how many/tampons?

Question

after how many periods is it safe to start using tampons? + when i do start using tampons which kind should i use? I just started my 2nd one and i HATE pads! they make me feel like i wet my pants.

Answer 1

It doesn't matter how many periods you have had, it is never really safe to use tampons as they are unhygienic and unsafe for any women but when you are younger you are at higher risk because your vaginal walls are more delicate and you do not have the same immune system as adult women.

It is a personal choice but you should make an educated choice before deciding that tampons are for you, it is an assessed risk but most women who know the risks from tampons choose not to use them.

You are probably feeling uncomfortable with pads because of the type of pads you are using – I am going to take an educated guess and say that you are using commercial pads such as Always or Kotex – commercial pads are made form plastics that keep air from getting to your vulva, thus making you feel sweaty and moist. Organic pads or cloth pads are a lot more comfortable and feel totally different to commercial pads.

I would highly recommend you stick with pads for the time being, if you find them uncomfortable then you might want to try switching to a different type of pad such as organic pads or cloth pads as these are far more comfortable than commercial pads.

You might think you want to use tampons but trust me when I say that if you knew more about them you would not want to, you have so many better options than tampons, options that are more hygienic, convenient, comfortable and safer.
Try looking into your different options, the positive and negatives of them all because this is something that affects you for a lot of your life and that affects your health so it is important to learn about – there are more options than just tampons and pads!

Menstrual options;

Commercial tampons – e.g. Tampax
Organic tampons – e.g. Natracare
Sponge tampons – e.g. Jade & Pearl
Soft tampons – e.g. Gynotex
Homemade tampons
Padettes
Commercial pads – e.g. Always
Organic pads – e.g. Organic Essentials
Cloth pads – e.g. Gladrags
Pad belts – e.g. Ready's
Homemade pads
Padded panties – e.g. Lunapanties
Period blankets
Silicone bell-shaped menstrual cups – e.g. Divacup
Rubber bell-shaped menstrual cups – e.g. Keeper
Softcups – e.g. Instead
Diaphragms used as menstrual cups
Homemade menstrual cups
Free-flow
Free-flow layering
Free-flow instinctive
Extraction

When you are a little older then you may want to look into options such as menstrual cups as these are far more convenient, safer, cleaner, greener, cheaper and safer than tampons, they are also far better for sports as you can leave them in for up to 12 hours without leaking or risk including at night or when you are not even on your period, they also do not have anything like strings or wings showing on the outside of your body and do not cause cramps. Menstrual cups are a lot more comfortable, hygienic, convenient and comfortable than tampons – you can even use them now, they are actually far better suited for younger women than tampons.

Different menstrual options;
http://www.divacup.com – Silicone bell-shaped cup
http://www.thekeeper.com – Rubber bell-shaped cup
http://www.softcup.com – Softcup
http://www.lunapads.com – Padded panties
http://urban-armor.org/urban-armor – Cloth pads
http://www.lunapads.com – Cloth pads, etc.
http://www.reddyspads.com – Cloth g-style pads
http://www.natracare.com – Organic pads


Tampons are really not a good idea because they are bad for your vaginal health, they prevent normal vaginal self-cleaning, give bacteria the perfect place to multiply within your vagina, absorb fluids that leads to vaginal splitting, leave fibres within your vagina and introduce chemicals into your vagina. Tampons are linked with TSS, vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis, vaginal splitting, cervical damage, as well as longer and more painful periods.

This is why commercial tampons are considered the most harmful out of all menstrual options and why so many women have stopped using them as well as many organisations aiming to educate women and ban certain types of tampons.

Sites discussing tampon risks;
http://www.toxicshock.com
http://www.spotsite.org
http://www.tamponalert.org.uk
http://www.wen.org.uk/sanpro
http://cookiepuss.tripod.com/tampons.htm
http://www.frontiernet.net/%7Eruthb/Tampons.html

If you do use tampons then you do have to change them around every 4 hours to reduce risk of TSS and vaginal infections by reducing the length of time you are keeping bacteria within your vagina. You cannot use tampons when you sleep at night or when you are not on your period as this will dry the vaginal walls increasing risks, this is also why you have to use tampon sizes appropriate to your menstrual flow.

Use organic tampons such as Natracare or Tamponification tampons, or sponge tampons like Jade & Pearl as these are not made from synthetic materials that can increase TSS risk like commercial tampons are, also unlike commercial tampons organic tampons do not contain chemicals that can cause infections.

Organic and sponge tampons;
http://www.natracare.com
http://www.tampontification.com
http://www.jadeandpearl.com

More information on your body and menstruation;
http://www.scarleteen.com
http://www.the-clitoris.com
http://www.myvag.net
http://www.vaginaverite.com
http://www.menstruation.com.au
http://www.mum.org
http://www.sisterzeus.com/teensection.html

If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me from the link on my profile.

Answer 2

Toxic Shock is not that common anymore, honestly, it was largely the result of the super plus tampons that were popular in the early days.
Sure, you should not leave them in for more than 8 hours, but most likely you will need to change before then anyway.
I had a hard time using tampons when I was still a virgin (not my business if you are or not, just an FYI), but they do make those teen ones that are slimmer. Also, I would definitely suggest something with a plastic applicator vs. cardboard. You can also put a tiny bit of water on the applicator to make it easier to put in.
Good luck--I've only been using tampons for probably over 15 yrs now! :)

Answer 3

there is no set standard so long as you've begun your period.

i use playtex gentle glide. after trying just about every kind made, playtex gentle glide is by far the best there is.

also note, that tampons can cause toxic shock syndrom, sometimes referred to as TSS. this was a major problem back in the beginning stages of tampon production. after many years of changes, tampons no longer pose such a high risk and is even noted as extremely rare. Don't let anyone scare you into thinking you're going to die if you don't change it every 3 hours on the dot. Depending on your flow, you can very easily go 6-12 hours, especially using the gentle glides; sometimes you may have no choice for whatever reason. Even after 6+ hours you're perfectly safe using one tampom (provided of course you have no other blood related illnesses). It's just highly recommended to go no more than 8 hours on one. In the end, it's all up to your body as all women's periods are not the same.

Answer 4

I started using tampons after my 2nd or 3rd period. At first i used the "teen slim" kind, then i used the regular absorbancy. It just depends on what your absorbancy range is. --I personally use the Pearl Brand Tampons--
and i would suggest you buy a variety box, so you can figure out your absorbancy range.

Good Luck! Take Care =D

Answer 5

You can wear pads now. There is no rule about having to wait. I hate pads too. But you need to wear them to bed at night. I know, but trust me. You can only leave in a tampon for 3 hours--MAX. Or you will get Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Answer 6

They make tampons for Jr. So try those and see if they feel comfortable, but you still need a thin pad, cause if you flow heavy it will go though. If the Jr aren't doing the job, buy a box of assorted sizes for heavy days and light days.

Answer 7

You can start using tampons whenever you feel comfortable wearing one. You can wear one on your first period. Make sure you are relaxed when you put one in for the first time because you don't want to force it. I use tampax pearl and I love them. They are easy to put in, and definitly the most comfortable. You may want to start with the smallest one for your first time until you get used to them. They are soo much better then pads, ugh! Goodluck :)

Answer 8

I dont think it matters is its you 1st period or you 12th.If you prefer tampons then go ahead and use them - just remember to change frequently because of toxic shock syndrom

Answer 9

they say you should wait a year but I dont think starting to use tampons now would do no harm to you......tampax pearl and playtex is a good brand to use.....good luck!

Answer 10

you can start since now, make sure you change it often though, as in prolly every 2-3 hours. This is very important. Also I suggest Tapax Pearl, or Playtex Gentle glide. Please make sure you change it OFTEN I cannot emphasize that enough!