OT- Tampon use by teenage girls

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Do you think a 14 or 15 year old girl should use tampons?  My daughter is pretty upset with me because I won't let her use them due to the increased risk of toxic shock syndrome.  What is everyone elses opinions on this?  Did you use tampons as a teenager (before you were sexually active)? Or does anyone have a teenage daughter they let use them? I'm just curious.  I don't use tampons, never have!

[vmvnpv]

I use tampons and my mom encouraged me to use them in high school so I could go swimming without getting embarrassed.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

No, more than likely I will give her the choice but I haven't had time to do the research I need in order to give her the proper information.  My husband is going in for a diagnostic laparoscopy tomorrow and possible hernia repair so things have been a little crazy.  

[sweetpea03]

Have you made your decision?

[LosingMyMindInGA]

No, I didn't think you were rude.  I got what you mean.  I think the biggest things that made me say no were a) I didn't know anything about them and couldn't help her with them and b) the whole TSS thing.

After reading all of these comments, though, I'm feeling better about considering giving her the option.  

I do appreciate EVERYONE's response!

[ketona31479]

I was 13 when I started my period I used tampons, Mom went out and bought both pads and tampons told me to try both and which ever I liked the best or was the most comfortable to use that one. I have a heavy flow at the begaining but tapers off during the last few days.

I hate pads, I absolutely hate sitting it that mess, and I also HATE the SMELL if your outside on a hot day it seriously starts smelling aweful down there, with tampons you dont smell down there or at least I havent. I personally will do exactly as my mom did, buy both and let my daughters decide which is best for them. Just because I dont like/afraid/havent tried something doesnt mean my kids shouldnt have the chance to try it.

PS If I come across as rude or mean I hoestly didnt mean too, I suck at wording how i feel or think. Im almost illiterate lol

[Michele, Katy, TX]

For my 1st and 2nd day, I use the heavy flow tampons along w/ a panty liner.  This way, if there is any leakage, it won't get on my underwear and I also know it's time to change my tampon.  So for those w/ heavy flow, that is also an option.

I can't speak for all but I have noticed that anytime I ever felt "pain" using a tampon, I simply had not inserted it far enough.

Anyway, I'm sure you will do what you feel is best but my mom did let me decide.  I have no idea how I decided I wanted to use tampons.  Maybe girls at school.  I really don't know.  So much info. :)  Good luck!

[cnj76]

I started out on pads. I got my period when I was 10. I didn't know any different about tampons and such. But, by the time I was 13, I started using skinny tampons. If put in correctly, you don't feel a thing but I had two issues with them.

#1 - If you don't change them in time or your flow becomes heavier than expected, you tend to stain your panties. So for me to fix that problem I would always wear a tampon along with liners.

#2 - when I was due to get off my period, my tampons became dry along with my vagina, so when I'd try to pull them out, it always felt like I got ripped or I'd be sore for a long time afterwards. Best thing to do, is use a pad the last day of your period (just my opinion)

I used tampons for about 8 years but now I use pads. They always seemed to make my cramps hurt worse. I get clots during my periods, it just feels a lot better to use a pad. Once I have this baby, I think it's going to be weird getting my period again after not having it for so long lol

It's a personal choice though. I'd at least offer to let her try them. She may not even like them that much. Or, offer to try a different brand of pads. I use "Always" They're comfortable to me. I want to try "Always - Infinity" once I have this baby to see if I notice a difference. The bigger the tampon, the better the risk of TSS. Always try to use the smallest size if possible. Especially on the last day of the period. Never use a super sized tampon for a flow that's not heavy or constant.

[Clysta]

I looked up the odds, just so you can get an idea. The risk of TSS are 1-17 in 100,000 menstruating women a year.

[dscoqn]

Personally I hate pads - I feel gross when I use them.  I got my first period when I was 11 and a half and used pads for one day and then begged my mum to let me use tampons.  I think as long as you wash your hands before inserting them and change them every few hours, then the risk of TSS is very low.

[sweetpea03]

Well any time you insert something into your vagina(finger, tampons, etc), you can break the hymen, but it can also be broken by sports, riding a bike, or other simple exercises. I don't know when my hymen broke, as I had played soccer and other sports since I was 5, but I started using tampons at 12 and was very far from being sexually active. I didn't have sex until 20 and my hymen broke long before that, which I'm glad it did. She'll probably never recognize when her hymen breaks because it'd be hard to notice. Most girls don't know when their hymen broke. I have no idea when mine broke, no pain and don't remember any odd bleeding.

I have always been very petite and when I began using tampons, I used the ones made for teens(the smallest ones they have). If the tampon "doesn't fit", that would mean the girl is tensing her muscles to not allow it in or she has a physical deformity that wouldn't allow it in or she's inserting it incorrectly. If the tampon does not feel comfortable, that means you did not insert it correctly, because you should not be able to even feel or notice it if you put it in right. I do really think you need to let her decide what she wants to use. I would be so angry at my mother if she didn't let me use tampons. I always felt bad for the girls in jr high and some in high school who had to wear pads and you can see the pads most of the time, since most are bulky and look like diapers. I remember sneaking a friend tampons in 8th grade because her mom wouldn't let her wear them and your daughter might do the same. It'd just be better if you give her the option to choose herself and then you can talk to her about using them correctly and changing them regularly.          

[Ashelen]

SOrry I should qualify the "tampons hurt" thing...they hurt when I was younger because I had an unnaturally small vaginal canal - due to sexual trauma as a child. Then, more recently, due to my daughter ripping me from crotch to groin (lol), I now have a super sensitive scar tissue down there....most people without serious trauma to their vagina shouldn't have a big problem with pain, although I do agree with Brittny that they seem to make my cramps worse.

[Ashelen]

tampons hurt...and feel unnatural to me, lol. Nothing against people who use them, I use them when I'm swimming...and in high school and middle school I was on a swim team so I used them a lot, but I despise them.

However...I'm lucky. when I'm on my period I rarely fill the pads, but every time I go pee I fill the toilet with blood...so I don't have to worry about "sitting in my mess" (thanks for that visual, Audrey...;-) LOL). I also found that using the tampon caused the flow to leak continuously instead of staying in like normal, so I frequently leaked through the tampon even if I changed them every 2 hours because I bleed so MUCH. When I say I fill the toilet, I mean that you can't see the bottom of it because it's so full of blood. EVERY time I pee...but rarely anything on the pad.

THe first time I ever used a tampon I know I used it correctly, but I was so tiny that I laid in bed and cried in pain for an hour before I finally gave up and took it out. Awful, awful.

But I highly, highly, can't highly enough recommend wearing a pad to bed instead of using a tampon, no matter how gross or inconvenient it is. Like it or not, menstrual blood is now waste material and carries bacteria....TSS isn't common, and it isn't something most people are at risk for, but you want to keep your cervix and vaginal canal as clean and NORMAL as possible. which is to say - not forcing it to back up with bacteria for hours on end. During the day is great, they are really convenient and some people just couldn't live without them - but they are not the greatest idea for night time if you want to keep your vaginal bacteria level normal. However...I do agree that it's a personal choice Cass and if she wants to use them during the day I see nothing wrong with that, as long as they are convenient and comfortable to her. I also wouldn't recommend letting her use them at night though.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

So much to think about it.  I really appreciate all the comments though.  I'm reevaluating my stand and once I process all this information I will give her my decision and see.  I'm so glad everyone has given me their experiences.  It makes me feel better about it if I decide to let her try them!

[sherrycoup]

i started using tampons at age 12!!  What a godsend.  I have a heavy flow so i always just made sure i had enough to last me the amount of time id be outta the house for.   All she would have to do if she was uncomfy about leaking is go to the bathroom everyhour or so to check if its still ok!!  It's no biggie.  And if my mom had told me i couldnt use them i'd say screw you.  I was always in the water in summer so was nice to have options.  
Let her try them and see how she likes them.  She may not like the way it feels!!  But its def her choice

[smjmekg]

WAY too many comments, and too little time to read them all, so sorry if I repeat, BUT...I for one can speak from first hand experience. I have a heavy flow, and if she's anything like me...she'll use a tampon and run to the bathroom an hour later to find that she needs new panties and pants/shorts. Tampons in my experience do nothing for a heavier flow. If anything...let her try it once. I can't remember how old I was when I started using them. Sometimes I actually wear a tampon and pad when I know I'll be out for a long time and unable to conveniently reach a bathroom quickly, because I know a pad just won't cut it and neither will a tampon, so sorry tmi, but by the time I make it to the bathroom my tampon's drenched and the pad is covered. BUT I have a SERIOUSLY heavy flow. If you want to let her try them get the LOWEST flow coverage possible, if I'm not mistaken the little info inserts they put in them say the when you use a higher flow than you need you risk TSS more so than a lower flow tampon.

[mami2karina]

I've used tampons since I started my period at almost 13. I HATE pads. I hate after childbirth and you have to wear those HUGE diaper looking pads. I got back to tampons as soon as the OB clears me. I was a virgin when I started using them and I have never had a problem.

[MandyPriess]

I personally don't use pads they remind me of diapers. I've used tampons since middle school.

[mamaof4410]

I don't like tampons. I understand why some women don't like pads but if I wear a tampon Im constantly thinking about it being in me. lol so I take it out. I believe you should do what you feel is best. Good Luck.

[NicoleW09]

I suppose a tampon could damage the hymen, but I still had mine until I became sexually active. So for me, tampons didn't break mine. I tried lots of different types of tampons and before I became sexually active the slender regular sized were more uncomfortable, and they had a cardboard applicator. Now I prefer to use the plastic applicators so I use either platex sport or tampax pearl. I found that the pearls were very uncomfortable to me for a long time.

[frank_noahsmommy]

I started my period ate age 11 and was not sexually active till 18. I was a dancer, cheerleader, and was very active. I had an older Sister who told me about tampons and on my 2nd cycle I started using them and would never go back!!!!!!!!!! The only time I use pads is when miscarrying. I have a little sister who will be 13 next month and lives with me who I am encouraging to use tampons too. She is a cheerleader and is embarassed by the pads. The risk of TSS is so low that if you teach  her the proper way to use them she should have no problems.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

Clysta is right.  Mine was actually broken by my first internal/pelvic exam.  I only spotted barely the following day and it was really pink.  It was no where near or anything like a period for me.  I wasn't even for sure, but assumed that is what happened because I never had any bleeding/spotting of any kind, once I did become sexually active.

[Clysta]

Likely, she won't know it's broken. Many girls do NOT know theirs is. Even riding a bike can break it.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

Ahhh, again Cass things I didn't mention as others have pointed out.  I did start out w/ the smallest size tampons.  I also used plastic applicators.  My mom always used the card board ones.  Umm....not my preference.  The plastic glide in much easier IMO.  Sorry about the TMI, but I did not like using hers.  LOL!

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Sweetpea:  thanks for that information.   Breaking the hymen was something I was worried about.  She's not a very active child so her's is likely still intact.  How would she know if it WERE broken by a tampon?  For having so many kids, I sound so ignorant because I know NOTHING about tampon use.  I want to be well informed and adjust my decision accordingly.  My daughter doesn't always consider everything when making decisions. Her arguments are always "every one else does it".  IF I decide to give her the option, I want to present her with ALL the facts so she can make an informed decision.