HeLP GIRLS ONLY I MEAN IT GUYS GIRLS ONLY!?

Question

ok i have just started my period last night and i need alll of the information that you could possibly give! Please things like pad or tampon? Why or why does it hurt? and Which pad ot tampon should i use? and any other usefull information that you think would help me please hurry!!!

how offten should i change them every time i go to the bathroom even if there is very little blood or wait until its loaded im so confused

Answer 1

Congratulations first of all :o)

That is assuming this is your first period, if it is I hope you celebrate, it only happens once and besides it is a good excuse for getting something nice out of your parents like a new outfit, an excuse to have a big girly sleep-over or whatever else you might want to do.

Don't limit yourself to just tampons or pads, you have a lot of different options all with their positives and negatives, commercial tampons are the most harmful, but a lot of girls don't like pads as they find them uncomfortable if they are commercial or organic pads.

There are a lot of options and a lot of things you need to know about different options, it is important you know these things, here is a list of different options;

Commercial tampons – e.g. Tampax
Organic tampons – e.g. Organic Essentials
Soft tampons – e.g. Gynotex
Sponge tampons – e.g. Jade & Pearl
Homemade tampons
Commercial pads - e.g. Always
Organic pads - e.g. Natracare
Cloth pads - e.g. Urban Armor
Homemade pads
Padded panties – e.g. Lunapanties
Period blankets – e.g. Lunablankets
Padettes – e.g. InSync
Rubber menstrual cups – e.g. Keeper
Silicone menstrual cups – e.g. Divacup
Diaphragms as menstrual cups
Homemade menstrual cups
Softcups – e.g. Instead
Free-flow
Free-flow layering
Free-flow instinctive
Toilet paper
Extraction

Tampons prevent the vagina's normal self-cleaning functions, absorb discharge leading to vaginal splitting, cause friction and irritation to the mucosa, give bacteria a pores warm environment where bacteria can multiply within the decomposing blood, chemicals within commercial tampons can interfere with vaginal pH and contribute to general healthy problems throughout the body. This is why tampons are so strongly linked with toxic shock syndrome, vaginal infections, increased menstrual flow, menstrual cramps and vaginal splitting.

Young girls are at higher risk from tampons because their bodies are less developed, the risk of toxic shock is increased because their bodies will not have the antibodies required to protect them from the toxins produced, their labia and vaginal mucus membrane are not developed as adult women so thinner and more prone to irritation from chemicals within tampons, their vaginas may also not be well adapt at dealing with the increased levels of bacteria resulting from tampon use.

I would highly advise if you are in your teens or younger that you stick with either pads or free-flow methods, when you are older and feels you are ready to use internal menstrual options think about getting a menstrual cup – far easier to use than tampons, also a lot safer, cheaper, greener, more convenient, and hygienic.

Tampons can hurt if they are put in incorrectly as too low down or put into the wrong hole it can be painful, pains similar to very bad menstrual cramps, if this is what is happening simply remove the tampon and try again at a later time.

Often nerves affect tampon insertion, your vagina naturally stretches and expands there is also lubrication in the discharge and menstrual flow to help insertion, but if you are nervous this will make the muscles in your vagina tense up making penetration difficult.

You may want to look at the following article, it is about painful penetrative sex, but much of the information and advice is also valid here as it is primarily about painful vaginal penetration and how to resolve the problem - http://www.scarleteen.com/sexuality/owtowow.html

If your hymen is in tact this may also make tampon insertion difficult, the hymen breaking can be painful for some girls, where as for some girls there is no pain at all or the hymen breaking can even be pleasurable. If your hymen is in tact this may be what it causing you pain so you may want to wait until you are older to use tampons when they hymen may have broken by other means, hopefully with less pain, or you may wan to talk to your doctor about the pain and if the hymen is the problem they can cut it for you. If you don't know if your hymen is in tact you can look by sitting comfortably and using a mirror to look at your vulva (external part of your genitals) to see the vaginal opening.

The hymen is different from girl/woman to girl/woman but usually if in tact it will look like a ring of flesh around the opening to your vagina; where as if broken it will look like flaps of skin around the vaginal opening. There is a good site that shows images, not photos, of the hymen so you know what to look for here - http://www.healthystrokes.com/hymengallery.html

Tampons can also be felt even when put into the vagina correctly as tampons are dry wads of material it means that they can cause friction burns and drying of the vaginal walls, chemicals within commercial tampons can also cause irritation or allergic reactions. The string can also be felt, many women find that when it moves about during the day it can become painful as the string can pull tight between the inner labia (inner lips) of their vulva (external genitals).

Tampons also expand, widthways expanding tampons can contribute to bloating feeling during menstruation and length-ways expanding tampons can expand into the already sensitive cervix, tampons also pose health risks meaning that the decrease in vaginal health can contribute to menstrual health problems such as heavy menstrual flow or menstrual cramping.

If using tampon it is best to lay with your back propped up against some pillows so you can see your vulva and use a mirror in good light to see the opening to your vagina, and then try also adding some KY jelly to the end of the tampon to make insertion easier. A good method of putting in internal menstrual options would be to masturbate to orgasm; this will relax your vagina as well as produce more lubrication making insertion easier.

If you are going to try tampons make sure you change as every 4 hours, use the lowest absorbency for your menstrual flow, don't wear tampons when you sleep, and don't use tampons when not menstruating or with a light menstrual flow.

There are a lot of dangers associated with tampons because they prevent normal vaginal cleaning functions, give bacteria pores place to multiply where menstrual blood is present making them unhygienic, dry out the mucosa of the vagina causing vaginal splitting and in the case of commercial tampons they introduce chemicals into the vagina affecting not just vaginal health but general health. Tampons significantly increase risk of toxic shock syndrome, vaginal splitting, vaginal infections and menstrual problems.

Information on tampon risks;
http://www.toxicshock.com
http://www.tamponalert.org.uk
http://www.spotsite.org
http://www.frontiernet.net/%7Eruthb/Tampons.html

I would suggest you look at all your menstrual options, a lot of women are not avoiding tampons because of their health risks as well as other issues such as cost, inconvenience, environmental damage and social taboos – options such as cloth pads, padded panties, free-flow methods or menstrual cups.

Menstrual cups are the only safe internal option so may be a lot better for you than tampons as well as this they are easier to use than tampons. Menstrual cups are internal like tampons however they are far more hygienic, safer, greener, cheaper, and more convenient as they can be worn at night, when you are not menstruating and can be worn for up to 12 hours without leaking or health risks, they also offer money back guarantees so you can try them first.

Divacup menstrual cup – http://www.divacup.com
Keeper menstrual cup – http://www.keeper.com
Instead softcups – http://www.softcup.com

Information on menstrual cups;
http://menstrualcups.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstrual_cup

I would at least recommend you use safer types of tampons such as organic tampons, sponge tampons, soft tampons or homemade tampons as these are made form natural materials and do not contain chemicals, so not as dangerous as commercial tampons.

Natracare Organic Tampons – http://www.natracare.com
Jade & Pearl Sponge Tampons – http://www.jadeandpearl.com
Lunapads cloth pads and other menstrual options – http://www.lunapads.com

If you are going to use pads then you should look into organic or cloth pads, this is because commercial pads contain a lot of chemicals and synthetic materials meaning they can be bad for your vaginal health and environment, commercial pads can also be very uncomfortable because they make you sweaty and can rub the tops of your legs. Organic pads are disposable and don't contain chemicals, they are also made out of cotton, cloth pads are reusable and made from cloth without chemicals, so a lot more comfortable, safer, greener and cheaper than other pads.

Natracare - Organic pads - http://www.natracare.com
Lunapads - Cloth pads - http://www.lunapads.com
Reddy's - Cloth pad belts - http://www.reddyspads.com
WEN - DIY pads - http://www.wen.org.uk/sanpro/reports/makeyourown_web.pdf

Information on cloth pads;
http://www.scarleteen.com/pink/washable.html
http://www.menstruation.com.au/menu24.html
http://www.thekeepershop.com/article_clothpads.asp


The average length of your menstrual cycle is 28 days, with 7 days of menstruation – menstrual cycle is from first day of your period to first day of your next period. But this is only average, everyone has different menstrual cycles and when you are in your teens your body is still developing physically and sexually so it will change a lot, don't expect it to be regular until you are over 18, even then some women never have regular menstrual cycles.

Sites on menstrual cycles etc;
http://www.scarleteen.com
http://www.puberty101.com
http://www.sisterzeus.com/teensection.html
http://www.youngwomenshealth.org
http://www.tcoyf.com
http://www.mum.org

You can chart your periods on a calendar to see when your periods should be due, but don't expect it to be perfect, the only way to really accurately determine when your periods would be is if you used something like Fertility Awareness Method – this is a method of birth control, it is also used to help women get pregnant and help women learn about and take care of their vaginal health, this is because it tells you exactly what is going on in your body. Fertility Awareness Method would probably be far too much for you to do or worry about if you are young, but you may want to use sites like MyMonthlyCycles to help you determine when to expect your periods and what discharge is normal for whatever time of your cycle you are at - http://www.mymonthlycycles.com

The most important thing to remember;
PERIODS ARE ONLY AS GOOD OR AS BAD AS YOU MAKE THEM!

There is a lot of misinformation and a lot of social ideas that are against periods and girls in general, girls are taught that their periods are negative, painful, annoying, gross, dirty, smelly things, they are not at all, it is a natural bodily function that helps you to have children when you are older if you wish, if it was not for periods none of us would be here.

A lot of girls don't like talking about their periods, least of all researching to learn about their periods, things like menstrual cramps for example are perfectly preventable but a lot of people don't do anything about them because they don't understand why they happen or how to prevent them, here are a few tips you might need if you start to get menstrual cramps;

•Take herbal teas, many herbal teas are ideal for menstrual pains as well as other menstrual or cycle related problems including curing PMS, reducing flow, inducing your periods and regulating your menstrual cycle. Herbs to try are as follows; Lemon balm, Black Haw, Blessed thistle, Camomile, Wild marjoram, Red raspberry, Wild strawberry, Valerian, Yarrow, Raspberry leaf, Blue cohosh, Dong quai – Check with a health store to make sure they are right for you, some stores will also sell women's blends that would help as well.

•Avoid salty foods and alcohol, these can increase bloating by retaining water, and so make you feel generally sluggish as well as making cramping worse.

•Drink lots of water, this can aid in avoiding bloating. This will also help with headaches or migraines brought on by menstruation. Also adding lemon juice, a natural diuretic can decrease bloating.

•Eat your greens, and a healthy diet can make you feel a lot better at the best of times, but during menstruation it can be a good pick up and help avoid that sluggish feeling.

•Avoid foods like dairy and caffeine, generally these can cause problems for people, during menstruation this can be particularly true, many find these increase period pains. Also avoid soy products; these are notorious for causing menstrual cramps.

•Take up yoga, this is a very good exercise tip because as well as being gentle exercise it also has stretching that can help even further and breathing exercises that can help relax you and so further aid in relieving menstrual cramps.

•Take a bath, a nice warm bath can help relax you and the heat can ease period pains as well, avoid things that can harm your vagina like bubble bath, however some nice natural salts or essential oils can make a nice relaxing bath.

• Breathing exercises, some people find this a little strange, that breathing is something we do naturally anyway, however we often get out of practice and taking the time to understand how your body moves as you breath and mental exercise can help calm you down.

•Essential oils can work wonders; a little lavender oil in a burner can make a lot of difference to your mental state and calm you down. If not lavender oil then there are many other oils that can be used, a lot of stores also carry relaxation blends. Better still small pots of oil and flower blends, which can be applied to your temples, can provide a discrete but effective means of relaxation. Clary Sage is actually fantastic to massage into your stomach to relieve menstrual cramps.

•Regular cycles, although in your teens this is not going to be easy for you as your body is still maturing sexually and physically your cycles are unlikely to be very regular – however there are things you can do to help, some of the above mentioned herbs can help, but you might also want to try taking Evening Primrose Oil that will help regulate your cycles and so help with menstrual problems.

•Sex, or in your case masturbation given as you are underage, during orgasm it is believed that a hormone which causes uterine contractions is released calls Oxytocin, which can help to push out menstrual material. The relaxation and improved circulation to the pelvic area after sex can also ease period pain. Although masturbation during menstruation can be messy there is no reason to avoid it, using a towel over your bed, having sex in the shower, or using softcups or soft tampons are all options for mess free during your period.

•Heat or cold – most people say heat packs are good, you can get all sorts of really good reusable heat pads with lavender in that help a lot, but for some people cold packs work a whole lot better when applied to their stomach, so try them both and see which one helps you best.

•Acupressure/acupuncture can help a lot, although it might be too expensive for you to go to a therapist for this you may want to get yourself a basic book on acupressure/acupuncture to teach yourself some basics to help with your cramps.

•Cell-salts, these are a natural-mineral your body needs, so if you are lacking this can affect all sorts of things in your body, you can take these daily to help prevent cramps or take them when you get cramps upping the dose every 5-10 minutes until the pain goes away.

•Up your intake of magnesium, calcium, and potassium, also couple with zinc to help your body absorb these easier. These are all things needed by your body to help the uterus lining shed.

•Get regular check-ups, a healthy uterus means an easier period, if you are in good health menstrual cramps will not be as common a problem for you, it may be because you are young and cycles irregular that this is causing more of a problem for you.

•Supplements, not just the ones mentioned above (magnesium, calcium, and potassium) but also Omega 3 & 6, Multi B with high B6 and B13, vitamin E is also a good anti-inflammatory.

•Good attitude, more from the first comments, but also bare in mind menstruation is not just about your body getting rid of waste uterus lining but also everything else from the month that it does not need - this includes bad emotions - it sounds hippy-like but it is true, the more stressed you have been during your cycle the more problematic your period will be.



There is a LOT more...but I could go on forever, if you have any problems or questions ask an adult you trust, research online or in books, or if you need to send me a message from my profile here - good luck :o)

Answer 2

If you started it last night then you should have some idea of what kind of "flow" you are going to have... I imagine since you are a young girl that you will have a light period this time. I would just stick with pads until you learn more about the whole process of menstruation and length of cycle. Being a virgin has nothing to do with it! But, if you are then it would most likely feel uncomfortable for you to use a tampon this first time or two. Now, myself.. I like the ones with wings because they really help prevent those embarrassing moments when you realize you're having a heavier day than usual they divert it back to the center of the pad. Plus it helps with knowing where to position it. Generally you will align the side tabs at the narrowing of your panties.

I've never liked tampons much myself but if you are active they might be something to consider AFTER you do your research on proper use.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Since you just started your period, you should probably just stick with pads right now. They're easy to use, and really easy to change. But if you're more active in sports or something, tampons would be better. They're not hard to use, they just need some practice.

Make sure you change your tampons every four to six hours, and change your pad about every three hours. Also, if you keep your tampon in too long, you could get Toxic Shock Syndrome, which people can die from, so it's really important to make sure you change it.

When you buy pads or tampons, just go for the regular brands, like Tampax or Playtex. They come in different kinds for the amount of blood they absorb (super, regular, lite, etc.) and you'll want to have the "super" kind at the beginning of your period, and make your way to "lite" by the end of your period.

Hope I helped =]

Answer 4

General Info:

Regularity:
-Your period won't be regular for a while. This means that it might not come again for another month or two, and it could take months or years before it gets into a regular, predictable pattern.
-Since your period won't be predictable for a while, it's a good idea to always carry a pad or two in your purse or bookbag just in case.
-Your first period is usually lighter and shorter than the rest of your periods.

Pads or Tampons:
-Since you're young, try starting out with pads. I happen to really like the Always pads with wings. The new ones come with wipes attached and those will be handy in keeping yourself cleaner when it's time to change your pad.
-If you decide to use tampons, remember that you can't wear them overnight.

Sleeping:
-If your period is heavy, sleeping can cause leaks because you are lying on your back. Get some pads that work well for you at nighttime - they actually sell pads that are specifically for overnight use.

Changing Your Pad:
-Make sure you change your pad at least every 4 hours whether you need to or not. This will keep you cleaner and healthier down there.
-I'm assuming you have a gym class you have to take. Change your pad after gym, no matter what. The combination of sweat and your period won't be good, and you'll need to freshen up.

Leaks:
-If you are afraid of leaking, some girls wear dark colored pants or long shirts, particularly black, so that in the off-chance there is a leak, it won't be noticeable. Colors like red and brown do not hide leaks, so don't bother if you're worried.
-If you do leak, try using OxyClean to get the stain out. Just make sure you do it within a day or two, and let the OxyClean soak in. It usually works pretty well.

Staying Fresh:
-Make sure you take a shower in the morning, so that you are at your freshest right before you go to school. Evening showers are a good idea, too, but morning is critical.

Carrying Pads at School:
-Some girls are nervous about carrying pads to school, and especially about changing their pads at school. The best thing to do is just carry the pads in your purse or bookbag in a zipped pocket where they won't fall out if you're digging around looking for a pencil. If you're worried about changing your pads at school, try going to the bathroom during class - this way the bathroom will probably be empty and you can have some privacy.

Pain:
As for the pain of getting your period, there are some things that help stop it:
-Avoid caffeine, this makes cramps worse.
-Drink water.
-Some women feel better when they eat, some feel worse. Go with what works for you.
-Try some tylenol, but don't overdo it. Follow the instructions on the label and make sure your parents know your taking medicine.
-Some women also say that exercise helps, but again - some say it makes it worse. Don't push yourself too hard if it's not helping.
-Get enough sleep. You'd be amazed at what a difference sleeping makes.
-Wear comfy clothes.
-Extreme pain is NOT normal and if the pain becomes really unbearable, tell your parent and see a doctor. Cramps can be really, really uncomfortable at times, but they should not be so bad as to make you cry/throw up/lose sleep/etc.

Answer 5

NEVER ander ANY circumstances, use tampons at night. You should change your tampon every 4 hours. always use the mini size tampons never the big size. These come in carfree light/mini. If you leave your tampon in for more than 4 hours you are at higher risk of the disease TSS. This can lead to death. With pads, stayfree pads come in a purple packet. These are the goodnight ones therefore they are longer so you don't leak through the night. Only use tampons when swimming and in the day if you would like. Use pads at night and through the day. Through the day, you can choose if you want to use pads or tampons.

Answer 6

to answer your question of whether to use pads or tampons, it really is up to you. some women prefer tampons so as not to have to deal with the 'mess' of a pad. while others prefer pads for the same reason, but about tampons. my suggestion, try both. try a tampon for a few days..but follow all directions on the package for proper insertion. then, try pads. from there, you can decide what your comfortable with. also, to ease your mind about tampons and virginity, it makes no difference if your a virgin or not. seeing as you dont insert a tampon high enough, or with enough force to break the hymen. if it hurts when you try one, its probably because your nervous and stressed. that will tense your pubic muscles, and therefore make it difficult to insert the tampon. the biggest thing..and the directions on the pack will tell you this..is to relax the muscles. as for the brand of pads and tampons..im fond of *Always. and for tampons, there are extra-comfort ones, look around. all pads and tampons do the same thing..so it depends how much you want to spend, or whats comfortable to you.
so that answers that question. as for any pains you might experience, im fond of advil gel caps. i used to get very bad pains, and that was the only thing that helped me. also, you may wish to try pills that treat all PMS symptoms..such as Midol. well, thats all i can think off..hope this helps..

Answer 7

I remember my first period and I had all the same questions, so don't worry!! It's up to you if you decide to use pads or tampons. Since it's your first time, you should use a pad, but if your going to go swimming or something like that, use a tampon. there are my different types of tampons, but try to stay away from the cardboard ones, they're kinda painful. they also have different sizes of tampons, so you should probably try the slender ones because it's your first period. If you get cramps, you can try midol or tylenol or advil. I get them really bad so I'll take advil and use IcyHot patches. You should change your pad whenever there is alot of blood. if there is only a few spots, don't worry about it! but if its really bloody, then you should change it. with tampons, don't keep it in longer than 8 hours, because you can get TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) or other infections. Good luck and welcome to womanhood!!

Answer 8

Congrats on this new and exciting passage in your life as a young woman! Don't be scared. I would start with a pad and not use tampons at first because they require practice and the physical ability to use them. I don't know how old you are. You can take an Advil or something for pain. The cramps will pass. Also, check out this page for assistance: http://www.knowmycycle.com/menstrual-period.aspx?WT.mc_ID=10002&WT.srch=1&WTmc_ev=click

Answer 9

I like tampons because they are discreet and clean. Many first time users have a hard time inserting them-you have to relax and aim it towards the end of your spine. Some women prefer pads, Im not sure why. Get some panty liners if you will be using tampons because they do leak sometimes. Tampons have directions in the package. Good Luck

Answer 10

you cant say girls only and not expect guys to wanna answer, i read this and i think its funny that you re so worried about it, its just your period, stick a tampon in there and change it a few times a day, when your period is over make sure you wash VERY well or you will stink and stinky girls are no good.
im a guy and i know this stuff why do you not? pads are gross there for old people.

Answer 11

Start out with pads. Tampons take a bit of getting used to.