To think stop shaming sanitary pads!

[BooFuckingHoo2]

I’ll call eat this by saying I have ASD.

From high school for me it was encouraged by teachers (PE) to “use tampons”. So from 12 I used tampons (painfully) because sanitary towels were considered “gross” or girls were worried they could be seen under their PE kit.

This carried on with “friends” causally by them being like ew who used pads.

I was twenty fucking six until I dared use a pad because I had a bad UTI and by god the relief was immense, no longer having to reluctantly shove things up myself. It’s not like “wearing a nappy” at all.

AIBU to think there’s a social pressure to use tampons?

@tectonicplates agreed! Nobody has ever asked me for a pad, and nowadays I often don’t carry tampons.

I do agree that more people wear tampons but no not had pressure to wear them or anything

I’m almost 30 now, I don’t tend to have the “sleepovers” etc so I can use whatever sanpro I like. It’s more mini uni/secondary aged me’s I’m concerned might feel obliged to use tampons/moon cups etc when it’s uncomfortable

When I was that age in the early 90's everyone used tampons and pads were 'old fashioned' - I was quite surprised to learn when DD got to that age that pads were as used as tampons, more so even tbh. That said pads have come a long long way since those days so it's no surprise people are happy to use them.

@providentglue agreed! In PSHE or whatever it was called the pads we were shown tied around the front and back. Obviously nobody wanted to admit using those type things. I actually feel really sorry for girls with heavy periods that had to use them, I was lucky I had a “choice”

There was definate pressure when I was a teen not to use pads. They were seen as dirty and nappy like. And I felt very pressured to use tampons. Hated them and after I had my first DC I decided I was never shoving anything up there again if I didn't have too!

Actually I have to go against the grain and I’ve definitely seen people refer to sanitary towels as gross on here! So yes there are people that think that way, I’ve noticed that people seem quite pushy towards moon cups, I’ve never used a tampon or moon cup they just freak me out for some reason and I wouldn’t be comfortable using one so it is annoying when you see people referring to pads as “gross”

I've never known this. But I'm sorry the OP went through that experience. What a horrid way to treat a young girl.

Never got on with tampons. Used pads because that was what I was comfortable with.

OP, I remember my DM telling me about how she had to wear a belt with clips to secure a big, thick towel at period time. It sounded so ghastly, no wonder the tampon was embraced with such enthusiasm.
Today's reusable sanpro is amazing. I bought DD a pack of washable day and night pads in pretty patterns. She loves them. Wish I'd had those back in the day. We use the rinse water as garden fertiliser, so no precious blood is wasted!

I’ve always used pads and I totally understand what you mean. Tried tampons when I was younger because my friends made fun of me but it just wasn’t for me. I find them uncomfortable to wear. Many times over the years at work someone has come on their period and I’ve offered a pad and grown women have pulled a face in disgust and told me they only use tampons.

I've never felt this. No-one ever pressured me into wearing tampons, infact I think most people used pads when we were younger. I switched to tampons because j prefer them.

No but then I hate pads. Tampons were horrific after I had my first baby but pads just made me miserable, I hate them. Menstrual cup changed my life.

I never had any pressure to use tampons. I did choose to use them for many years but changed to pads after having a baby and continued with those. Nobody said anything and I never discussed with anyone unless somebody wanted one in an emergency. I've not heard of getting a urinary tract infection from using a tampon; tampons are inserted into the vagina, not the urethra!

Also it shouldn't have hurt to insert a tampon. You have to read the instructions and follow them when you're new to it and most young girls start off with smallish ones anyway. I was fourteen and a half when I changed from pads to tampons, remember reading the leaflet in the Tampax box and standing with one foot on the toilet :-). After the first couple of times it was easy and later on I changed to tampons without an applicator.

I 'get' that pads might show through close fitting gym gear but we used to wear shorts at school during gym if we were having a period. Some people preferred wearing shorts all the time regardless.

I think there was definitely a sort of expectation that you’d move on to tampons after a while, almost like pads were for children and grown ups used tampons.
Personally I’ve never been able to get a tampon in that didn’t feel like I’d shoved a stick up my foof, so I stopped trying after a few attempts.
I don’t have periods anymore, but my daughters use pads, my oldest rides horses and has never said it was an issue.

I’ve never ever had ‘pressure’ but I find they’re better when out and about - when I’m at home I change to a pad - not for comfort - just for the ‘freedom’ of it - if that makes sense ?

@jessstan1 it shouldn’t hurt to insert a tampon I’ve heard that over and over, but the simple fact is for some of us it does, not everyone has the right anatomy. Also whilst tampons don’t cause UTI’s themselves, they can make the symptoms far worse.

I’m 30 and I’ve felt the pressure for ages to use tampons. Apparently pads are nappies to some people. It’s unbelievable. I can’t use tampons for health reasons and I’m certainly not gonna use a mooncup so I’m happy with my pads.

Nope never heard of this, although I do find pads unpleasant, personally. The whole business of having periods is hardly pleasant though and I'm sure other people don't like 'shoving things up' themselves, as you say, OP. It's personal choice and hardly anyone else's business!

It was probably just some very silly and immature girls who felt grown up at the time you were at school. I'm glad you've stopped letting them affect you and have done your own thing now, girls can be ostracising and cruel in their teens.

Never used a tampon in my life. All the people I know use pads anyway.

Yeah, I remember a lot of comments about pads being 'gross' - I was always very aware of the comments as I struggled to use tampons for the first couple of years. I don't think my friends who did use tampons would have noticed the comments so much.

Definitely. I use both, and every time I’ve mentioned pads to friends/family (other than post-childbirth) they’ve laughed or been surprised. I’ll never forget I was going to the theatre with my cousin when I was about 21 so she would have been 33 and rifling around in my handbag for something. She saw, and grabbed, a wrapped sanitary towel out of my bag and held it up in peaks of laughter—on the bastard Northern Line at 7pm—exclaiming, “I’m sorry, are you 12?!” I was mortified. She’s still a bit of a cow.

*peals of laughter

Completely agree. When I was a teen, Tampons were seen as way more discreet, grown up, because there was a knack to using them, etc. Its only been since having kids that I've ever used pads which I prefer in some ways.
Some pads are fucking massive which puts me off. I often use panty liners but then bleed everywhere.
Can anyone suggest smaller pads please?

I always used tampons until I was caught short once and my friend only had a pad.

My period pain reduced about 50% so i was converted. I still use tampons occasionally (swimming for example) but I am 90% pads.