Tampons or Pads??

Hi guys

I always get a flare up during my period. I do think it is linked to the pads. Even the boots cotton pads I tried caused so much rawness this week that I decided to try tampons.

Trouble was I was light so I do not think there was enough blood for them to go in easy enought so I felt sore!

I am going to try tampons again when I am at a heaveir flow next month

What do you guys use and do you have any tips?

Cheers

Hey there Miss,

I can use tampons but find when the flow is light it's kind of dry up there. I use compact tampax with the plastic applicator, they seem to slide in a bit easier and sometimes the cardboard ones have their teeth showing

Was the soreness worse than the issues that pads cause?

I use Tampax with the cardboard applicator if any because the plastic ones have trapped my skin a couple of times in the past, not what you need at any time never mind with V! I use panty liners for light days though as tampons completely drying out the vagina can lead to thrush and BV and of course pain! More pain should I say. One word of caution, anyone considering getting the Naturcare tampons because they're 100% cotton should be aware that alot of them have faulty applicators for some reason and you end up wasting a good half a box so I'd steer clear of those.

I use tampax compact also with plastic applicators I make sure I put a lot of lubricant on the applicator and try to stay away from them on light days. I find even cotton pads cause me irritation and that awful raw feeling, plus, I just don't feel clean.

A good brand I have found that is 100% cotton is "cottons" for pads and tampons, these pads cause less irritation than the others. The tampons don't have applicators though, I have used applicators from the tampax ones and put the cotton tampon inside, inpractical though because then you ahve to buy 2 brands.

Thanks guys

I have bought the cottons tampons ready for the next period! I am going to perservere with tampons as pads are just rubbing me far to much.

I will deff just use panty liners on light days as using the tampons last time was too hard as I was too dry

I wasnt sure if I could use lube with them? I was worried it might effect their absorbency? What lube can I use?

Cheers me dears

Hey Seb, just lube the applicator oh and use something natural. Do you use almond oil at all? What do you use on your homework project ?

Has anyone tried Natracare tampons and pads? They're supposed to be really good in terms of all organic cotton, free of chemicals, etc. etc. If anyone uses pads theirs are the only ones I've found which use natural products and are free of absorbing chemicals, scents, and plastics.
The scary applicators with the teeth are definitely to be avoided
Has anyone tried the reusable menstrual cups (here it's the DivaCup)? I heard that the silicone is good for anyone with skin irritation because no one in the world is allergic to it, but the application process might not be so good for us ladies.

Thats interesting I was advised to get silcone dilators/dildos instead of plastic as they do not irritate

I have had a look at that moon cup thing but it looks so odd lol and I think I would get into a bit of a mess! I mean how would I wash it out at work, in the shared loos!!

I am amazed that anyone with v can use tampons. I find them excruciating. Maybe I am worse off than those of you who can use them. I have tried every now and again in summer, and have been so sorry. Even lathering them up with lidocaine doesn't help. If they're not soaking wet either going in or out, I practically need general anesthesia to manage.

It's pads for me. I am not aggravated by clothing, materials, soaps, etc...just concentrated urine (I never drink enough) and direct pressure...and, arousal. Which brings me to another question...which I will post separately.

Zazu I mentioned the Natracare tampons a bit further up this thread. I use the panty liners from that range on light days and they're ok but nothing to write home about in my opinion. I bought some sanitary pads but they're the really thick ones like the ones we had in the 80's so they rub even worse. I mostly use Bodyform pads because they don't have the nasty waxy top sheet that is filled with chemicals.

Flashlight, I have generalised unprovoked V (as do some other ladies on the forum) so generally have no trouble with penetration. I just have/had crap burning pain all day every day.

I know those super thick pads by Natracare that you mean, Sarah001, but at my health food store they also have the thin kind. Maybe they only sell them some places? I've never heard of Bodyform but I'll have to look into it. Nothings exactly comfortable though, is it?

Flashlight, I think everyone's pain with this condition is individual: triggered by different things, experienced at different times, and in better/poorer stages of progression of the condition. One thing I'm pretty sure of is that every woman on this forum has reached 10/10 on the pain scale at some point(s).