do guys prefer pads or tampons
People with heavy periods and anyone who's ever woken up to a mess swears by them. Figures are rubbery but in the United States it is estimated 42% of women use tampons (and likely not exclusively), compared to 62% using pads. For me, it was in fifth grade at my neighbors swimming pool. A period so heavy that it prevents you from doing everyday activities isnt, A menstrual period is vaginal bleeding that occurs at the end of the monthly menstrual cycle. Another possibility could be that the tampon isnt inserted correctly. They each have pros and cons that could make them a great option for certain lifestyles and an inconvenience for some. Send us your idea for a post and if we publish it, youll get $100 cash. Then, if today is the day, you'll be ready! It's fully inside your body with the exception . They come in different absorbencies to accommodate light to heavy periods. If you have any concerns or questions about your period, talk to your mom, dad, or doctor. Ultimately, it is your choice as to which type of protection you prefer. 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. We include products we think are useful for our readers. We were accused of being "too afraid" to use tampons (hello, toxic shock syndrome! A new initiative called . We may hear stigmatizing beliefs about our bodies, such as the notion that tampon use can take our virginity. Tampons, in their minds, are sleek, sophisticated feminine hygiene products made for modern women who have lots of sex. Many girls wonder: how do you put them in? We all want to make sure we have a safe and happy period. Does pulling out a tampon make you feel like you're dragging out a placenta? Generally, allergy to materials found within tampons is rare but it is still possible for it to occur. Theyre reusable and some last up to 6 months with proper care and cleaning. Many young girls/teens after starting their period have to use pads in the beginning, so in their mind, they connect "wearing pads" with the shame, embarrassment, awkwardness, etc they associated their periods with in the beginning. Again, the decision is totally up to you and if you're still not sure which way to go, try out both and see what you like best. Figures are rubbery but in the United States it is estimated 42% of women use tampons (and likely not exclusively), compared to 62% using pads. There are, however, some common considerations that menstruators may want to think about when choosing the best products for them, including safety, comfort, lifestyle, and environmental impact. I had my periods when I was 13! That's almost double the amount of maxi pads bought in comparison to tampons. For this reason, it is important to change tampons regularly, as well as to use the lowest absorbency possible for your flow. We want to avoid vaginal infections or materials that could harm our reproductive health. For feminists who spend any time online, the idea of period talk being forbidden is hilarious. In contrast, Pads catch the blood outside the vagina, so theres no added discomfort from the pad itself.. Like pads, tampons come in different sizes for heavier and lighter periods. It is important for individuals to experiment with different menstrual products and discuss their experiences with their health care provider to determine which product is right for them. Nonfoux L, et al. Menstrual cups can be worn for 4-12 hours, depending on flow and can generally hold more than a normal tampon. They can be worn for up to 12 hours at a time. For those watching in her motherland of China, Yuanhuis story was one of possibilities. Pads are rectangle-shaped pieces of absorbent material which you can stick onto the inside of your underwear. In truth, virginity is a cultural category that some people use to define whether weve had sex. Theyre more breathable than regular pads. You have to insert it into your vagina with your fingers or an applicator that holds the tampon inside it. It also offers up to 10-hours of leak-free protection to . The opening of the cervix (at the top of the vagina) is just too tiny for a tampon to get through. If you still struggle, you may want to visit a healthcare provider or take a class to learn more about proper insertion and to build your confidence. The best way to reduce the environmental impact is to choose reusable menstrual options, like period panties or menstrual cups. 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. If you menstruate but dont identify as female, this can cause some pretty unpleasant feelings of dysphoria and general discomfort. If you have a lighter flow, you may have more flexibility in your choice of product. Also, no matter how thin your pad is, it may be visible under tight or minimal clothing., Pros. Overwhelmed by the ever-growing world of period underwear? They can rip or pull apart when youre removing them. Female swimmers will often take precautions when they experience their period while swimming, such as wearing special period-proof swimwear, using special tampons designed for swimming, or using a menstrual cup. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. The hymen can separate during tampon insertion and cause discomfort. However, some brands of pads can contain synthetic materials and fragrances, which can lead to skin irritation or hypersensitivity reactions depending on the users skin type. But nearly a century into commercial tampon availability in the West, where does our pad preference come from? You can reduce your risk of irritation by changing menstrual pads frequently, and choosing pads made from non-plastic materials. They are confident that their hygiene product is the superior one. They arent very discreet thanks to the very obvious sound of pulling them off your underwear. Some people simply may feel uncomfortable with inserting a foreign object into the body and prefer to use other forms of feminine hygiene products such as pads. Due to their size and the way that they are inserted, tampons can only hold a limited amount of menstrual blood before needing to be changed. That's just my thoughts but I have no idea why as I don't do it myself. Its users choice, said Siriouthay. Discovery alleges that Paramount undercut their $500 million deal. Tell the person you're dating that you use pads and watch their hopefully attractive face twist in revulsion. Ahhh, the age-old dilemma of tampons vs. pads. Even though I didn't have my period at the time, I wanted to impress the other girls and show that I, too, was one of the cool ones, capable of getting knocked up by one of the popular loud boys. Perhaps it's because menstrual pads, unlike tampons, bring the user into closer contact with their own menstrual fluids -- one of the most despised fluids on the planet. And I used to hate 'that time of the month'. A picture of a 15-year-old boy from the US clutching sanitary pads and saying he wants to help girls with periods has gone viral. In 2011, when I was writing a book about menstruation, women through zero prompting on my part would share their period stories and ask me incredibly elaborate questions (mistakenly under the impression I know anything at all about whats going on). 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. By: Author Olin Wade (Remodel or Move Stuff). Dont be afraid to mix it up to accommodate the stages of your cycle. That, by eschewing the more discreet option, renders them less feminist, less empowered, less hip. Now, that system includes using a tampon on lighter days and doubling up with a heavy absorbency tampon and a pad on heavier days. If a person is scared or apprehensive about putting a tampon in, this can can make it difficult, as the body responds to stress by tightening the pelvic muscles and constricting the vagina. The answer could be a mix of the two. 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? No, free bleeding does not make your period end faster. Theres a lot of culture-specific stigmatizations around periods, said Siriouthay. A tampon is made of absorbent material similar to a pad. Tampons are also a better choice for swimming. A small minority reject the binary and use both tampons and maxi-pad, or even diva cups and period underwear, alternating based on the flow of their period or how sexy they're feeling that day. You can try doing a skin prick test to figure out if youre allergic to some material in the tampon, and then make sure you go with a different option that is more suitable for your body. Tampons, on the other hand, are designed to be inserted into the vagina during menstruation and absorb the menstrual flow. The upfront cost is more than regular underwear. None of this is to say that menstrual pads are inherently more worthy than tampons or even, necessarily a better choice. Some people find that using tampons can actually reduce cramps because using a tampon applies gentle pressure on the lower abdomen and can take the focus off the cramp. Relax and you'll be able to find it. 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. Tampons and pads aren't the only two options by any meanssome girls prefer to use .css-lec2h6{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;background-image:linear-gradient( to bottom, rgba(241, 220, 225, 1), rgba(241, 220, 225, 1));-webkit-background-position:0 100%;background-position:0 100%;background-repeat:repeat-x;-webkit-background-size:0 0;background-size:0 0;padding-top:0.05rem;padding-bottom:0.05rem;}.css-lec2h6:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-size:.625rem 3.125rem;background-size:.625rem 3.125rem;}menstrual cups or even period pantiesbut they're certainly the two most common ways to handle your period. Heavy flows and cramps can be a common experience during your periods. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Lets face it: Most menstrual products are pretty female-centric, from their packaging and marketing to their incompatibility with boxers. Tampons are a great option for women who swim or do other athletic activities. Make sure to have one bag for clean tampons and another well-marked waste bag for used ones. Tampons are cylindrical inserts that go inside your vagina, whereas pads are absorbent linings designed to stick to your underwear. Its extremely important to change your tampon every 4 to 6 hours. Answer (1 of 23): Actually, neither! For far too long, people who use menstrual pads have been doubly stigmatized: first for their periods, and second, for their feminine hygiene product of choice. You can find super-absorbent pads that are very thin so you dont have an uncomfortable feeling between your legs all the time., Even though pads can also cause toxic shock syndrome, the risk is much less compared to tampons. Cardboard applicator tampons typically cost between $0.12 and $0.14 per tampon. I ended up finding out on my first visit to the gynecologist that my vaginal opening is pretty small, which explained to me why tampons never felt right. Menstrual pads are apparently an extremely confusing product for young men, according to one of the latest viral trends sweeping TikTok right now. ", Livestrong: "How to Swim During Your Period With Pads. (sic) " "I have bought tampons and pads for several girlfriends and my wife, because I love them. Woke, trauma dumping, queerbaiting, petfluencer, and other extremely online words appeared in new or revised entries. Tampons also are easy to store in a purse or pocket. The material usually has small holes inside of it so it sucks the period blood into itself. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd. Chinese Olympic viewers were shocked Fu Yuanhui was swimming while she had her period since many have never heard of tampons. Washable Pads. Dried blood is potentially infectious. Heres what you need to know about how to insert them, clean them, and more. When you try one for the first time, wash your hands well, follow the directions carefully, and be sure to relax. It's unclear how tampons came to enjoy such prestige, even if that power doesn't translate into numbers. 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.
