I just got my first period last month, and I used pads. I
think they’re really uncomfortable and they totally don’t work for my dance
classes, but tampons seem super scary. What should I do?
Take a deep breath and pick up a box of light- or
junior-sized tampons, babe. Trust me, they really aren’t the stuff of
nightmares. When you open up a new box, you’ll see a little pamphlet that tells
you how to insert them. Read through it and get comfy in the bathroom—inserting
your first few tampons can be a little tricky. For a quick how-to, CLICK HERE.
Some girls are worried about something called Toxic Shock
Syndrome, or TSS. While TSS is a
dangerous condition that is caused by a build up of toxins in the body, which
can happen if you leave a tampon in longer than the recommended 8 or so hours.
However, it’s contracted more frequently by people with skin infections, burns
or those who are recovery from surgery. Symptoms include confusion, diarrhea,
headaches, muscle aches and nausea. Read more about TSS HERE.
Other chicas have heard some tall tampon tales that are
totally not true, like that using tampons means you aren’t a virgin anymore. Another
myth? Tampons can get lost in there. Impossible! Your vagina is a one-way
street, babe. If you know you put a tampon in but the string is MIA or tore off
the body of the tampon, you might have to get a little messy and pull it out
with your fingers, but trust us, it’s up there.
Still a little freaked? Relax! Stressing yourself out over
this will actually make it harder to insert the tampon. Pick an afternoon when
you have as much time as you need to hog the bathroom so you don’t feel rushed.
And if you’re finding it tough to get the sucker in, grab a jar of Vaseline,
smear a little bit on the applicator and try, try again.
BY BRITTANY TAYLOR ON 10/3/2012 5:15:00 PM
POSTED IN period 101, tampons, how to use tampons, tampon fact or fiction, pad problems