Tampons and everything else! help?!
Question: okay , so i've had my period for 4 years
now and im tired of using pads!
i really wanna use a tampon
so yesterday i got some(gentle glide playtex) and i used one but then i can feel it when im walking and yeah
so i stopped so the nurse told me to try over the weekend
i just did and it hurt when i took it out and when i did i felt a little bit woozy but im fine now.
what should i do ??
ANY TIPS OR ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TAMPONS
Answers: okay , so i've had my period for 4 years
now and im tired of using pads!
i really wanna use a tampon
so yesterday i got some(gentle glide playtex) and i used one but then i can feel it when im walking and yeah
so i stopped so the nurse told me to try over the weekend
i just did and it hurt when i took it out and when i did i felt a little bit woozy but im fine now.
what should i do ??
ANY TIPS OR ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TAMPONS
You have a lot more options other than just tampons or pads, a lot of women these days are using menstrual cups rather than tampons because menstrual cups are far cleaner and safer than tampons.
Menstrual cups are also more convenient as you don't have to carry spares, they can be worn at night, before your period is due and can be left in for up to 12 hours at a time without leaking. Menstrual cups are easier to use than tampons and do not contribute to menstrual cramps as tampons do. They are also far cheaper than tampons and come with a money back guarentee so you can try them and get your money back if you don't like them. There are different types of menstrual cups, most are bell-shaped either made from silicone such as Divacup, MooncupUK, MooncupUS, Lunette or Ladycup, or rubber such as the Keeper, you can also get softcups that are like diaphragms and are disposable this brand is called Instead.
More information about menstrual cups:
http://www.menstrualcups.org
http://www.mum.org/MenCups.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstrual_c...
You may also want to look into other types of pads that may be more comfortable for you than what you are using now, as well as commercial pads like Always you can get cotton pads like Natracare. You can get all different types of cloth pads from normal pads like Gladrags, Lunapanties were the pad is sewn into the underwear, belts such as Reddy's, to pads you make yourself, you can get all sorts of styles, types of fabric and fabric patterns and they are far more comfortable than commercial pads.
More information about cloth pads:
http://www.scarleteen.com/article/pink/e... - Myths about cloth pads dispelled.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloth_menst... - Cloth pads on Wikipedia.
http://www.menstruation.com.au/menstrual... - How to use cloth menstrual pads.
http://www.mum.org/collectionwash.htm - Museum of menstruation washable pads.
If you are going to use tampons then you need to know the risks, I don't know anyone who knows these risks and the history behind tampon manufacturing that still uses tampons, but the important this is that you can make an educated choice about tampons rather than just using them because you think they are your only choice other than pads.
Tampons, in particular commercial tampons, are linked with vaginal infections and TSS, in the past they have also been linked to cancer, endometriosis, birth defects, infertility and misscarriage due to dioxin from chlorine gas bleaching.
More information about tampon risks:
http://www.spotsite.org - Tampon health web site.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampons#Oth... - Tampons on Wikipedia.
http://cookiepuss.tripod.com/tampons.htm - Blood stains.
http://www.vaginaverite.com/menstruation... - Vagina Verite tampon safety.
http://www.wen.org.uk/sanpro/reports/san... - WEN's Seeing Red briefing.
http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/35... - The regulation of tampons.
http://www.frontiernet.net/%7Eruthb/Tamp... - Ruth's endometriosis page.
TSS and infections are major risks with tampons because they are so unhygienic, they prevent the vagina's normal cleaning, give bacteria a place to multiply within your body, cause vaginal splitting, and leave fibers within the body.
Commercial tampons carry additional risk because the synthetics they are made from result in greater fibre loss, greater absorbancy increasing vaginal splitting and give a better environment for bacteria. Commercial tampons are also chemically treated, those chemicals interfere with normal vaginal pH so in turn interferes with bacterial balance, tampons have in the past been linked to cancer, infertility, endometriosis, birth defects, etc. because of chemicals within tampons (dioxin) although these chemicals were finally banned a few years ago we still don't know what chemicals are being used now or what affect they may have on health.
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is rare but not as rare as statistics imply due to the way in which they record the evidence. Also unlike what many people say, TSS is not caused by leaving your tampons in for too long, this is simply victim blaming by implying only dirty girls/women contract this illness which is simply not true it's a risk for everyone. TSS risk is increased by any tampon use, the reason it is advised they are not left in longer than a few hours is because the longer the tampon is in your vagina the longer bacteria have to multiply inside your vagina.
The initial symptoms of TSS are vomiting, high temperature, diarrhea, headache, sore throat, high blood pressure, and muscles aches, then you would start to get a rash a little like sunburn, progressing to broken blood vessels over the skin and in the eyes.
Risks with tampons are even greater in children and teens because their bodies don't have as strong an immune system as adults, also the vaginal walls are more delicate so more prone to splitting allowing for further bacterial growth and a direct route into the blood stream for toxins resulting from TSS.
More information about TSS:
http://www.toxicshock.com - TSS Information Service
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxic_shock... - TSS on Wikipedia
http://www.tamponalert.org.uk - Tampon Alert.
Ways you can decrease risks with tampons;
- Use organic, sponge or cloth tampons.
http://www.tampontification.com - Tamponification organic tampons.
http://www.cottons.com.au - Cottons organic tampons.
http://www.natracare.com - Natracare organic tampons.
http://www.jadeandpearl.com - Jade & Pearl sponge tampons.
- Always change often, every 6-8 hours at most.
- Always use the lowest absorbency possible.
- Change throughout your period to match your flow.
- Never use a tampon while you're sleeping.
- Never use tampons without your period.
- Learn TSS symptoms to know what to look for.
As for your problem with the tampons you have been using, tampons can be felt however if not inserted high enough in your vagina they can be very uncomfortable or even painful - my first period I didn't put it in far enough, very painful so I removed it and tried again, no problems with inserting them after that until I switched to a cup. You just need to keep pushing it in until you cannot go any further in - also try switching to non-aplicator or to aplicator to see what works best for you, I could never use tampons with aplicators myself.
When it comes to internal menstrual options a good way to insert them is to relax by laying on your bed with your knees bent, then let your legs drop a little, then try to insert that way. It's better still if you masturbate as when aroused your vagina lengthens and widens, the muscles will relax and you will become lubricated making it easier to insert the tampon. If you need to you can also use a little lubricant such as KYjelly around the opening to your vagina and on the tip of the tampon, if you can't get any of that you can use olive oil to lubricate around the opening to your vagina, if you have any in the house, this is perfectly safe to use as a natural lubricant.
If you can feel it when you walk you did not put it in far enough, gross as it sounds to explain this but you need to put the applicator inside until just the handle or part you push the tampon out with is showing and then push the tampon in and that should get in far enough as for pulling out sometimes when you did not bleed enough it sticks inside and it hurts it's just part of what you have to deal with.
its hard to switch but you just have to be patient. dont think about the pain of the tampon when you inserted wrong when you insert a new one, if will cause you to tense up.
here are some tips:
1. so relax yourself and you muscles.
2. try letting you pants down more towards your ankle so you can spread you legs wider and have more area to work in.
3. insert the tampon at a 45 deg. angle, a tilt. and make sure it goes in straight, not sideways bc that will poke you and make you feel it.
4. make sure the applicator is in the body all the way, your fingers holding the app. touch your body, and then insert the actual tampon by pushing in the tube of the applicator.
5. while sitting, access if it is hurting you already. if not, try standing up and moving a bit to see if its poking you. if it does, take it out (which may pull a bit bc it is not used yet) and try again.
it takes time and patience. look over the paper that come with it to.
you will get it. and once i switched from pads, i could never go back.
and make sure you know you body so you know what size and how long to wear it. you will learn after time. while learning, try wearing a panty liner with it to catch anything that may occur lightly. KNOW YOUR BODY and you will be ok.
Okay first of all if you feel it when you walk that means that you havnt pushed it in far enough. I recomend playtex SPort because the first time I ever used tampons was with playtex sport and the first try went in. Its so cmfortable and has better leakage proof. If it hurts when you take it out, it means that it hasnt been in for long enough.