Tampons
by: Kakyuu!
Why, yes. The Big Scary Tampon and everything to do with it.
Pads vs. Tampons:
As you should know, there are many different kinds of "feminine protection". The two main ones are the pad and the tampon. People normally start with the disposable pad (although there are great reusable ones, too), which has an adhesive lining on the back, and sometimes sticky "wings" to stick to your underwear. The pad is external protection, which means that the blood still has to come out of you; it's just being caught by the pad. Many girls like pads because you don't have to insert anything into yourself. However, many girls feel that wearing a pad is similar to wearing a diaper, and it feels icky and gross down there.
The tampon, however, is internal protection. You insert the tampon into your vagina with either your finger or an applicator (usually an applicator). The cotton will be stuck in your vagina, until you pull it out with the string attached to it. The tampon is good for swimmers and girls who are active. You cannot feel a tampon if it's inserted correctly, so many girls find it more comfortable than a pad. Then again, many girls feel squicky about putting something up there, and about it getting stuck.
"I'm scared to use a tampon!"
Yes, many of us are our first time. But I must say this: It really isn't scary. The first few times, you might not insert it right, but you will get the hang of it. Also, a common fear is that the string will break when you pull it out. Although it does happen very rarely, it is not common and most likely won't happen to you. If the string does happen to break, calmly reach into your vagina with your two fingers, and pull it out. If you can't, tell a parent and have them take you to the doctor. And no, the tampon cannot get lost in your vagina. There's only so far it can go.
Also, about the squick-factor. Honestly, I think the relief of not feeling like I'm wear a diaper is way higher than feeling gross, and you really get used to it. It's your own body, after all, you should get to know it.
Choosing the right tampon
There are many different brands and absorbencies. I personally use Tampax, but I don't really think the brand matters that much, unless you find that one is uncomfortable or you have an allergic reaction, etc. But, choosing the right absorbency is very important. If you use a super-heavy-extra absorbency tampon when you have an extremely light flow, your chances of Toxic Shock Syndrome, or TSS (to be discussed further down) are increased. Comfort also depends on whether or not you have the right absorbency. You'll have to experiment to find out how light or heavy your flow it, and choose the right tampon.
I highly, highly recommend Tampax Pearl (http://www.tampaxpearl.com/home.shtml), especially for beginners. The applicator is plastic, and the tip is rounded, making it much easier to insert.
Of course, there are also organic cotton tampons, made my Natracare, Seventh Generation, and Organic Essentials. Organic cotton is better for the environment, and since they are made of only cotton, they do not contain dioxin, which has been linked cancer and has been found to collect in the fatty tissues of animals and humans.
One more thing – I always wear a pad with my tampon. To me, the feeling of the pad doesn't bother me, it's the feeling of the blood on my pad. My tampons always leak, because I leave them in for so long (which doesn't bother me). I get double protection, plus I can't feel the blood dripping out the tampon the same way I feel it dripping out of, so it's really a win-win situation.
How to properly insert a tampon
There are only three holes down there – the urethra (where your pee comes out), the vaginal opening, and the anus (aka, your butt-hole). You really have to try to confuse your vaginal opening with another hole, so don't worry. Your vaginal opening is kind of in the middle, not very hard to find.
When inserting the tampon, some women like to stand with legs slightly apart, squat above the toilet, or stand with one leg on the bathtub. You want to aim the tampon towards your lower back. I know, it'll be really weird at first, I don't think any woman hasn't felt like that. Be sure to push the tampon all the way up until your fingers are touching, or very, very close to your vaginal opening. Also, relax. If your muscles are tense, it will be very hard for the tampon to enter the vagina. If the tampon is inserted properly, you won't feel it. If it isn't, you will feel it there, and it'll probably be uncomfortable. Reasons for tampon not being comfortable include it not being in your vagina far enough, and it being the wrong size.
Removing a tampon
Removing a tampon is very simple. Just relax your muscles and pull gently on the string. I warn you, though, if the tampon is dry for whatever reason, it will probably hurt a bit to pull it out. It's not screaming-like-a-madwoman pain, but it will hurt more than pulling a full tampon out.
TSS
You probably already know this, but I feel it is my duty to educate you about TSS. When you use a tampon, your risk of contracting Toxic Shock Syndrome, or TSS, a type of blood poisoning, is increased. TSS is caused by a kind of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, which usually lives harmlessly in one out of every three people. TSS can be fatal, but don't let this scare you. TSS is extremely rare, and most doctors never see a case of it in their lives. In the UK, which has around 58 million people, there are only about 40 reported cases a year, and only 2-3 die from it. Half of TSS cases reported are from women using tampons.
The symptoms of TSS include a sudden high temperature, vomiting, a sunburn-like rash, diarrhea, fainting, or feeling faint or dizzy, muscle aches, and confusion. If you have any of these symptoms and you are using a tampon, remove it and tell your doctor.
Don't worry; you can decrease your risk of getting TSS while still using a tampon. Just remember these guidelines:
- Always use a tampon with the lowest absorbency possible for your flow. Doctors aren't sure what the relationship between tampons and TSS is, but they think it might have to do with the absorbency. For example, I have both regular and super absorbency tampons. If I have a super tampon in for a few hours and I pull it out mostly dry, I will use a regular tampon.
- Try to alternate wearing a pad with a tampon. Well, I don't really do this, except when I'm sleeping.
- Don't wear a tampon for more than 8 hours. This means that yes, you can wear a tampon overnight if you are positive you are going to sleep for less than 8 hours, but as I said above, I prefer to wear an overnight pad when I sleep.
- Change tampons regularly. I know it might be temping to be lazy and leave a tampon in for 8 hours at a time, but you really should change them more often.
- If you are going to use a tampon overnight, make sure that you insert a fresh one just before you go to bed and change it when you wake up.
-Only use a tampon when you have your period. This means that you should only use a tampon when you are bleeding, don't use it to absorb vaginal discharge.
In conclusion:
I just hope that I have lessened your fright of the tampon somewhat, and you will be more willing to try them again.
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