Napkins or tampons: how to choose?
Because teenage girls are afraid to talk about their period with girls their age, they are often unaware of what protections to choose. Napkins or tampons? What is the best solution? Which protection is the most suitable? Doctissimo takes stock.
Summary
- Towels and tampons: what's the difference?
- Napkins or tampons: advantages and disadvantages
- Fear of tampon
- The menstrual cup, natural and ecological protection
- Protection and comfort during menstruation
Periods, also known as menstruation or menstrual flow , are blood flow from the uterus that occurs cyclically. This blood comes from the uterine lining, and more precisely from its superficial and periodic renewal , the consequence of a hormonal change at the end of the cycle.
Towels and tampons: what's the difference?
During menstruation, it is necessary to "protect" yourself so as not to stain your clothes with blood. Young girls and women have the choice between an external protection, the sanitary napkin , or a protection introduced inside the vagina, the sanitary pad:
- Sanitary napkins are easy to use: fitted with a self-adhesive strip, they are attached to the crotch of the panty;
- The hygienic tampon, made of a cylindrical absorbent material, slips into the vagina either with a disposable plastic or cardboard applicator, or pushed with the index finger. An application leaflet is always attached, but it can be more reassuring to have the technique explained by a doctor.
Napkins or tampons: advantages and disadvantages
Towels
Advantages: discreet and thin, sanitary napkins are very absorbent . Their surface is covered with a veil that drains the liquid inside and keeps them dry. They are often sufficient to contain the blood flow, as long as you change them regularly every 3 hours or so. After use, they are thrown in the trash and not in the toilet;
Disadvantages: It can happen that we feel irritation of the vulva in contact with a sanitary napkin. In this case, it suffices to change the brand or model. If you are afraid of staining your panties on the sides, it is better to choose a model with side guards.
Bad smells only happen if you don't change often enough. Current sanitary napkins, presented in individual sachets, slip easily into a pocket or bag. If your blood flow is abundant, plan a reserve!
Tampons
Advantages: the tampon is small, discreet and practical. It is ideal for physical or sports activities : it prevents leaks, because it does not prevent the blood from flowing, it absorbs it! ;
Cons: It should be changed regularly, every 4 to 6 hours or so, to avoid irritation or infection. It can sometimes dry out the vagina, and for some, its introduction can interfere.
Note: if you want to swim during your period, the only solution is to wear a tampon that you change before and after bathing. For other sports, you can wear your choice of tampon or sanitary napkin.
Fear of tampon
When a young girl is a virgin, her intact hymen allows period blood to pass through a small hole. From her first period, she can use a periodic tampon if she wishes , without fear of damaging her hymen. Indeed, this flexible membrane eventually distends, but does not break.
Many young girls have the feeling of symbolically losing their virginity by introducing a foreign body, the tampon, into their vagina; they then prefer to postpone the experience and that is quite respectable. But remember that losing your virginity is making love for the first time, and whether you bleed or not, whether the opening of the hymen is enlarged by the regular installation of tampons or not has little. of importance.
The fear of the tampon is also the fear of pain. They can be reassured, however: the introduction and wearing of a tampon is neither painful nor dirty . In addition, fear not: a tampon cannot "get lost" in the vagina : the internal end of the vagina, the cervix is so narrow that it could not let it pass; he can therefore only leave where he entered! It also cannot deform the vagina, the walls of which are flexible and elastic.
The menstrual cup, natural and ecological protection
It is a natural, effective and ecological solution that eliminates the need for chemicals in sanitary napkins and tampons . The menstrual cup causes, like the tampon, a stagnation of blood in the vagina which promotes the multiplication of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. A low risk of toxic shock is also present. A study published on April 20, 2018 in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology shows that the risks are the same for tampons as menstrual cups. Among the other disadvantages is the risk of leaks in case of improper positioning. Blood clots can also obstruct the holes located under the bead of the cup.
Finally, according to some manufacturers, the menstrual cup is not recommended with the wearing of an IUD or a contraceptive ring . If you use these contraceptives , ask your gynecologist for advice .
Protection and comfort during menstruation
Tampons, sanitary napkins or menstrual cups offer several levels of absorption depending on the amount of menstrual flow. If the tampon is difficult to remove, it may be that it has not absorbed enough liquid: you should choose a smaller model or, quite simply, prefer a sanitary napkin.
It is up to each person to choose the protection adapted to their comfort . The important thing is to change it often , to avoid irritation or bad odors. Anyway, today the rules can be lived stress-free as long as you always have spare protection available.
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