Question about tampons

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Hope I've put this in the right section, sorry if I haven't.

I'm rather about this. I am 32 but have only ever used sanitary towels. I'm going away soon and staying in a hotel roughly when my period is due (somewhat irregular and always have been but knowing my luck it will start then just to be inconvenient) It's always heavy for the first couple of days and pretty much always leaks on the first night so am thinking maybe I should stop being such a coward and try tampons. Really don't want to wake up in the night and find I've leaked on a hotel bed. Can any kind people out there tell me which brand/variety is easiest and least scary to use?

I know people on here seem to like Mooncups but that's definitely too much of a big step if I can't even get my head around using tampons by my age.

TIA

Are you on the contraceptive pill? If you are its safe to take two packs together which should delay your period until you finish the second packet
If not i dont have any advice on them as i dont get on with them

I use Tampax applicator ones and they are fine. Just look at the instructions and have a practice.

I once got tablets from the GP to delay my period when i was going away-could that be an option?

I've always preferred lillets. I find applicator tampons too tricky to insert and supermarket own brands leak.

I use super plus but I would suggest you buy a box in a variety of absorbencies so you can find which suits you at depending on the heaviness of your period. Until you get used to using them I would continue to wear sanitary towels as well. I always wear panty liners as back-up.

If you are happy to furtle about with your fingers in your vagina then you could use non applicator ones like lillets. You just take the wrapper off and get the string dangling then side it up far into the vagina, right to the back. It can't get lost its a dead end in there.You won't e able to feel it if its high enough up and you can wear a pad too until you are confident or if worried about very heavy bleeding

Thanks for the replies. No, not on the pill - unfortunately hormonal contraception makes me really ill otherwise I would try that. Would also worry that taking anything to delay it would make me feel crap which wouldn't be great if I'm away.

Maybe I should just buy a load of different ones and try them all out then. No idea if I need applicator ones or not.

Thanks again.

Try Tampax Compac ones, the applicators are much softer than the cardboard ones

I tried Tampax Compaq for my first attempt and they are by far the easiest to insert, so are great for building up your confidence.

I can now happily use ordinary applicator tampons now I'm used to them: I choose them over Compaq because they're cheaper & less plastic packaging, but for a first timer Compaq are great. Good luck!

I couldn't get on with non-applicator ones at all. Nor mooncups. Both leave me with blood all over my hands!

I've always used Tampax. Very easy to use: hold the bottom of outer tube as per instructions, push tubes in til your fingers hit your body, push inner tube up inside outer tube, pull tubes out, and away you go. You need to push the inner tube right up which did take a bit of getting used to when Ifirst started but if your flow is pretty heavy this will not be a problem.

Your idea of buying a few types/sizes and having an experiment sounds good to me.

I couldn't cope with periods with just towels, they flood so fast. Tampons absorb loads inside before leaking, makes it all much less hassle. When leaking/been in a few hours pull them out by the tail and pop another one in. When you get the hang of it it's really easy and a massive improvement.

Oh yes, I agree with Haziedoll - definitely use sanitary towels as well until you are confident you don't need them (I always need both the first few days as tampon gets full so fast).