All Rights Reserved. By signing up to the Mashable newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications Tampon users and pad users can get along. You can get all different kinds of pads, from panty liners to some heavy-duty ones, depending on your flow and how often you want to change them. Cup users also had similar or even lower levels of menstrual blood leakage than those who used tampons and pads . To take the tampon out, pull gently on the string attached to the end of it. That, by eschewing the more discreet option, renders them less feminist, less empowered, less hip. How do I choose the right pad for me? Have someone take you to the nearest emergency department as soon as possible. They're soft, they're flexible, and they're even more adept than paper towels at cleaning up dog piss on the floor. Pads are rectangle-shaped pieces of absorbent material which you can stick onto the inside of your underwear. Things can get messy because you have to use your fingers to fish it out of your vagina, then dump and rinse it. Others may feel more secure and less exposed with pads, since tampons are internally worn and can be difficult to locate if they are accidentally forgotten inside. Pads can be thought of as a safer option than tampons, as pads do not come with the same risk of TSS. Do tampons really make cramps worse? Additionally, using menstrual cups, period underwear, and sponges to collect menstrual fluid is different from free bleeding, as these items are still effectively containing your period. Black, Brown, Bright Red, and More: What Does Each Period Blood Color Mean? Many girls start out using pads, but might want to use tampons when they do sports or go swimming. Let's start by explaining what each one is. Before you ask: Yes, it's worth the price. Tampons are often the dreaded marker of womanhood, but you'll soon learn there's nothing to be afraid of and they actually make life much easier during your time of the month. An extension of this are vaguer tampons-make-you-sick fears. I didn't die. Wings are extra material on the sides of the pad that you can fold over the edges of your underwear to keep the pad in place and to prevent blood from spilling onto your underwear and clothing. Today, tampons typically consist of a small cotton stick with a string attached to one end. The tampons vs. pads debate has been around for what feels like forever. These are not the same sponges you wash your dishes or tub with! Because you can see it, it's also easy to remember when you have to change it. Instead of segregating ourselves into pad and tampons camps, or even other hygiene products like diva cups and Thinx, we can build a common cultural conversation around the issues that really matter: Ruined underwear, painful cramps, or accidentally bleeding all over your office chair while you're at work. Some tampons have applicators, which are plastic or cardboard tubes that help put the tampon in place. The hymen can separate during tampon insertion and cause discomfort. With only 2% of the population using tampons, she provided information about options. Here are some tips and tricks to help you find the answer to 'Wordle' #622. Review the pros and cons for pads and tampons and decide which one works best for based on your lifestyle and personal choice., Cleveland Clinic: "Are Scented Tampons and Pads Bad for You? Could I have it, too? You can squat, put one leg up, or sit on the toilet with your knees apart. If you keep it in for longer, it can cause harmful bacteria to grow. It's fully inside your body with the exception . They believe those who choose pads are weak, anachronistic, regressive. Give a package of sanitary napkins a try! The amount and duration of your period is determined by a variety of factors and usually does not change with free bleeding. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. There can also be varying levels of vaginal dryness and tightness which can impact the ease in which a tampon can be inserted. To use a pad, peel the adhesive strip off and press it on to your underwear. Some women also prefer tampons because they're easier to carry and you . Overwhelmed by the ever-growing world of period underwear? Wash your hands before and after using a tampon. This article was medically reviewed by Irena Cabrera, MD, OBGYN at. Pad and tampons might seem like two different species, but both are equally bad when it comes to their affect on mother nature. Though theres still have a lot of work to do, more and more companies are taking a more inclusive approach in the design and marketing of their products. Discovery to sue Paramount over 'South Park' streaming rights, Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for March 3, Daters have a 'reality gap' about gender equality, Bumble says, The best Xbox controller out there is on sale get one while it lasts, Jenna Ortega channels Wednesday for 'Hot Ones', deadpans her way through spicy wings, Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for March 4. Tampons are a popular menstrual product choice for women during their periods. Once inside your vagina, they absorb blood and when you are ready to take it out, you can pull on the dangling string. A fellow Mashable employee who genuinely asked to be called "Padable" shared this experience with me: "I havent been shamed a lot for using pads, but I also dont bring it up a lot because I always felt it was weird. From Super Light (half to a full tampon), Moderate-Heavy (2-3 tampons), to Maxi 24 hours (10 tampons), and levels in between, you can find exactly what you need for every day of your period. Asking for tampons, complaining about tampons, saying they were better than pads because pads are like diapers. In the broader world, however and most certainly in the blokey realm of professional sport to bring blood out of the bathroom and into a mixed-company, live Olympic broadcast was outright shocking. What You Need to Know About Vaginal Discharge, All of Your Questions About Hymens, Answered, The Average Age Teens Are Losing Their Virginity, Why Your Vagina is Dry and What to Do About It, Experts Weigh In on How to Use a Vibrator. Their two-part design makes them less convenient for changing on the fly. They come in a variety of sizes and colors and can be reused for three to five years. (2017). She let women in China know that, yes, there are ways to swim while you have your period. An applicator with a rounded top can be especially helpful for beginners. Tampons are much less bulky and less likely to move, so you can feel confident while you're out and about! The data (probably) doesn't lie. When you change your pads regularly, you stop harmful germs called bacteria from growing in them. You cant feel them once theyre in properly. Now, that system includes using a tampon on lighter days and doubling up with a heavy absorbency tampon and a pad on heavier days. Disposable Tampons and Pads. Menstrual cups can be worn for 4-12 hours, depending on flow and can generally hold more than a normal tampon. Or maybe it's because tampons are sleek and sexy, built like supermodels, and pads are broad-shouldered, aka, "body positive.". There are several different factors that go into every menstruators product choice. Calling all Disney adults and 'Titanic' fanatics. Plus, today you can find reusable cups, washable pads, and period-proof panties, among other things. Tampons are cylindrical vagina inserts made out of cotton, rayon, or a mix of both materials. Many period products contain plastics and harmful chemicals. You can wear them as extra leak protection with pads and tampons at night or on heavy days. This can cause gray, white, or green discharge, a fishy-smelling odor, itching, and burning during urination. Theyre less likely to cause irritation than synthetic products. Menstrual pads, by contrast, are made for frumpy celibates who are too attached to their moms, hate the environment, and wear Costco branded underwear they bought on sale on Labor Day. A new study found that menstrual cups were just as good, if not better, as disposable tampons and pads at preventing leaks. "I am PROUD of my pads!" "Differentiation between menstrual products is a personal choice as long as they are used as directed, either are efficacious," says Gaither. Seemingly, some women are convinced theyve committed a kind of anachronistic, feminine hygiene sin for picking the pad. Tampons are inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual fluid and can be a very effective means of controlling the level of flow during a menstrual cycle. Those wretched, bulky layers of plastic that ended up in my underwear every month made the whole process very uncomfortable. For me, it was in fifth grade at my neighbors swimming pool. While tampons can be a convenient option to wear during the day, they do carry the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) a rare but potentially severe complication caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. It . You cant wear them in thongs or G-strings, if thats your thing. Some have extra material on the sides (called "wings") that fold over the edges of your underwear to better hold the pad in place and prevent leaks. You can reduce your risk of irritation by changing menstrual pads frequently, and choosing pads made from non-plastic materials. It is important to remain aware of proper hygiene while swimming on your period and take steps to prevent discomfort and the spread of bacteria. When will tampon users stop shaming pad users? | Mashable While its a medical malady easily avoided by not treating a tampon as a permanent resident, for example the Death From Tampon spectre still haunts. Why we prefer sanitary pads to tampons - Nigerian women How do I use tampons, pads, period underwear, and menstrual cups? Some women also prefer tampons because they're easier to carry and you don't feel them the same way you do pads.. There was a long period of time in my life where I all wanted to do was bleed out of my front hole, and catch it with a napkin. You can reduce your risk of toxic shock syndrome by using the least absorbent tampon required to manage your flow and changing your tampon regularly. Relax and you'll be able to find it. While there are a plethora of options to choose from, including period panties and menstrual cups, many first-time menstruators will begin with tampons and menstrual pads. Its users choice, said Siriouthay. Seventeen picks products that we think you'll love the most. Share on Facebook (opens in a new window), Share on Flipboard (opens in a new window), Stock images perpetuate the myth that women are weaker when they're on their period, YouTube's favorite ghoul boys, Shane Madej and Ryan Bergara, tell us what they've been watching, Now you can pause your Snapchat Streak without any stress, Dictionary.com defines the times with 1,500 new words, revisions, The TikTok 'bold glamour' filter is going viral for its wildly unrealistic beauty standard, TikTok Visionary Lynae Vanee is a 'content creator down for the cause', A24's 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' charity auction raised over $500,000, How to watch 'The Weekend: Live From SoFi Stadium' and bring the concert experience home, Pedro Pascal narrated an audiobook if you want 8 straight hours of his voice, It's time to put 'The Bachelor' out to pasture, Warner Bros. Cue iron deficiency at best, exsanguination when it gets a little worse. Period panties, menstrual underwear whatever you call them, theyre a thing. For example, if youre going for 6 hours without needing to change your tampon, you may need to switch to a tampon for a lighter flow.. Id speculate most Western countries have similar figures. Wash your hands before and after using a tampon. Public Goods asked Maddy Siriouthay, co-founder and Chief Content Officer at Ovee, a brand promoting health for people with vaginas, about the differences between tampons vs pads, and the pros and cons of each. Lets face it: Most menstrual products are pretty female-centric, from their packaging and marketing to their incompatibility with boxers. I prefer pads over tampons for a variety of reasons. Tampons are also a better choice for swimming. Answer (1 of 23): Actually, neither! No woman alive would be unaware of those will I still be a virgin if I use tampons? concerns. Young Men Are Learning How Menstrual Pads Work on TikTok - Glamour I don't understand what guys are afraid of when it comes to this. Many girls start out using pads, but might want to use tampons when they do sports or go swimming. Tampons, on the other hand, are less bulky and tend to stay in place, meaning you dont have to worry as much about potential leaks. Changing pads regularly also helps to control smells. Wearing period panties might be a good way to transition to free bleeding if you want to try it out but are hesitant. Pros. If youre prone to waking up to sheets that resemble a crime scene, then the biggest pad with wings is probably at the top of the list. A lot of Nigerian women prefer pads because they are easy to use, and they offer external protection. Use the lowest absorbency tampon you can. Pros. It also means less landfill waste and fewer trees being cut down to make paper-based options and packaging. Over time, though, I came to grow ashamed of my sanitary napkins as tampon users ascended and "pad-shaming" became more powerful. We take your words seriously. They call menstrual pads wasteful even though used tampon applicators are more popular than grains of sand on a Brooklyn beach. Pads come in a number of different sizes, from light panty liners to long and thick overnight pads, and in a number of different materials, including synthetics, cotton, and banana leaf or bamboo. Tired of tampons? Pads offer a better option for those with heavier flow days, which may require changing more frequently than tampons. Where they differ are . I usually wear pads, just rather have the . Plus, they dont make the whooshy diaper sound that disposable pads often make. It is very common for people to struggle when first putting in a tampon, especially for those who were not properly taught how to do it. We avoid using tertiary references. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. Ultimately, the choice is up to you. Ultimately, talk to your GP to find the best and safest product for you. Aside from the fact that picturing a hymen as a kind of football banner needing to be ploughed through is indicative of truly horrendous sex education, such an image perpetuates the harmful myth that virginity is all about an intact membrane. Like pads, tampons also come in deodorizing scents, which can irritate the vagina. Tell the person you're dating that you use pads and watch their hopefully attractive face twist in revulsion. .css-azif86{color:#000000;display:block;font-family:GTWalsheim,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-azif86:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-azif86{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.3;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-azif86{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-azif86{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.3;}}Are There Different Types of Vaginas?