I don’t use pads or tampons

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This is inspired by the post on winged pads. I have always hated tampons and found them uncomfortable and used to use pads when I had a heavy flow as a teen but now in my mid twenties I have quite a light period and now tend to bypass both.

I find pads uncomfortable and also am reluctant from an environmental perspective don’t like to throw hundreds of them away each year. I intended to buy thinx or a similar brand but then just began using a little loo roll (as I’m sure most women have done when caught short!) and found that as I go to the loo once an hour or less anyway so can replace and am very light, it works fine.

Does anyone else do this?

now not no!

I used to have to use loo roll when my mother refused to buy me pads (or would buy the 9p Morrison's basics ones that were horrifically uncomfortable) but loo roll goes hard, doesn't absorb and causes so many problems. Just use the products that are actually designed for the job.

If you need the loo every hour as you state then you need to see your doctor.

@SandysMam I had a mooncup for years and when I replaced it I switched to a Lena cup. It's slightly smaller, thinner rim and more flexible and I'm finding it even easier to insert and more comfortable.

Whatever works I guess but this is a little unusual. I thought you were going to say you just wear normal underwear and take the risk. I have a light flow and if it's at the level of just spotting I don't bother with anything, just wear black underwear. But I can't see how loo roll is in any way comfortable or convenient. Try period pants.

Washable pantliners sound best for this situation. The fabric top surface feels very similar to just wearing pants anyway and there is little bulk. No moisture-sucking crystals as with disposable liners.

I can remember using loo roll a few times as a temporary measure when caught out as a teenager and it's not good. It shifts and falls apart easily.

Cheeky wipes pants are fantastic. I use them with tampons on the first 3 days then just the pants for the rest of the days. They do washable pads too.

I use those pants as well.

But with a super plus tampon and I still flood and it goes everywhere, every hour.

I envy those who can just wear Thinx and a 'little bit of toilet roll'.

I paid £3 for a menstrual cup off eBay. Works fine.

I’ve used loo roll plenty of times and never had a problem.
I have period pants now.

Before I had Thinx I used tampons on heavy days and loo roll on lighter days, as I always had the guilt of throwing out countless pads and tampons and tried to minimise what I use.

Looking for good washable pads as well, as thinx doesn't do it on heavier days. I got a moon cup ages ago, but it was very painful to insert and so messy getting out, couldn't deal with it!

Going to the loo once an hour is unusual, have you seen a doctor about it?

Also having periods that light is unusual - are you underweight? Or on contraception that stops normal periods?

This wouldn’t work for the vast majority of women.

Christ.
I wear two night pads at a time and change 2 hourly.....

Using tissue cant be comfortable surely?

I have the implant so it stops them (only reason I have it!) but before I had it put in I used lovely soft fluffy pads - some are like memory foam, sooooo soft! I loved buying different ones I got quite addicted!

Not sure why you wouldn't just use a liner if its that light? I'd expect toilet roll wouldn't be the best...

Anyway if it works for you then fine.
I pretty much use night time pads or maternity pads changed every couple of hours minimum so definitely couldn't do it.

@KingofDinobots is it actually unusual? I drink a lot of coffee and probably need to pee once an hour!

I have done in the past, I wouldn’t go near a Moon cup they terrify me

I wish mine were that light!
I tried the moon cup, but I prefer the Diva cup. But for the 2-3 heavy flow days, there is always pads as backup, but I wish I could do away with them too.

Another potential issue is that it's not so bad when you use good quality loo roll from home, but if you get caught short out and about you are stuck with scratchy cheap loo roll from a public loo next to your skin for a long period of time. If anyone is thinking of trying this, definitely keep a spare pad or loo roll from home in your bag.

Oh and toilet tissue when I tried it did what it does when it gets wet and bunches up into a soft pile of mush.... lurrrvely going around with THAT in your knix!

No! That would never work and would be extremely uncomfortable.

I have very heavy, flooding periods. At their worst I can flood through even the best sanpro in minutes.

I’ve now ended up with a mirena coil. I still have some periods though, and was certainly flooding again last month.

Going to the loo every hour? How do you manage to go anywhere or do anything?!!! Esoecially at the moment. This is crazy.

YANBU if it works for you and I have used a makeshift pad of bog roll in emergencies more than once!

It wouldn't work for me generally, esp now perimenopausal.

@goodwinter - the normal range is needing to pee between 4 and 10 times a day, so going once an hour (even if that’s just in waking hours) is well over normal.

I have PCOS and before I was on the pill I was ridiculously heavy, for weeks and weeks on end. I'd soak through a nighttime pad in an hour.

Now I take the pill to regulate my cycles and I'm like you. I rarely even bleed on my pill break and if I do it's literally just a bit of spotting. It's not worth using a pad and I've never liked tampons anyway.