Pads or Tampons?

I'm 13 and I'm kind of scared to try a tampon. I want to start using them, but when I tried to put one in, they hurt. I know they are probably cleaner and I dont know what to do... any advice?
Answers:

Boyfriend help!?

You have a lot more options than just tampons or pads;

Commercial tampons – e.g. Tampax
Organic tampons – e.g. Natracare
Sponge tampons – e.g. Jade & Pearl
Soft tampons – e.g. Gynotex
Homemade tampons
Padettes
Commercial pads – e.g. Always
Organic pads – e.g. Organic Essentials
Cloth pads – e.g. Gladrags
Pad belts – e.g. Ready's
Homemade pads
Padded panties – e.g. Lunapanties
Period blankets
Silicone bell-shaped menstrual cups – e.g. Divacup
Rubber bell-shaped menstrual cups – e.g. Keeper
Softcups – e.g. Instead
Diaphragms used as menstrual cups
Homemade menstrual cups
Free-flow
Free-flow layering
Free-flow instinctive
Extraction

Commercial tampons are the most harmful out of all these options, other types of tampons are not much better, tampons are harmful to your health and unhygienic, as well as many other issues such as environmental cost, inconvenience, unethical manufacturers and a very poor history when it comes to risks.

Tampons can hurt if they are put in incorrectly as too low down or put into the wrong hole it can be painful, pains similar to very bad menstrual cramps, if this happens remove the tampon and try again at a later time.

Often nerves affect tampon insertion, your vagina naturally stretches and expands there is also lubrication in the discharge and menstrual flow to help insertion, but if you are nervous this will make the muscles in your vagina tense up making penetration difficult. You may want to look at the following article, it is about painful penetrative sex, but much of the information and advice is also valid here as it is primarily about painful vaginal penetration and how to resolve the problem so explain why this can cause pain - http://www.scarleteen.com/sexuality/owto...

If your hymen is in tact this may also make tampon insertion difficult, the hymen breaking can be painful for some girls, where as for some girls there is no pain at all or the hymen breaking can even be pleasurable. If your hymen is in tact this may be what it causing you pain so you may want to wait until you are older to use tampons. If you don't know if your hymen is in tact you can look by sitting comfortably and using a mirror to look at your vulva (external part of your genitals) to see the vaginal opening. The hymen is different from girl/woman to girl/woman but usually if in tact it will look like a ring of flesh around the opening to your vagina; where as if broken it will look like flaps of skin around the vaginal opening. There is a good site that shows images, not photos, of the hymen so you know what to look for here - http://www.healthystrokes.com/hymengalle...

Tampons can also be felt even when put into the vagina correctly as tampons are dry wads of material it means that they can cause friction burns and drying of the vaginal walls, chemicals within commercial tampons can also cause irritation or allergic reactions. The string can be felt, many women find that when it moves about during the day it can become painful as the string can pull tight between the inner labia (inner lips) of their vulva (external genitals) acting like cheese string - ouch.

Tampons expand, widthways expanding tampons can contribute to bloating feeling during menstruation and length-ways expanding tampons can expand into the already sensitive cervix, tampons also pose health risks meaning that the decrease in vaginal health can contribute to menstrual health problems such as heavy menstrual flow or menstrual cramping.

Tampons often say they can be worn for up to 8 hours, however if you do use tampons it is best to change every four hours to reduce risk. Tampons are very bad for vaginal health because they prevent the vagina from cleaning itself, they give bacteria a place to multiply and absorb vaginal fluids that can lead to vaginal splitting – these are some of the reasons why tampons are considered the most harmful and unhygienic out of over twenty different menstrual options, tampons are linked to vaginal splitting, painful or prolonged menstruation, vaginal infections and TSS. These risks are much greater for young women because your body does not have the antibodies that adult women do to fight off infections and because the mucosa ('skin') of your vagina is more delicate so more prone to irritation and splitting.

If you do use tampons it is a wise idea to avoid commercial tampons as these are made from harsh materials that increase absorption and can irritate the vaginal walls, commercial tampons also contain chemicals that could be a cancer risk and that interfere with the normal vaginal environment. There are other options such as organic tampons that are just like commercial tampons but made from 100% organic cotton without any chemicals, sponge tampons that are made from natural sea sponge, soft tampons that are made from sponge, and homemade tampons often made form cotton sheets.

http://www.natracare.com
http://www.organicessentials.com...
http://www.tampontification.com...
http://www.jadeandpearl.com
http://www.lunapads.com

I would strongly recommend you look at other menstrual options, stick to pads such as cloth pads that are more comfortable and healthier than commercial pads, or free-flow options and when you are better educated you may want to use an internal option such as menstrual cups or softcups which are more comfortable, hygienic, and convenient than tampons.

http://www.lunadpads.com
http://www.gladrags.com
http://www.reddyspads.com
http://www.divacup.com
http://www.thekeeper.com
http://www.mooncup.com
http://www.softcup.com

No woman educated on her body and other menstrual options would choose to use tampons because of the risks associated with tampons and because in comparison to other options tampons are inconvenient, unhygienic, expensive and environmentally damaging.

http://www.spotsite.org
http://www.wen.org.uk/sanpro
http://www.tamponalert.org.uk
http://www.seac.org/tampaction
http://cookiepuss.tripod.com/tampons.htm...
http://www.frontiernet.net/%7eruthb/tamp...

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let the river flow free. . . . and eat some jello

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm tampons?

Tampons. Hope this helps:

http://www.beinggirl.com/en_us/pages/goo...

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thats totally up too you :)
if you feel a tampon is too much for you then use a pad i tried a tampon once and that as well hurt me and made me feel uncomforotable so i stick to pads
after all when you get older you might feel you can try and master the tampon

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if it hurts, don't bother - but I can't stand the smell or the feeling of wearing a pad - Yuuc KK!

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Definitely use pads - I think they're much safer.

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Tampons all the way. trust me, once you get used to them, you'll NEVER go back unless a doctor orders it.

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keep trying you'll get used to em this may sound gross but alot of time girls dont put em up high enough i'm not saying stick it up really far but far enough, if that makes any sense...good luck

A few of the women I work with and I joined a local health club.?

Wait until you are ready then. I wasn't allowed to wear tampons until I was out on my own...my mother didn't believe unmarried women should stick things up inside themselves (she's progressed since then).

There are instructions on the box as to how to put it in...but if it hurts then keep using pads. Once you get a tampon in, you don't even know it's there...and yes, they are cleaner and you don't feel like people can see a bulge in your pants from wearing a pad.

Help!!?

I've never had my period yet, but if the tampons hurt to put in, Dont use them! Otherwise, if you want to wear them, ask your mom how to put them in and maybe she will help you. Pads are messier, so ask your mom for help. Best of luck!

The first time have sex? please help?

Pads are good for just relaxing, in school, and just chilling. I usually use them

For the tampons, I have the same problem. But my mom said I should start using the tampons when I'm in high school, because I'm going to be doing sports and stuff.

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I didnt start using tampons till I was out of highschool. i didnt feel like sticking that crap up me. One day though I was like lets give this a whirl. At first it hurt but once I got more relaxed about the whole idea I actually prefer them to pads. Just do things in your own time.

painful intercouse help please?

They aren't cleaner. I'm 26 and I never use tampons because I find them more inconvenient than pads. Also, they dry me out so horribly that I can't remove them...at least without a horrible amount of pain.

There's no need for you to use tampons right now. When I was a teen, there was kind of an unspoken rule that you wait until a couple year after your first period to use your tampon.

But if you still want to try one, that's okay. Just get small ones for light flow to try out. Don't jump headfirst into the ginormous overnighters.

Circumcised vs uncircumcised?

I preffer tampons because they are in fact cleaner than pads. There are instructions on the tampon box. If you put them in correctly they will not hurt. It helps to put them in if they are wet. I often put them in my mouth because my spit is thick and makes for a good lubricant, better than water but it is probably unclean and puts me at risk for a yeast infection.

I was on prozac 20mg and started 40mg, does the 40mg take effect immediatley, or does it take a while?

tampons should NOT hurt if inserted correctly. make sure when you insert it, it tilt it a little toward you- pointed more toward your belly button. definately start out with 'juniors' or 'slender' tampons, until you get used to them. then you can start using higher absorbancies if necessary. it is easier to insert them when your flow is heavier. towards the last day or two when your flow is lighter (im not sure about yours, but mine is) it is very painful to use one...so i just stick with pads for that day or so. also, when your using one, you have to relax. if you dont, your muscles tighten up- making it more difficult and more painful to insert.

good luck! ♥

(oh yeah, almost forgot. make sure you dont leave them in too long! that will put you at risk for TSS)

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When i use a tampon my cramps seem to be worse so i stick to pads so just know they are not all that they are cracked up to be and you also have to remember to change them or else you can get toxic shock syndrome. so just stay with what you are comfortable.

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I tried my first tampon the 2nd day of my first period ever. I will never go back. Tampons are perfectly safe if you follow the directions, and much cleaner. Don't be afraid.

Take your time, and relax: getting all tense will make this more difficult. Keep in mind it's supposed to go in at an angle (straight HURTS!). Use the extra thin type with a gentle glide applicator to help out. Good luck!

Name that stomach problem?

i love tampons. but there just not for some people. usually u need to start off with the smallest that you can find!
i like using playtex gental glide, the slim fit ones!
they work really good and they are really good and they dont hurt as bad cuz they are so much smaller.
good luck with those!♥♥♥♥♥