Tampons are period products which differ from pads in that they’re placed directly inside the vagina to soak up menstrual blood and absorb it. Most come equipped with an external string for pulling off when full.
They’re designed to be discreet and less bulky than pads, making them the ideal solution for sports and other physical activities. While they can last up to eight hours without being changed regularly to reduce TSS risks.
Absorbency
Tampons are disposable period products designed to absorb menstrual blood from within the vagina. Made of highly absorbent materials that are compressed tightly together into a cylinder-shaped piece and then inserted, tampons can help alleviate heavy periods and can prevent dry or itchy vagina. However, they can be difficult to insert and millions end up in landfills each year.
Different tampons come with various levels of absorbency ranging from light to super. When starting with new tampons, start off at the lowest absorbency level possible and gradually work your way up as necessary. Too-absorbent tampons increase your risk for Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), an infection caused by an excess of toxic substances entering your system and potentially leading to Toxic Shock Syndrome.
TSS may be rare, but its consequences are serious. Signs and symptoms include sudden fever, vomiting or diarrhea, dizziness, sunburn-like rashes or painful urination. To lower the chances of TSS occurring it’s wise to always use an FDA approved tampon, check its package for absorption rating ratings, read instructions carefully and adhere to them strictly.
Fit
Tampons are small and designed for effortless insertion, unlike pads which tend to be bulkier. Tampons can also be discreetly worn underwear or thongs without drawing too much attention to themselves; some even contain organic or eco-friendly materials!
Women’s flows change throughout their period, so it is crucial that they select an absorbency level appropriate to them. When shopping for tampons, take note of both the box and absorbency levels to identify which are ideal for you and your period. Newcomers to using tampons should begin with lower absorbency levels to help ease into them gradually.
Women may experience an initial learning curve when using tampons, increasing the risk of tears to their hymen or leakage. If this occurs, seek medical advice as soon as possible as leaving a tampon in for too long increases the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), an extremely rare but serious condition. To decrease TSS risks it is advised that women change their tampons frequently – symptoms include cramping abdominal pain and vomiting.
Applicator
Tampons typically come equipped with an applicator – a small tube used for inserting them in your vagina – but some models also exist without this feature, which may make for easier application but may require additional practice to get right.
Before using the tampon, first wash your hands to eliminate germs that might spread to other parts of your body from touching its germs. Locate and pull on one end of the colored tear strip to open up its base and create an opening for your fingertip to go into.
Place your index finger into this pocket and push the tampon gently into your vagina until it feels comfortable in your vulva. Use your fingers to position and move the tampon until you find its ideal spot in your vagina; if this feels awkward for you, try switching out for one without an applicator; however some women find them easier.
Packaging
Tampons come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, offering different absorbency levels to accommodate light to heavy flow days. Many come with plastic or cardboard applicators for ease of insertion; however those looking to reduce waste may prefer non-applicated models instead.
Some brands also provide tampons with an external string to make using them more comfortable, especially for newcomers. By being pulled when necessary, such tampons provide more flexibility for use than standard options.
Many tampons contain toxic chemicals like dioxin chlorine and rayon that can be hazardous to both the environment and human health when released into sewer systems and polluting air, water and soil. Tampons containing such materials take decades to break down in marine environments where they harm or kill marine wildlife; people looking to limit their exposure can find organic or eco-friendly tampons made with paper/cardboard applicators and corn-derived wrappers as an option.
