Pads, Tampons, or Menstrual Cups?

​By Erica

Red. Blood everywhere. Screams. While this might seem like the description of a scene from a horror movie, that was actually how my first period went. I live in a very conservative country and family. Before the day of my first period, I had no idea what periods even were. I had no older sisters and my mom and I did not have the most comfortable relationship. In addition, I was not someone with a lot of friends when I was in seventh grade, therefore, the internet was all I had when it came to information about periods. 

However, searching up the word “period” on google was not much help for me and I was very overwhelmed by all the information that I received. Light flow? Heavy flow? Ovulation? Discharge? I had no idea what any of those words meant, and the huge variety of period products I had to choose from left me confused and with a huge headache. But don’t worry! Today I will be helping you figure out which period product is right for you: pads, tampons, or menstrual cups? 

In a survey conducted by the period tracking app Flo, it was found that 45% of people preferred pads, 44% preferred tampons, 2% preferred menstrual cups and 9% used a combination of all three products. However, the “right product” varies from person to person and hopefully, by the end of this article, you will know what is right for you. 

Let’s start with the pad. This is a classic period product that many people start off with and for a very good reason. They are easy to use and not as intimidating as the other products. Pads are made up of one absorbent side and one sticky side. The sticky side can be stuck to the inside of your underwear to keep the pad in place and the absorbent side will be able to catch any blood. When choosing a pad, it is important to look at the absorbency level, which is how much blood the pad can hold. Make sure to experiment and try many types of pads to see which one feels the most comfortable for you. Pads should be changed around every 4 hours, depending on your flow, and there are special “night pads” that you will be able to wear while you sleep! 

Pads are the products that I started off with and I found them to be very comfortable and easy to put on. However, pads were often uncomfortable for me, especially since I was someone that was very active in sports. Since I have very sensitive skin, pads would also get quite scratchy and hurt my skin. Therefore, a year or so after I got my first period, I started trying out tampons.

Tampons can be a little scarier and trickier than pads. Tampons are short, thin, cylinder-shaped products made out of absorbent material. Some tampons also include a plastic applicator over the absorbent material. Tampons with the applicator may seem harder to insert at first, but with practice, I personally find that the applicators make it much easier for me to insert the tampon. So here’s how you use them: 

1. Although you can use other surfaces and positions, I like to sit on the toilet with my knees apart or with one foot on the toilet seat
   
2. Hold the tampon applicator with your middle and index finger or your index finger and thumb. 
   
3. Place the tip of the applicator into your vagina at a 45-degree angle. While I prefer 45 degrees, this might not be comfortable for you so experiment with many angles until you find one you like!
   
4. Slide the tampon applicator inside your vagina. I like to have the tampon pretty far up since that is more comfortable for me. However, that might not be the case for you so try experimenting until you feel comfortable. 
   
5. Push the plunger all the way up. This will release the absorbent part of your tampon into your body. 
   
6. Gently pull the applicator out. The string should be hanging outside. 
   
7. When you want to remove your tampon, pull gently on the string at an angle you find comfortable! 
   

Putting a tampon in for the first time was scary and felt weird, but over time it has gotten much easier. Tampons are more comfortable than pads for me, and if the tampon is far up enough, I don’t even feel anything at all! Tampons also make it much easier for me to do sports and swim, which is why I mostly stick to using tampons these days. You should change your tampon every 4-6 hours depending on your flow. 

Finally, there’s the menstrual cup. This is one that I haven’t personally tried but have heard great reviews about. Menstrual cups are small, funnel-shaped cups made of rubber or silicone. They can be inserted into your body similar to a tampon, but they collect your blood instead of absorbing it. You can reuse menstrual cups so they could be more environmentally friendly and price-friendly than tampons or pads. You can empty the cup, wash it, and insert it back in. In between periods, it is recommended that you boil the cup in hot water for 5-7 minutes. Since I don’t have much experience with menstrual cups, here is an article for more information: https://www.teenagerswithexperience.com/guest-articles/a-menstrual-cup

I know that getting your period can be a hard and confusing time, especially if it is your first. It definitely was for me. I hope that I have been able to help you decide which product is best for you. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to period products and it can take many years to find the one that works best for you. However, with time and experience, I promise that it does get better and much less confusing.