing' to have sex even though it hurts. I feel like you have a problem though. Also, using a mooncup shouldn't be uncomfortable so it sounds like you're either using the wrong size or positioning it wrong. I used to use one but now physically can't.

Having sex is (hopefully) a choice, whereas having a period mostly isn't. Also we are not always talking about what someone should put up with, but what their vaginas can physically do. This has literally nothing to do with sex. I could thrust any tampon or dick in and out of myself if I so wanted to (I don't) but without a plastic applicator I can't make it stay in place and not damage me internally.

Lillets (and own brand) are far easier once you get used to them, smaller, cheaper and no applicator, I've used them since I was 11 and my DD's do too

It always baffles me how many people think that because they can use non-applicator tampons, it’s a given that everyone can.

Are we still assuming everyone has the same menstrual experience?

Chip - not that it's anyone's business but I'm gay. I've had penetrative sex with a man once, it was in the summer of 2000 so 19 years ago.

That doesn't mean I have any more right, due to that, to NOT be in pain while using sanitary protection. Because I don't have sex it doesn't mean that I can say oh it's ok for me, whereas a straight woman should have to suffer. I don't understand why this is even being brought into it.

In any thread about sanitary products, cups are always deemed the answer. I have several cups in the bathroom cupboard (different brands) and they don’t work for me. They don’t work for everyone, otherwise I am sure most of us would use them.

Same - I have about six now as I used to love my Mooncup. I've tried so many brands, including ones claiming to work despite my specific 'challenge' but they don't stay in. They sit too low and bulge out of me painfully.

I don't like the idea of single use plastic but if I look at what's in my recycling bin for plastic it's mostly the plastic wrapping of fruit and veg. That really annoys me, it's so unnecessary and doesn't provide comfort to anyone. I'd rather they would reduce those plastics than a product that is more difficult to replace (unless you like spending a lot on sanpro just to try everything out). Most of us don't like switching our sanpro. I remember using different pads and tampons than my mothers, because we had different needs comfort-wise.

Fucking hell, Chip, because we still get horny like everyone else. Because I desire sex with my husband, whom I love very much, and want to be intimate with him. And one day, I expect it will be because we want to have a child together. Vaginal pain doesn’t make you asexual, why would it? I don’t think you’re an odd duck, but I think you seem to have some slightly internally misogynistic attitudes towards women and their pain, and how this connects with both sex and the idea that women somehow must put up with “discomfort” by pure virtue of owning a vagina.

I think we'll see more and more innovation in sanpro.

Yes, worse product for a higher price. Anything that is best for business. But it will have a green label and be called "eco" so the virtue signallers can pretend that they are doing something while the planet gets fracked and people are priced out of using an ancient rail system. We won't talk about that though. That would actually mean something but it would affect the wrong sorts of people. Anything to fuck the poor and disabled, but the rich can do whatever the fuck they like without issue.

I didn’t know Sainsbury’s we’re stopping.

That’s a pain in the ass, I hope the rest don’t follow suit as I only use the plastic applicator.

YANBU OP. They’re the only ones I can use to! This is really gross but the cardboard applicator is really hard to grip when damp. I used to struggle.

Much prefer plastic for that reason!

Anyone tried the Yoni tampons? I went through several in a row and loads of pain trying to get one in (once they're out the applicator they're not going in in any way shape or form). Got about the fifth one in and walked around in pain for about an hour before I had to take it out. Their pads are nice (natural fibres) but I don't think the person who invented the tampon had my vagina in mind.

@JacquesHammer because if you practice, using narrow ones designed for teens initially you will learn to insert, there's no reason you need the applicator. Some women cannot use tampons, that's different, but if you can insert a bit of plastic then you can use your finger. It took me a couple of cycles then likewise my DD's, one now uses a cup, the other is using modibodi pants now as do I. We all need to take action.

In any thread about sanitary products, cups are always deemed the answer. I have several cups in the bathroom cupboard (different brands) and they don’t work for me. They don’t work for everyone, otherwise I am sure most of us would use them.

Oh god yes this! I tried a mooncup and hated it! And I'm not going to spend hundreds trying out different brands and sizes. I bought the recommended size, used it as advised and absolutely hated it. I also tried period pants in combination with cotton (or whatever its made from) pads. They slided a bit and didn't give me the comfort or protection as a plastic always pad does. So if they want to ban always in the future I'll be the one buying up all the stock I can find.

chip I notice you didn't answer me with regard to whether you found your mooncup uncomfortable throughout your entire period or just whilst taking it in and out. I presume the latter - if you'd genuinely choose to be in unnecessary and avoidable pain or significant discomfort literally 24/7 for 7 days a month then I'm sorry but I'm calling bullshit.

No I've not tried Yoni ones. I really wanted to try the Beppy sponges as they are non applicator, to see if they would be OK, but they were just too expensive.

because if you practice, using narrow ones designed for teens initially you will learn to insert, there's no reason you need the applicator. Some women cannot use tampons, that's different, but if you can insert a bit of plastic then you can use your finger. It took me a couple of cycles then likewise my DD's, one now uses a cup, the other is using modibodi pants now as do I. We all need to take action

We do all need to take action. As I said earlier I do as much as I possibly can but I’m not prepared to negatively affect my quality of life including my ability to work on x days per month.

The fact you suggest it’s simply about “practice” is simply reinforcing the idea you cannot think beyond your own menstrual experience.

stuck - not everyone can do that. People are different. People have different experiences. I'm going to leave this thread because it's giving me the rage. I've spent years trying different options yet someone who doesn't know me from Adam just assumes it's as easy as pie without knowing anything about me/any medical issues. If you have issues with vaginal tearing/dryness then NO, sometimes you cannot get non applicator ones in and sometimes it can cause a great deal of pain, I'm not willing to put myself through that kind of pain and honestly I find it sad that other women are basically guilt tripping women and implying they should take that kind of pain, it's just wrong. I've felt guilty about it for years and tried to find other options (the best one most likely being period pants, which I hope to try in the future). over and out.

SachaStark I also suffer from vaginismus and struggle with tampons. Modibodi pants have been really great

Tampons are made from cotton which is one of the most environmentally unfriendly Products there is, so targeting the plastic (when, as a PP pointed out so many other things Are wrapped in plastic) does seem rather virtue signalling.

I’m still raging at paying £20 for a mooncup that doesn’t work for me. I’m loathe to waste more money but might try period pants when my periods come Back

@stucknoue that's simply not true. I needed an applicator because I physically cannot get my finger inside me far enough to push a tampon to where it needs to be - I'm not angled that way. An applicator on the other hand does the pushing for me whilst my fingers stay outside my body. You also say to try with narrow ones - I found that the higher the absorbency tampon the trickier they were to insert even with an applicator. So practising with a slim tampon would have made no difference.

Gutted to read this. I use the lillets plastic applicator which are great. I just can’t get the non applicator ones in, they get maybe two thirds in and then won’t go any more. Forceful pushing just seems to bend or split them. And the cardboard ones seemed to go mushy and again could only push it two thirds in. Tampax expand length ways so would expand right out of my vagina which was uncomfortable and leaked. A lot of applicators do pinch as well. Do period pants cope with heavy clotted bleeding? And how do the reusable applicators work when out and about - surely you have to wash them after each use?

note to self...load up on plastic applicator tampons next time I'm in savers....