You are a girl and that means there is one inevitable thing: Your Period.
Ah yes, dreaded Aunt Flo. She comes once monthly, bringing anger, sadness, cramps, restlessness, bloating, and poop. That week of misery is the worst. If you are one of those women who has a period that lasts for 3 or 4 days, you are so blessed and I envy you.
There are options when it comes to menstrual products: pads, tampons, cups, cloth pads, protected undies. Tampons and pads are probably the most common and the easiest to use, by far. While there has always been a debate over the better product, it really comes down to you.
If you feel like you are a "wimp" for loving pads and hating tampons, you are not alone, let me tell you. I have had my period for around 3 years and I used pads for around 2 and 1/2 years of that, with an occasional tampon use. Tampons scared me. The thought of shoving something up my vajayjay that shouldn't be there was not very pleasing. Pads you just rip open, smack on your panties, and boom! Done! With tampons, you have to get into a comfy position and insert the cotton missile into your lady bits. Not. Fun.
Pads are way less invasive and easier to use, I find. If you are "pad shamed", don't worry about it. What you choose to wear those 7 days of terrible is your business. You are going to be uncomfortable no matter what you wear, so just choose what you are comfortable with.
My Experiences With Tampons:
Not so great! I tried tampons about 2 years ago at a friend's house. We were going swimming in her pool and I was on my period. I really wanted to go swimming so I went for it. I went into the bathroom like a boss and bam! Tampon in. Now, I was 13 or 14 (depending on the month) and it was the first time I had to wear a tampon for an extended period of time. It sucked. When we got into the pool, I realized that the tampon string was hanging out! *screams of horror* I panicked. I tried to quickly and discreetly tuck it back into my swim bottoms before my friend noticed anything was amiss. I did it and it was okay from there. I had read that you shouldn't be able to feel the tampon at all and if you did, it wasn't in all the way or it was crooked. Well, lucky me, I was able to feel it and it was uncomfortable. We swam for about 20 minutes before we went back in. My friend showered first so I stood in her room, for fear of sitting, dripping and uncomfortable. Taking out the tampon hurt a crap ton and I was over it.
I ended up trying tampons yet again and it was a better experience. BUT! I could still feel it! No matter how much I tried to push it up more or straighten it out, or even take it out and use another one, I could still feel it. So I quit, again! Pads were less of a hassle and I loved my vajayjay pillows.
So fast forward a few years to yesterday: I worked in the cold and rain at a Christmas parade, helping control the traffic coming out of the parking lot where the floats were at. I was at the exit, preventing people from coming in (except that one jerk who 'bout ran me over and went in anyway..to that person: you are rude and I hope you get a flat tire on your car.) Anyway, I was on my period on my heaviest day of flow and I decided to wear a pad. It was awful. I felt like I was having all kinds of leaks and flooding and I hated every minute of the four hours I was there.
Move to today: I tried tampons again! Yay. At first, it was fine. I could feel it but it wasn't uncomfortable. And then I had to switch it out. Ever since then (about 5 hours ago), it was misery. I had to try again and again because it was so uncomfortable and I knew I didn't do something right. Everything I read said I did it right and it might be that I needed to get used to the feeling of something there, but I couldn't do it anymore. The only way for me to feel like there was nothing there, is to have nothing up there! So I went back to pads. And I feel so much more comfortable and happier. Pads are my besties and I love them.
I don't hate tampons, I think they are fine, but I prefer pads. Yes, they can leak, they can be bulky, and you can't wear certain clothes with them for the terrible silhouette of the pad, but they aren't invasive like a tampon is. So if you are a pad wearer, hi fam! So many women do and it is fine!
I have read a lot of stuff where it is like "she sent her boyfriend for a tampon and chocolate run" and I am like, "Bruh, my bf gonna have to go on a pad run!" There is no shame in wearing pads and not tampons. If you feel like you are not a "woman" for wearing a tampon, please realize that you are a woman. Girl, you have your own blood and stuff coming out of your lady bits, you are a darn woman. You don't need to have a tampon shoved up your hooha to be considered a woman.
Tampons and pads both have their pros and cons, but it is up to you to find out what you like best. It is your body and you have the say, no one else does. Being on your period is uncomfy enough, but being more uncomy with what you are wearing as period protection makes it 100 times worse.
So wear pads! Wear tampons! Wear cups or protected pantaloons! Wear whatever makes you the most comfortable.
You got this, girl!
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CasualeThis is for girls who need that daily inspiration to help them with their self-esteem and to remind them that they are fabulous!