Am I the only person who finds tampons annoying! (Lighthearted)

[RainbowBabyDreams]

Just seen an advert for a big brand of tampon, and I'm gonna go ahead and lay out my complaint, your honour!

*The plastic applicator of the big brand is environmentally horriffic and the people who flush them down the toilet need an educational top-up (So many on beaches)
*They aren't that easy to get in
*Once in they feel poky-poky
*I'm never truly at ease with one in. Can never really relaaaax.
*They aren't that easy to get out without putting your leg on the toilet, which particularly in a public toilet and you have shoes on, is foul.
*When I sneeze they poke me in the vagina
*Any hint of dryness and they actually hurt
*You pull one out and realise there's no toilet paper left and want to die.
*I absolutely cannot ride a bike in one. No way. Noooooo way. Poky poky poke-poke.
*The advert with the lady with the string hanging down. Are they trying to normalise hangy string? Is that normal? I would NEVER think badly if I saw a hangy string in real life, just like I would never think badly if I saw you with your skirt tucked in your pants (I'd tell you about your skirt. Less so a string). But I'd die of shame if I found I had a hangy string. Hence I don't wear short shirts without tights and don't allow camera men to upskirt me.

Then again, I don't really find sanitary towels particularly delicious. Would ride a bike in one though.

:-D

Disclaimer: if you are fine with tampons, peace man. I am too, just the french kind, because tampon is french for rubber stamp hee hee. And tampon. Inexplicably.

With the greatest of respect OP, if you are being poked that much you aren’t inserting them properly! I can never feel mine, although I prefer non applicator.

Posted to early 😂 i prefer non applicator, and agree with you on the plastic applicator thing

I definitely prefer pads.

That being said, it never hurts me to use a tampon unless I haven’t inserted it properly.

I find the plastic applicator ones pinchy and slicey.

We've not all got the exact same plumbing configuration, some people have less space for a tampon so the longer type will always be uncomfortable.

I never have any problems with them. But I will only use the plastic applicator ones. They are the only ones I can use. I've tried cardboard applicator ones and non applicator ones and couldn't get on with either

Get a cup. Much more environmentally friendly and much better for your body.

Get a cup. Problem solved. Bike riding easy-peasy. Environmental impact small to nil.

If they’re poking you that much, they’re not in correctly.

And surely finding out there’s no toilet paper is horrible regardless of whether you’re using tampons or pads?

Sammy, well you can roll a pad up and wrap it in its own wrapper.

I think I probably have a loop-the-loop shaped vagina so am probably not suited

I agree with you on applicator ones- always so hard and uncomfy to insert for me, I only use non applicator! In general though you seem to struggle with them a bit OP? I never pull my strings down and I've never had the problems you've had trying to take one out in a public loo, or the other difficulties you report. Are you using the best type for you?
We are all different- I hate applicator ones and I think STs are useless and revolting, so each to their own!

Totally agree OP, I’ve never liked them. I use washable pads now and I love them.

Hmm yeah maybe I should try the washable pads... I've got washable baby wipes and they're pretty good.

So glad to be preggo and having a break from periods (hooray rainbow baby don't let me down!)

HATE periods in the height of summer yerk yerk yerk!

Also I had one of the most embarrassing experiences of my life with a tampon, about 15 years ago.

It was the heaviest part of my period and I was trying to take the tampon out and couldn’t find the string. It had disappeared or maybe fallen off. I panicked, because I couldn’t even feel the tampon to get it out and there was blood everywhere.

I called the GP and they said to come in. This poor nurse fished around among the gore with gloves on for a bit, then said, “no tampon”.

I have no idea how it happened, but somehow I’d convinced myself that there was a lost tampon up there when actually I must have taken it out and forgotten.

Women are so incredibly diverse, that's why there needs to be a range of sanpro!

There is a single brand of tampon with plastic applicator that I can (a) use and (b) actually helps control my periods. Using one that works for me removes all the other problems like feeling it, pain etc.

I find the cardboard applicator ones fine, it's just the plastic ones. Have we got this far into the thread without the mooncup supporter klaxon going off?

@RainbowBabyDreams

I use these ones: ecofemme.org/

Really comfortable and I love the colours and fabrics. I know that sounds ridiculous, but they lift the spirit somehow, even when they’re drying on the line after washing.

Sparklingbrook think someone's mentioned mooncups already

My DD hates tampons. She's looking into washable pads, as we've both found that the scented pads cause itching at the very least (and one brand actually caused some real soreness verging on burning).

I only use them when I'm on holiday or during the times when it's really heavy and a pad on its own just won't cut it, but find they ramp up my period cramps even more. I've also managed to snap the string on 2 of them so ended up having to fish around to retrieve them. I'm the opposite though I can only use the plastic applicator ones. Find the non applicator ones don't go in far enough

@MulticolourMophead Bodyform long pads in the green packaging aren't scented. Only ones I can wear now as I have the same problem. Darker green are Maxi and lighter green are Ultra. Really soft and cottony too.

I love the pink bodyform for ‘everyday’ wear Not scented and bodyform have wrappers that reseal up the sides when you roll in the old pad, such a good design!

Sometimes i wonder what it was like bleeding before sanitary products.....

You're a cave woman.... just had your baby.... still bleeding massively and will be for the next six weeks, boobs sore as hell and you've got mastitis too. Hoooowwww did the species survive?!

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut

Bodyform are the only ones in our area without scented that we can get hold of relatively easily. Except right now, shops seem to be selling out quickly and it's a pain trying to get hold of them, hence looking into washables.

DD finds even Bodyform feel drying on her skin, and lucky for me, I'm on the other side of the menopause.

I also prefer non-applicator ones. Had to use the applicator ones last time as that's all I could get in the local shop and I hated the applicator. So much needless plastic and much inferior tampon with the issues you describe. I don't get why a finger isn't all the applicator a person needs?

I also loathe 'wings'. They're just more sticky bits to cause problems and don't solve the supposed problem they're designed for. Seems like classic over-engineering to me. Same with the scent. It's to soak up a period. They need to stop overthinking it!