Tampons
Tampons are period products which sit just inside the vagina. They absorb the blood and get bigger inside you over time, while remaining comfortable.
They come in many different absorbencies – light, medium, super (meaning heavy), super plus, super plus extra and ultra. The bigger the absorbency the bigger the tampon. You are likely not to need a big absorbency during your first few periods, but you might as your period evens itself out as you mature.
Some people might have trouble inserting tampons or be nervous – this is perfectly normal. You could have someone you trust that also experiences a period help you. There are also lots of videos on YouTube. Some tampons come packed in plastic or cardboard applicators to help with insertion. The applicator does not get inserted with the tampon. You should put this in a sanitary bin!
As a general rule, it is much easier to insert a tampon if you are relaxed. You should aim to insert it slightly angled towards your back rather than straight up. Your tampon should not hurt while inside you and it also shouldn’t be particularly noticeable – if you can feel it, you may not have pushed it in far enough.
You should change your tampon every four to eight hours – meaning they can be easily used overnight. Or when it becomes soaked – this might take a bit of trial and error to work out how long that is! You might also need different absorbencies of tampons for throughout your period. For example, super at the start and regular/light at the end. It is particularly important to remember to change your tampon and remember to take out your last tampon.
Over time, tampons can break down and degrade while they are inside you, which can contribute to a condition called Toxic Shock Syndrome. This is caused by bacteria which normally live on the skin and in the nose or mouth without causing harm, but if they get deeper into the body they can release toxins that damage tissue and stop organs working. Symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome include a headache, vomiting, a widespread sunburn-like rash and your lips and eyes turning bright red. If you suspect you have Toxic Shock Syndrome this is a medical emergency and must be treated at A&E right away. It is important to note that anything inserted into the body can contribute to Toxic Shock Syndrome, but it is higher with certain 'higher absorbency' tampons, as these can create an environment that is conducive to bacterial growth.
You can sometimes tell the absorbency of period products by the drip system – the more drips that you see on a box – the higher the absorbency. This means that you may need a variety of different tampons during your period such as "Super" absorbency for your more heavy days and "regular" absorbency for your lighter days.
