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?

When I was at school in the 80s it was very much that you started on towels and then moved to tampons. Towels were seen as the immature beginners choice. I always hated them as I have really heavy periods and can’t bear the feeling of sitting in it and the smell is horrible too, which makes me feel sick. Since having kids I have to wear both tampons and thick pads as I seem to bleed round the tampons now.

using tampons definitely made you a grown up!

This was the consensus at my school too, weirdly I think it's to do with it being a minor form of penetration

Tampons were really the only choice if you were into sports. Personally I hated pads, felt gross and a bit swampy. Felt sorry for the girls (very few actually) who would sit out gym classes because of periods, it seemed very outdated by my time.

Now I’m in a third-world country where thick pads are mostly used, so I use a cup brought from home instead.

My dds are 17 and 22 and both have only ever used pads. They tried tampons but didn't like them. They have never had any peer pressure to use tampons as far as i know.

Meant to say i hated pads myself and always used tampons.

Before I opened the thread I thought that it might be about the push towards using reusable sanitary materials, which I have definitely picked up on. Can't say I've ever noticed any tampons vs pads issue.

I remember my grandparents being horrified I used tampons when I was a teenager, they told my mum she shouldn’t allow it as I wouldn’t be a virgin for my husband. 😂 They thought they should only be for married women.

Am I the only one thought this post would be about shaming the use of throw-away single use disposable pads vs reusable soft cotton ones?

Personally I wish cups had been about in my teenage years as I spent a lot of time in a swimming pool!

@MrsKoala

I remember my grandparents being horrified I used tampons when I was a teenager, they told my mum she shouldn’t allow it as I wouldn’t be a virgin for my husband. 😂 They thought they should only be for married women.

They used to be advertised as ‘For married women only’

Yep, at school you were considered an immature virgin if you didn’t use tampons (well most of us were virgins anyway). I didn’t get the hang of tampons until I was in my mid 20’s. Now I have such an ridiculously irritated vulva towels are all I can use, non perfume bodyform that is it! I tried the washable ones but they feel so wet they make me sore. I am a weird one!

I've never heard this, actually when I was very young around 11 or 12 it would've been quite shocking to use a tampon, I don't think I was remotely ready to insert something I don't know anyone who use tampons at that age. I started using them around 15 and I found it a huge relief not to have to wear big pants ha!

I am sorry that you have felt this pressure, thankfully we have a lot more options now than when I was young and hopefully for you too.

Never felt any pressure to use tampons. My mother was very, very against them and I did not try them until I was about twenty. Now I use both. The only thing that has effected tampon my tampon use throughout the years is that I find them harder to use when I am overweight-so for the moment I am using pads for most of the time and tampons for swimming. Not one women has ever commented on it-through honestly I don’t think I have had a conversation about sanitary protection since I was a teenager.

I think there should be more pressure to scrap disposable sanpro of any variety, really

And make periods even more of an ordeal than they are? I very much doubt that there is a reuseable pad out there that would be thick enough for the heaviest flow (or be able to deal with incontinence).

There are easier wins, that don't have a disproportionate impact on women. For example, telling businesses to turn their lights off at night.

I've felt like the odd one out for years for using pads.

Everyone I know uses tampons. When I was a teen I was shamed in PE when pack of pads fell out of my bag (girls school full of bitches).

I've never even tried a tampon and have no desire too (and the thought of shoving a moon cup up there just makes me want to cry!)

Never felt pressure, ever. I switched to tampons when I was about 15 and it changed everything for me, even though I wasn't sporty etc

Discovered a cup a couple of years ago and never looked back. I personally hated wearing pads PP and couldn't wait to get back to tampons / cups.

I wouldn't ever shame someone for using pads though, each to their own.

Never felt this. When I started (30+ years ago) I wanted to use tampons from the off. But my mum had heard somewhere that tampons caused cancer, so didn’t want me to wear them. I didn’t listen and have used tampons since my second period as I hated the feeling of a pad. The only time I’ve worn pads is post partum, and I hated the feeling of them between my legs then too.

The whole swimming argument is a bit moot now there are so many period swimmer options available. My DD has never used tampons and only missed out on swimming once while we express ordered some when she first got her period. She still orders period swimmers, they come in everything from racers, to bikini’s to be-pieces, fashion patterns/styles for younger girls through more classic styles and colours.

I don’t think so, I’ve always used sanitary towels after trying to insert a tampon as a teenager and not liking it. Nobody ever tried to force me to use tampons- nasty, unhygienic things I think; I’d never use them.

@hoppingpalova Really? I didn't know that about swimming. Do they work well? I can't see how on heavy days.

She still orders period swimmers, they come in everything from racers, to bikini’s to be-pieces, fashion patterns/styles for younger girls through more classic styles and colours

Aren't they obviously period pants? Can't see dd going for that. She does have period pants to wear if she's horse riding but noone else can see them.

No I don't recall any pressure, and back then pads were really bulky. I didn't use tampons until university, and mainly because it was convenient, though being a heavy bleeder I often used both.
I can't believe how thin pads are now. I have only asked my daughter if she would like to try tampons when she wants to go swimming, but she is not interested. I did ask a few other mums once what their daughters used and I believe the majority said pads.

No pressure here 🤔 I only used tampons when swimming. I always found that I had to wear a liner with a tampon because blood would always make it's way down anyway, so pads are ten times easier.

I haven't had a period for 18 months now (pregnancies + breastfeeding) but I'd be very interested in period pants and moon cups. Goodbye, disposables.

nasty, unhygienic things I think

They aren't.

@MadameBlobby, no I know the difference and I mean shaming. Encouragement is fine, shaming is not. For example, encouragement would be 'have you considered this?', shaming is 'what is wrong with you for not using this much more acceptable product?' Hence why I said no-one should feel the need to justify what they use for their own personal needs.