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!

[Clysta]

I started to use them when I was 15, became sexually active a week before I turned 18. I HATE pads and one summer when I went to Florida I started my period and it was a day we had planned to go to the beach. I couldn't wear a pad then, so I started to use tampons. Never went back. The risk of TSS isn't too high, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you do choose to let her, just make sure she uses the lowest flow needed to reduce the risk. I personally love them. I don't have to worry about it shifting weird and covering me in blood.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

She complains about having such a heavy flow and having to change her pad so often, that I wonder if tampons wouldn't be effective enough. I told her if her flow is that bad she would end up needed to wear a pad anyway to catch overflow!

[JoyRenee]

Only when swimming! I do not put foreign objects there if I can help it. ;-)

I agree if she has a really heavy flow she'd need a pad anyway.

[Clysta]

Hmmm....it's hard to say how she would handle it. Mine are heavy too (and used to last for sooo long at a time) but I used a super or higher. I never really had leaks unless overnight, and then I used a pad as well.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Call me crazy, but I'm paranoid about the whole TSS thing.  I know it's a slim possibility, but my luck has always been that the narrower the margin, the more likely I, or someone close to me, will be a target of it.  LOL

Her periods are also still very irregular.  She gets pretty bad cramps and stuff too.  There may be no basis to this line of thinking at all, but I think she should wait until her cycle evens out before introducing "foreign objects" in there.  She doesn't do much swimming, hardly any at all.  But I know that during gym class she hates running around feeling like she's wearing a diaper and having to adjust.  

I've suggested to her that we try different types of pads.  They make so many now, and some are so thin, that we should be able to find something more comfortable for her.  I also should probably explain to her that certain types of underwear dont hold pads well and will required a ton of "readjusting". Personally I keep granny panties just for that time of month.  It keeps the pads in place and I don't care if they get stained.  

[Clysta]

It's really up to you, as you are her mother. Maybe you guys can come to a compromise or something in time. I don't know that irregular cycles effect anything, and they might not ever actually balance. I know in my case they still haven't.

[Clysta]

I guess what I'm saying is that it should really be her choice. Even though she is your daughter, she is in the end the one who has to deal with it and for some it's horrible. I'll likely do for Kylie what my mom did for me. Show her what to use and how when it's time and then let her make the choice when she's ready. (These are all just my own opinions though, I hope they don't bother you!!!)

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Thanks Clysta!  I just wanted to see what others have done or experienced. Especially since I've never used them myself.  Perhaps I'm just not ready for her to grow up that much yet LOL!

[sweetpea03]

I didn't even begin using pads and went straight to tampons when I got my period at 12. lol. My mom came home and I told her I began my period, she started to talk to me about pads and then eventually switching to tampons if I wanted and I told her I was already wearing one. Just talk to her about changing them regularly(not to forget) and she'll be fine. TSS is very rare in general and typically would happen if left in for a very longgg time for bacteria to build up, which would be unlikely to ever happen with your daughter. I have always HATED pads and the diaper feeling, so I always use tampons and never had any problems and neither do a majority of tampon users. If her flow is heavy she can use super tampons, which should work fine. I have a heavy flow in the beginning and use super and then switch back to regulars as it lightens. I do think she should be able to use them if she wants to. She is your daughter, but she's also growing up and she needs to be able to make decisions in her life as well.  

[RaeMcGee]

I started using them when I was 12. I got my period when I was in the last few months of being 11. I think T.S.S is extremely rare by the way so I wouldn't worry. Just teach her how to use the tampons correctly and stress the importance of changing them ever 6 hours or when full. Otherwise I don't think you  have anything to worry about. Tampons and sexual activity don't go hand in hand. I lost mine when I was 16. I think she should be able to not where those horrible diapers (pads). At least give her a chance.

[Heatherm4]

I can't remember when I started using them. I don't think it was until I was like 15 or 16 and I started my period when I was 12. I was nervous to use them.
I would say just get her the slim ones to start with only when she wants to swim or when she is gym class. Being active and wearing a pad is the WORST. It makes you sweat more and I'm sorry but it can't make anything smell any better down there as well. Otherwise she could wear pads.
When my period is heavy I have to double up too the first day or 2. I wear a thin pad and a tampon when I'm out and about.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Thanks ladies.  I really appreciate the comments/experiences. Gives me something to think about.  I'll have to do some more research on them since I, personally, don't have any experience with them.  

[therese101]

I used them from about 14, but only when swimming. We used to do squad training 4 times a week, so it was easier to use them and continue with our training. I hate wearing pads now.

I would say let her try them, she may not like it, but explain that she needs to change often and tell her about the risk of TSS if she doesnt,

[tryingfor1sttime815]

I started my period when I was 14 and I used them on first cycle (I hadn't even had my first kiss yet).  My periods were so heavy that the blood would run off the pad and down my leg if I didn't have a tampon in.  Sorry TMI.  It wasn't that I didn't change them, it was because it was coming out so fast the pad didn't have enough time to absorb the blood before more would come out.  Then just feeling all that blood and feeling dried blood on my bottom was just the absolute worst.  Another problem is you only has so much time in between classes in highschool.  You don't have enough time to go to the bathroom and change your pad every hour or two.  Tampons were my saving grace!  

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Thanks ladies.  I'm starting to see that my initial thoughts are more me being paranoid LOL  I guess I need to reconsider my stand on this and do some more research.  I just don't know how I could explain to her about inserting them and what not since *I* have never used them.  I tried once, but apparently got it all wrong and it was the most umcomfortable thing.  

[NicoleW09]

I was almost fourteen when I got my first cycle, and that very first one my mother gave me a choice. She bought me a kit from the walmart that has different sized tampons (it's for girls who have just started, or just started using tampons). She also bought me pads and told me how to use them both. I found that at that time, they were slightly uncomfortable, and I would only use them (slender regulars) when I was being active. I was on my high schools competition cheerleading squad and so I used a mixture of them both. When I began ttc I only used pads, but now I use a mixture again. I didn't think anything about it really, it was just convenient for me to use while I was being active in sports. As far as when I became sexually active...I was eighteen. So I don't think in my case it made me want to become sexually active earlier. I think I would have waited either way.

[AHP84]

I started wearing tampons when I was 13 or 14, and my sister when she was 12 or 13. I can't stand wearing pads--I hate the feeling of sitting in my own mess. It's gross, and trying to tolerate it while I'm doing physical activities is distracting to me because I'm always wondering if the pad would slide to the side and I'll leak in my pants (that's happened to me in taekwondo class recently--and those pants are white, so...yeah, embarassing).
As for inserting tampons, just tell your daughter if she sits on a toilet, to aim the tampon towards her back and not try to insert it by going straight up (towards her stomach). It should slide right in with very little feeling and stay put comfortably.

[Clysta]

Like AHP84 said, you can either sit or...squat? slightly. You insert it at a 45 degree angle toward your back until your fingers touch you. Then you just push it in. To remove it you do it the same as you put it in, just opposite. It's also wise to not remove it too early---it's dry and can be uncomfortable getting it out. I found personally that the ones with a rounded tip and plastic applicator are much easier to use than the cardboard ones.

[Brittny27]

I used my first tampon when I was 14 and only for swimming. I don't use tampons because I have bad cramps and they make them worse. So your daughter might have worse cramps while using a tampon if she already has bad cramps. I have heard this is pretty normal.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

AHP & Clysta: Thanks for the tips

Brittny: Interesting, I hadn't heard about that before.  

[alaysha]

I started my period at 12 and started using tampons at 13 because I hated the feeling of wearing a diaper. I didn't start having sex until junior year of high school so I honestly don't think it has any correlation. You are her mother though so the decision is yours but just know that she could easily get them from friends if she chose to.

[StinaKaye]

I started my period very young.. I was 10 and it was in the summer time and I was like a fish always at the pool! So I immediately started wearing a tampon as well. Although I wasn't even aware of my 1st period bc I was half way through it and told my sister I'm having pooping issues bc I kept getting it in my panties.. And then she was like no u have started ur 1st period. Haha cracks me up thinking about it now.. But I would let her chose what's more comfortable for her. And just explain your worries to her and everything should b fine ;)

[needhelp24121]

I started wearing tampons just before I went to college. I hated pads, but was afraid to put a tampon in for fear of not doing it right and bleeding everywhere anyway (and it hurting). My mom never used tampons either, so she didn't know how to put one in. I just read the instructions in the box to figure it out. When they aren't in right, you can really tell, it hurts. I never bought any bigger than the regular ones at first, I would just wear a pantyliner in case I didn't get to change it in time. If you choose to let her, she will figure out in time what works best for her!

[sweetpea03]

I've never heard about the cramps thing and that might be because you are wearing them incorrectly. I have extreme menstrual cramps, but wearing tampons has no effect on how bad they are.

I started a poll on the teen health community for pads vs tampons to get some other teen opinions if you want to take a look. I have always used tampons and hate pads. I like to be active and to think about having to wear a pad for doing all that would be horrible. I am really surprised you have never used tampons! I think you should try it as well. They are much more comfortable than pads(no diaper feeling) and it's much cleaner(no bloody mess). All tampon boxes come with instructions that are pretty easy to figure out. No one told me anything and I just tried it myself and did fine. I think you both should try tampons. lol.