Are tampons better than pads?

Question

i use pads right know but my mom bought me tampons after my pads ran out and im SO SO SO scared to try them!! people told me that i cant just were a tampon and i HALF to were a pantliner or the blood will get on my clothes! is that true? also do tampons hurt? also is it HARD the first time to get it in? also can i were one when i sleep? 1 more q are they worse than pads? also i know the risk of tss so please dont tell me about it THANK YOU!!

Answer 1

Tampons are great and not dangerous when used properly. The first time I got my period I thought how is this possibly gonna go in there?! when getting comfortable inserting a tampon I would put one leg up on the toilet to make it go in easier with no pain at all! You will get used to it in no time though.I have never worn pantyliners during my period and have never had a problem. I change my tampon every 4-5 hours during the day and at night put a new one in right before bed and a fresh one when I wake up. Tampons will give you a lot more freedom especially in the summer when you want to be in a bathing suit during your period!

Answer 2

Its ok stop worrying! They dont hurt at all! Just make sure the tampon is in all the way. The strings will not break off, I promise! I personally like tampons better than pads. I think that pads are kinda messy. You dont HAVE to wear a pantyliner with a tampon if you dont want to. Sometimes if my period gets really heavy, I wear one just in case of leaks. You usually get leaks because your tampon is full. Yes you can wear tampons when you sleep. It is not hard to get one in the first time, it can be "tricky" though. The key is to RELAX. Take the tampon with the applicator still on. Hold it at the center. ( The part where the 2 parts of the applicator meet). Insert the tampon to this middle part. Push the bottom part of the applicator with one hand, keep holding the center part with the other hand. You will feel the tampon go inside, but it does not hurt. Remove both peices of the applicator and throw them away. You will see the string hanging out now. Pull on that when you want to remove the tampon. Buy a "slim" or "teen" brand of tampons the first few times, if you can. Use "light" or "regular" aborbancy. You probally wont get TSS. Usually you get TSS if you use a tampon that is too big for your flow.
I know its scary the first time using a tampon, we all were scared! Just try to relax!

Answer 3

Please let your mom know that you are not comfortable with trying the tampons. The reason for the pantyliner is to help as back up if you can't get to the bathroom fast enough to change the tampon (best way to control a mess with this is to change about every 3 hours). If one doesn't change the tampon fast enough yes, the blood could possibly get on the clothes but the way to deal with that if it happens is to run the spot under some cold water and then after a bit of time wash the item.

As for your other questions:

1. Yes tampons can hurt if they are not inserted right (sometimes when the position is not right it can be quite uncomfortable)

2. Yes it can be hard to insert at first but with practice it can get easier. The brand I recommend for those starting out with tampons is Ob because there are no applicators to mess with and trying to insert a tampon from the applicator can hurt as well (have had experience with this which is why I went to Ob tampons).

3. Some say that it's ok to sleep with a tampon but I wouldn't recommend it because it could potentially cause problems with causing infection. Also, it blocks the flow from moving freely about when you are sleeping. I would also recommend checking with your dr about this at your next check up if you continue to use tampons in the future.

4. I used to think that pads were worse than tampons when I started wearing tampons after 18 years old but I prefer pads now.

I no longer use tampons because of medical conditions unrelated to the tampon itself.

Please also discuss your concerns with your mom because she has been there before.

If you have other questions for me please feel free to e-mail or IM me off the board any time.

Answer 4

Neither one is better or worse than the other. Most people say tampons are more convienent because you can wear them while swimming, playing sports, etc. It is not necessary to wear a pantiliner with a tampon, but many women do just in case. They should not hurt if you put them in correctly. Ask your mom to help show you how to do it, or look at the instructions that come in the box. The first time is usually a bit difficult, so try it on a day when you have a heavy flow. It will be much easier when you're first starting out. I hope this helps and don't worry!

Answer 5

1. I like them better than pads just 'cause I'm active in sports and there easy to deal with, with me moving around all the time. ((But I heard that wearing pads causes you to have shorter periods because there is a set amount of blood that need to leave your body and pads take in more, which is why I use pads while I'm just around the house or something.))
2. You don't have to wear a panty-liner. I did the first couple times and nothing was on them so I quit using them. But you have to take the tampon out eventually because they can only hold so much, then it will leak, which is when a panty-liner comes in handy, just in case.
3. It's not really hard the first time, just make sure you do it right and you can't even feel it.
4. Do not sleep in them.
5. I don't think there worse than pads like I said to begin with.

Answer 6

Me personally I like tampons better. As for are the better that is a choice you have to make. You said that you already know the risks of tampons. I find tampons easier for me and more comfortable. Tampons do not hurt while you are wearing them, however when you are putting one in for the first time it could be uncomfortable. I recommend taking your time and put it in while sitting on the toilet or with one leg on the toilet. I never wear a panty liner while using a tampon. I have never need to. Some people choose to use one just in case. But if you change your tampon every 4- 6 hours you should be fine. You can wear one to sleep. Good luck.

Answer 7

You may find you like tampons better once you get used to them. Particularly if you enjoy sports or being active.

I would advise you to wear a thin to moderate pantiliner with a tampon during any heavy flow. During light to moderate flow, a pantiliner may not even be necessary. I don't know if you have light menstruation or heavy menstruation.

Read the instructions contained in the package. Gives you all needed info.

Any risk of TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) is very very low when tampons are used correctly. But consider wearing pads overnight and tampons during the day. Don't keep a tampon inside of you longer than what is recommended. Change them quite frequently or simply as needed.

Answer 8

I wouldn't say one is better or worse, it's really just a matter of what's more comfortable for you.

I remember being really nervous too about using tampons, and I didn't want to at all until I wanted to go swimming while I was on my period, and a pad just wasn't going to work for that.

I hope your mom bought you the light or small teen version ones to try first, if she didn't, ask her to - they'll be much easier to start with.

As far as having to wear pads also - you may want to wear a light pad at first just until you get used to knowing how quickly the tampons get soaked up at different stages of your period. For me, I find tampons more comfortable and clean feeling, but I usually wear a light liner the first two days (when I'm bleeding more) just in case I dribble a bit, and then after that, I just wear the tampons - no problem.

Answer 9

I was like you. I used pads until family that were coming into town wanted to swim one day while I was on my period. So I had to try tampons. Now, I love them. I think they are MUCH better than pads. I never wear a pantiliner. As long as you change them often enough and get the right size, you shouldn't get blood on your clothes. As for the hurting, as long as you don't do like the first time I wore tampons and try to leave the aplicator in, then it shouldn't hurt. I wear one when I sleep. You might want to wear a pantiliner if you don't get up in the middle of the night because it might overflow. Major plus, you smell less.

Answer 10

you can wear just a tampon. As long as you wear the right size for you and change them regularly. You shouldn't get anything on your clothes at all if you do this. You can wear a pantyliner if you are nervous about and until you find out the right timing for you. Tampons should not hurt at all. You shouldn't even notice it if they are inserted correctly. It may be a little weird the first time you insert them. Just look at all the positions you can try on the pamphlet and try them all until you get it inserted comfortably. If its not comfortable then it didn't go in correctly so just take it out and retry. You can wear them while you are sleeping too. Most people believe they are better than pads. I do too because their is no odor, don't have to look at the mess everytime you go to bathroom, don't have to sit in it all day like a pad, and best of all you can go swimming on your period! Good Luck in whatever you decide.