Erm...this is about periods, female replies only please...!

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Let me say first and foremost that I can relate to this. During my junior year of highschool, our class was doing problems at the chalkboard. A girl who had gone to get something back from her desk approached me and said, "Are you aware that you're on your period?" Turns out there were large splotches of blood all over the back of my (light colored) pants. I don't know how long I was walking around like that either.

Here's my suggestion for something like that. Keep track of your periods and start wearing a pad (napkin, whatever you call them) shortly before you think you'll start. It's not the most comfortable feeling in the world, yes, but it's better than having blood visible to the public. And if it's just on your underwear, it's not a huge deal - that can be washed.



They are kind of scary, aren't they? I refused to wear them for years.

Again, my advice: if you decide to try them, go with Playtex, as they have a plastic applicator. I found the cardboard ones to be horribly abrasive, and my mother agreed. The plastic ones go in much better. Also, choose a smaller size, regardless of what you think you may need, just to get adjusted to them first.

Every box should come with an instruction set. Read those and follow the steps. If you need to look at yourself to figure out some things, there's no shame in that. If, after putting on in, it hurts, take it out; that means you didn't put it in far enough. That shouldn't happen if you follow the instructions, but I know it scared me off for a year or so because I did that the first time.



And here's the second part of the problem. That's not healthy in the slightest and can cause long term health problems. That's anorexia; yes, you're still eating, but so little that it's bad for you.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I think you need to see a therapist about those last two things. It's indicative of a very bad body image, and that can be dangerous.

I get bad period pains too, but I only get them once every 3rd month now thanks to the new birth control pill my doctor put me on, Its call sesonal.. and I love them! Even during the times that I get my period, it still hurts, but I can bear it witout taking medication.

You should ask your doctor about birth control options, I was a single virgin when I first went on them.

Tena do very long pads. I think you can get them from Boots.

500 calories is TOO FEW, even children need at least 1,000 a day!! !

I agree with previous posters TAMPAX are easy to use and clean since you don't necessarily have to touch anywhere you don't want to.

When I started my periods I found it extremely upsetting and I couldn't talk to anyone about what I was feeling. My mum was never able to talk openly about that sort of thing and so I felt very uncomfortable, even ashamed when it came to something that is natural and necessary, not dirty. I found it frightening trying to use tampons but I persevered and there is no way I would go back to pads now. You can't feel them at all once they are in place and they really do the job. No stains to worry about or discomfort. It really is worth trying again.

they make some longer pads that work to prevent leakage. I know Always makes some really good ones; the overnight ones work well, and if those don't prevent all leakage then you could stick a panty liner or two where you have some extra leakage. if they're too bulky they make some thin ones that work just as well. tampons are really a lifesaver, especially when exercising; if you feel like one is about to fall out, just take that one out and put in a new one. simple as that.

in your case i'd recommend birth control. my cramps used to be really horrible when i was your age (i'd vomit and go home sick from school every now and then) but now they're not nearly as bad- i'm 20, by the way. i just drink lots of water, eat well, take some Advil and suck it up for a few days.

they make some longer pads that work to prevent leakage. I know Always makes some really good ones; the overnight ones work well, and if those don't prevent all leakage then you could stick a panty liner or two where you have some extra leakage. if they're too bulky they make some thin ones that work just as well. tampons are really a lifesaver, especially when exercising; if you feel like one is about to fall out, just take that one out and put in a new one. simple as that.

in your case i'd recommend birth control. my cramps used to be really horrible when i was your age (i'd vomit and go home sick from school every now and then) but now they're not nearly as bad- i'm 20, by the way. i just drink lots of water, eat well, take some Advil and suck it up for a few days.

For me, I had my first cycle at age 13...kinda had it in the middle of 7th period in school...luckily I was sent home and lived only 3 blocks from the school.

At first I used pads, but then since I had a paper route, I bought tampons since I didnt like pads.Tampons are alot easier and make it so there's nothing "bulky" down there and there is no worry about leakage.As far as pain goes, mine is the worst on the first day, but that is dealt with easily with tylenol and lots of water.


personally, I don't like pads for the reason they feel bulky down there, and there is that feeling that it is not sanitary to be sitting in ones own blood / body fluid for a period of time.

Last edited by Tory_canuck on 24 Jul 2009, 3:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

For me, I don't eat much when Im working, so if I am having mine on a work day, I have my water canteen with me, take some tylenol, change my tampon on my breaks, and I am fine.

When Im off work, I tend to eat a fair bit tho, but don't have to worry about the flow too much since I am at home and on my own time.

I'd like to make a suggestion. Not sure if anyone's posted anything about it yet since I only skimmed through this thread, but I've been using the DivaCup (http://www.divacup.com/) for about a year and a half now, and it's so much better than tampons and especially pads. If you have trouble with tampons, you will probably have trouble with it though. It's basically a silicone cup you stick in there and you don't have to empty it as often as you have to change tampons or pads. I usually use it in conjunction with a pad, just in case it leaks (which it rarely does).

I was afraid to use tampons for the first couple of years after I started having my period too, mostly since I couldn't get them in the couple of times I tried. I think it was because my mom always bought the cheap-o store brand ones with the cardboard applicators, but then I found that the ones with plastic applicators are much easier to get in, so I used those until I got the DivaCup thing.

Usually I'm only in pain for the first day or two when it starts, though sometimes I don't have any pain at all for some reason. I read an article once that said that sex can make PMS and period symptoms not as bad. I'm not recommending you go out and sleep around with everyone, but if you have a partner, you may want to take that into consideration. I also usually take ibuprofen as soon as I feel cramps starting which usually works. I can never remember when it's supposed to start, so I use www.mymonthlycycles.com to tell me. It's usually accurate within a day or two.

Okay, that's my TMI post for today... I wouldn't have bothered responding to this thread, since I hate talking about things like this, but I thought the DivaCup thing and the mymonthlycycles.com thing might be helpful to share.

Superstore has it's own brand with the plastic applicators which are cheaper than the tampax but just as good.Superstore also has it's own brand of tylenol and other medications for things like PMS and such.Superstore is a Canadian store and Canadian owned so Im not sure if they are in the US or anywhere else.

I'd like to second the DivaCup vote! I started using mine when I began working as a geologist, living in camps full of men and hiking in the wilderness for months at a time. I didn't fancy running off to crouch behind a rock every three hours and then rinsing gooky hands with water from my drinking water bottle (ugh). It's great - I empty it once a day during my evening shower and when it's in, I can't even feel it. I have to carefully remind myself that I'm even ON my period! In five years it's only leaked once - minorly - and that was my own fault for not putting it in correctly.

It looks a little scary if you're young and still uncomfortable with this kind of stuff, but just have a read of the website, www.divacup.com, and think about it for a while. It's also very economic: $20 is all I've spent on period-related paraphernalia in five years, instead of every month! Also think of all that plastic that hasn't been used.

Totally cannot recommend highly enough!

I also have servere pain each month, and I am on BC now to regulate it. From the day I started (when I was 14), it was irregular, and now it is regular but that is only because I was on BC. I was on a different BC and that made the pain worse, so I switched to a different kind. Thanks for all the helpful hints!

I'd like to try the cup thing but I can't even get a slim tampon in with our pain ,cramping and bathroom trouble. I've had two fairly large children I think it has more to do with my IBS then anything.

Just a note in case anyone hasn't already mentioned it, because I'm hearing people talking about the absorbency of sanitary protection. One general warning: 'super absorbency' towels are probably OK because being visible, you tend to notice when they need changing, but be wary of super absorbency tampons, girls. They have, when left in for a long time, been connected with Toxic Shock Syndrome. It's not a totally proven connection, but just to be on the safe side...

It did take me a while to learn to use a tampon, as I was too scared to push it further in. However, you don't feel anything at all. I'll never use a pad again.

I can't use the tampons where you have to stick your fingers inside yourself... my fingers aren't long enough. So I need the ones with applicators. I suggest those for everyone. But you don't have to bleed at all if you get the right drugs.