I don’t use pads or tampons

[qwertyuiop098]

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?

@qwertyuiop098

Hi all wow I had no idea this would be so controversial! So I managed to get a phone consultation earlier and the doc doesn’t think it’s pcos as I don’t have any other symptoms but I pushed for confirmation so have been booked in for a blood test next week. Thank you for all the advice. Some people seem to get way too angry and make unkind comments though, what is the point? What are you really angry about? Anyway have a lovely weekend everyone.

Unfortunately it's a topic that has been previously trolled, on Mumsnet.

Glad you got your appointment. I hope all is well.

I know you were talking about loo roll purple

The point I was making was it's the plastic on the pads with disposables that usually makes it all smell. I was genuinely curious as to how, given loo roll isnt sweaty plastic and how resusables dont smell as a result of not being sweaty plastic, how loo roll would be so noticeable smell wise. Course its certainly not ideal and loo roll isnt really a good option given what else is available, I find it strange it would be noticable provided the woman doing it had good hygiene otherwise.

Off topic but those of you flooding - tramexemic has been a life changer . Dx with a bleeding disorder so have some and tried it for periods - wish I'd been diagnosed earlier in life! I think you can use it for periods without the bleeding disorder anyway.

www.nhs.uk/medicines/tranexamic-acid/

@Isthisfinallyit sorry I haven’t read the full thread but have you asked your gp for tranexamic acid?

Sorry OP- no. Thin pads. Wadded you're loo roll is a (very) temporary answer. All that toilet roll disintegrating at your vagina several times a day doesn't excite me as an idea .

Gawd this always happens and it's crap.

I read the first few bits then skimmed and see op has so far been

Told to see a doctor
Told she is urinating too much and must be ill
Told she must be underweight and to see a doctor
Some kind on implication that she smells
The suggestion that what works perfectly well for her (bog roll) is mad, bad, awful etc etc
The question.. aren't you working????? (Many WFH at the moment, maybe she is sahm, has a successful business and doesn't need to be hands on, is independently wealthy etc etc)

the reaction to a woman saying something as banal as, I pee about once and hour, have light periods and get on fine with bog roll is really bizarre!

The best one is what she's doing is bad for the environment... It's better than most of the other options!

Is she also contributing to pestilence, coronavirus, poor farming standards and the death of the coral reefs I wonder

How do you pee so much though? Doesn’t your bladder hold about a pint of liquid? If you drink a pint of water every waking hour you’ll be ill.
I imagine you don’t actually pee every hour, both to the PP (!) and the OP.

Try reusable pads, i switched a few months ago and they are so much more comfortable than disposable pads. They come in all different sizes for different flows.

Wow that is a very light flow

I've not RTFT but using toilet roll seems instead of sanitary products seems a bit strange to me. Surely if you dont like the feeling of pads wadded toilet roll will be horrible not to mention messy and unhygienic. I would buy reusable pads, period pants or a cup if your primary concern is the environment

Do what works for you, pads, tampons, sponge, cups, free bleeding what ever it,s none of my beeswax.

I have a very light flow. Although it is getting heavier as I get older. In my twenties yes I would spend a whole period either not using anything apart from my expendable if necessary cheap darker coloured pants or loo roll. Fine by me. I have reusable pads now. There has been more than one time in my life where disposable sanitary protection was a luxury rather than a necessity- mid 20s as the OP was definitely one of them. I am lucky not to need to worry about it any more. I am nearing 40 and the pads I was able to buy when I was nearer 30 have been doing the job very well for a decent time. But if I don’t have one out with me I’m back to the loo roll and I’m not sorry. I still go out running without a pad because they annoy me. Free bleeding down a street near you, coming soon.

Asking so I can tell my granddaughter: PP says period pants smell, but everyone else seems to love them. Does anyone else find that they smell? Doesn't normal washing work?

I used toilet roll between periods to collect semen. Tampons and pads during periods. Lasted for days too.

Asking so I can tell my granddaughter: PP says period pants smell, but everyone else seems to love them. Does anyone else find that they smell? Doesn't normal washing work?

Honestly I cant see how they would. They are basically pants with an inbuilt reusable pad.

Unless you are particularly sensitive to the fabrics and react in some way to them.

I'm nearly 40 and the only thing I've ever smelt is the aisle in the supermarket with the scented crap. Most protection if changed regularly and good personal hygiene maintained throughout doesnt smell externally. Disposable pads you can smell when you go to the toilet. They smell far more than their reusable counterparts.

Maybe if the period pants have to be worn for a long time couple with a reusable pad? You can just remove after a while then use the pants alone for the rest of the time?

Honestly I think.people are just grossed out so assume they smell and are trying to put people off. Periods are no where near as gross and messy and disgusting as pad companies would like you to think so you carry on buying their crap. Think even tampax have realised people are making the switch now and brought out a cup.

Period pants absolutely don't smell. Or at least not if you change/wash them regularly. You get different absorbency levels too. They have genuinely changed my life

How long is the pad in period pants?

I can’t use tampons or a mooncup - I have fistulas, numerous amounts, so my period comes from everywhere. Front, middle and back. I normally need to use 2 long night pads for periods. I have setons in them, so they drain, meaning I wear panty liners every day and have done so for the past 9 or so years.

Would be ideal if I could have something else instead of 2 pads at a time during period :(

Cool story OP

The coverage is quite long. Not sure if you can get ones that are deliberately longer. It sounds like they would be perfect for you to wear all month round instead of panty liners?

I have:
3 cheapo Amazon lower absorbency ones which are brilliant and just like normal pants
1 modibodi which is higher absorbency. Great, works amazingly well and comfortable, but very expensive.
2 cheeky wipes brand - ok, look nice with lacy bit but silky material I'm not sure on, and on the large side so not that comfortable
1 Sainsbury's brand - great and comfy but terrible VPL

You do get ones designed for incontinence etc so maybe worth doing a bit of research. It would be a game changer if you didn't have to wear panty liners daily at least?! That sounds hellish.

@BumDiggyDiggyDiggyBumDiggyBum I just checked and the coverage goes right up to the hem at the back and a good way up at the front too.

Apologies for a photo of my pants but hopefully that shows what I mean and I hope you find a solution.

I don't use either as I had an ablation 5 years ago so barely bleed now 🙌 Best thing I ever did!

Would never have been able to not wear anything prior to ablation though as regularly used to go through towels, knickers and jeans. I think you are very lucky if you're periods are light enough to not have to wear any protection.

I don’t have periods now due to contraception. Unfortunately loo roll wouldn’t do it for me. Even with nighttime pads I used to flood.

I suspect the op has a particular interest in other people's periods. Grim.
I would strongly suggest not sharing more detail, I think she's got enough to be going on with.