Tampons vs Pads: Which Are Better?

*This post has PR Samples included. Please read the end of the post for more details.



I still remember the day when I learnt about pads and periods. It was a special class for the Year 6 girls and the nurse came in to talk to us about periods and what products we could use during, as she said "that special time of the month" - nah love, there's nothing special about "the time of the month" - unless I was pissing money and not blood, than yeah, it's special all the f**king way.



Anyway, as me and my classmates were only 11, we got the giggles when the liners were passed around for us to gawk at, wings and all. And that ladies and gentlemen, was my first taster of periods.


My period started when I was at high school age (pretty standard) thank god I was at home. My Mum cried when I told her that my period came, I still can never tell to this day whether they were happy tears or not) anyway, she ran up the corner shop and got me liners and that was that.


When young girls start their periods, there's that quandary of whether to use pads or tampons when their menstrual cycle comes around every month. Years ago, there was just liners, pads, tampons. Now you can a menstrual cup, washable pads and period proof pants into the mix. 



In this post, I kind of wanted to talk about the pros and cons of using pads or tampons during your period. My preference for my menstrual cycle is pads. Purely because I find them easier and more comfortable to wear than tampons. I've tried using tampons in the past but I've never gotten on with them. I'm one of those paranoid and pathetic women who worries about the tampon getting stuck or the string disappearing on insertion. Yep, sounds daft I know!


Anyway, what are the pros and cons of tampons and pads?



TAMPONS
________
Tampon user or not, you'll know that there are some great benefits of using them. Tampons are perfect for those who are on the go all the time or who go swimming regularly.
 


PROS -
*You can still go for a swim even when it's inserted.
*They're not visible so you could still wear a thong and not wearing about seeing a pad seeping over the sides.
*You don't feel them once they're in. 
*They're small and convenient and can easily be carried around in your bag so they're at hand for an emergency leakage.
*They come in a variety of flow options, from heavy to light.


There is a couple of cons however -


CONS -
*There's a risk of developing toxic shock syndrome (TTS) (not to put the frighteners on every tampon user who reads this!) However, it's ok, there are ways to decrease that risk from that EVER happening. As long as you change your tampon regularly and alternate between tampons and pads when flow is light, it's all good ladies. 
*Inserting a tampon may be uncomfortable for some. 
*Finding the right size is like playing the good old game of trial and error until you find the right one to suit your flow needs. 



PADS
__________
I use pads as I find them easier. Yes ladies, pads are still used. These are my preferred option when on my period. I think some people think that pads are the equivalent of wearing bulky nappies, but they're a lot better than they were many years ago. Some are more lightweight and more comfortable to wear.


PROS - 
*They are great for women who have heavy periods. They're good at catching the waterfall that happens in the first 1-2 days of your period.
*They're come in a variety of options, like tampons.
*You can wear them overnight and not worry about leakage on the bed sheets.
*They carry no risk of TTS.


Pads do have their cons of course, which are - 


CONS -
*You can't go for a swim while wearing them. Unless you want to play a game of watch the pad float and hit a swimmer in the face while he/she is doing front crawl. Or have a red streak follow behind you like a Red Arrow.
*Like tampons, they're not brilliant for the environment. But you could buy washable period pants. 
*If you're a thong wearer, pads aren't going to cut it.
*They can shift out-of-place sometimes which means a trip to the toilet to stick it back on your pants in the correct place. 




Let's face it, there are pros and cons to any decision you make, including which period product you will want to use. At the end of the day, it's about what is the best for YOU. Don't follow your friends if they're wearing tampons/pads. Use whatever suits your needs and whatever feels comfortable to you. Consider your comfort and convenience when trying our products. Try them all, you'll know which one works best for you. 


I would recommend that you look at Yoppie for period products. Yoppie's tampons and liners use organic, bio-degradable and natural cotton in making their menstrual products which means they are so much better for the environment and sustainability. The products are tested on humans which is great, no animals hurt or being used as guinea pigs. There's no chemicals in their products which is great too. 


I tried both tampon and liner on my last menstrual cycle recently. They both felt comfortable and I even tried the tampon, which I found ok to insert and didn't go into a panic about being able to pull it back out again! The liners felt very comfortable and I didn't feel like I was wearing anything and they felt light to wear. If that's the right way to put it?


I'd highly recommend Yoppie for your next menstrual cycle if you want natural period products which contain no nasty chemicals. 


I'd love to know your thoughts on this!




*These products from Yoppie are a PR sample. These were sent to me in exchange for a post. All menstrual views are my own. For more information, please read my disclaimer 



40 comments
  1. I love this post and the round up you give of both pads and tampons. I used pads for years until I converted to the menstrual cup as I never got on with tampons.

    http://www.dellalovesnutella.co.uk/

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    1. Thank you Della, I've been thinking about converting to the menstrual cup lately to see if I would find it comfortable

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  2. I might have to check these out. I do worry about the environmental impact I am having on the world so coupled with the crippling cramps, I could do with easing my conscience a little!

    I will definitely check these out, small changes and all that! Thanks for sharing Lucy x

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    1. That's one aspect I love about these products, they're very environmentally friendly and I love that they're bio-degradable. You're right Claire, it's the smallest changes that can make the biggest difference! x

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  3. I have to wear a combination of tampon and pad sometimes so I'm a fan of both, depending on where I am in my cycle. I've not heard of Yoppie before though so this was an interesting read, thank you.

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    1. That's interesting to hear Lisa, I hope you take a look at Yoppie products!

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  4. I love this post, so important to actually talk about these things! My contraception actually stopped my periods but before I was definitely both and i'll be telling my friends to check out Yoppie!

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  5. I love this post! I too always wear pads I have never liked using tampons! I have never heard of Yoppie but I will need to check them out especially if their products are bio degradable.

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    1. Thank you Sarah! I'm the same lovely, I've never taken to tampons and prefer pads. Go check them out lovely!

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  6. It's nice to see someone talking about this topic, I remember being in school and everyone was embarrassed to talk about periods and so it became quite a taboo subject. I personally love tampons because pads used to make me feel so self-conscious, however recently I've been trying to pluck up the courage to give the menstrual cup a go x

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    1. I think it's a topic that does need talking about! Yeah I felt the same, I was never comfortable talking about periods as, like you, I thought it was a taboo subject. I've been debating giving the menstrual cup a go but I'm worried I wouldn't find it comfortable x

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  7. I will definitely check these out as I haven't heard of them before. To be honest I tend to use both tampons and pads, depending on how I'm feeling

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    1. Please do check them out Victoria! Yeah I think it all depends on flow and how heavy your period is at the time x

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  8. I loved reading this, I love that you are covering subjects that should be taught in schools, I hope that people see this and see that it is normal to have these kinds of discussions!
    I do a mix depending on where I am, how I'm feeling etc. but I'll defo check this brand out!
    Rosie
    loverosiee.co.uk

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    1. Thank you Rosie! Subjects like this aren't covered in schools enough and I hope it reaches out to the younger generation! Like you said, it's completely normal to have these discussions as it's such a huge part of a women's life. Yes, please give this brand a look, they're so good!

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  9. Love this post and for the normalizationnnn yass! I tend to just wear tampons all day, but can't get on with them in the night so that's when I wear pads as they're just so much more comfortable, but you just have to do what's best for your body! xx

    www.iridescentplaces.com

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    1. Thank you lovely! You're right lovely, we have to do what's best for our body as we know our own bodies better than anyone else! xx

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  10. Great post! Thank you for talking about a topic we so rarely see shared online.

    Kate | thelittlecrunch.co.uk

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  11. I'm such a pad person! I keep trying to switch to tampons but I just find pads so much handier. I've always wanted to try menstrual cups though! Great Post!

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    1. Yes I'm the same Alice, pads are so much easier and comfortable for me. Menstrual cups are something I would be interested in trying too x

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  12. Thank you for sharing I enjoyed reading, normally I shy away from things like this but getting out of my comfort zone. I don't use anything at the moment (thank you injection) I was always a tampon girl. Its nice to know there more eco friendly versions out there.

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    1. Yeah it's good to know that there are eco friendly options out there Janie x

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  13. We never got the talk in primary school and I got mine for the first time at school at the very start of year 7 so I kinda had to figure it out for myself for the first one. I still prefer pads too (I always feel like that's such an unpopular choice), mine have always been pretty heavy and tampons make me nervous in that sense. And I have a stupid fear of toxic shock so I've always refused to sleep in one. But I have a few pairs of period pants too and I really like those for the less heavy days because they really do feel like you're wearing nothing x

    Sophie
    www.glowsteady.co.uk

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    1. I feel that pads seem to be an unpopular choice too Sophie and it does feel like it's a very distant second choice for women. It's not a stupid fear at all lovely, I feel the same too! I'm looking into period pants as I feel they would be a good alternative for me to try! x

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  14. Loved this! I'm a pad wearer myself, can't do tampons although I used to when I was younger. x

    Zoey | www.zoeyolivia.com

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    1. Yeah I'm a pad wearer too Zoey, like you, I tried tampons years ago but I couldn't get along with them x

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  15. I’m a pad person! Never tried tampons and never felt the need to - I always worry it’ll get stuck! Haha 😂

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  16. I definitely prefer tampons! However I haven't had a period in well over a year due to the implant - I can't say I miss having them haha!

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    1. I would be surprised if you did miss them Charlotte!

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  17. It took me a while to get comfortable with tampons, but now I use a mixture of both, especially when I am heavy. Another brand that is good for sustainable tampons is Daye! The also have CBD in so help with cramps!

    https://www.emilyclareskinner.com

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  18. Great post Lucy! I think for a lot of people switching over to options like menstrual cups and washable period pants can be quite daunting but at the same time they don't want to be using products that aren't sustainable. Yoppie sounds like a great alternative for anyone who's looking for more environmentally friendly options for tampons and pads :)

    https://www.femaleoriginal.com

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    1. Yeah I have seen and read about a lot of women convert to menstrual cups and/or period pants. Yoppie definitely is a great alternative in terms of sustainability!

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  19. Good analysis! I personally prefer menstrual cups, but I understand inserting something inside can be quite scary. Pads are my go-to on my lazy days.
    xoxo
    Lovely
    www.mynameislovely.com

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  20. Thanks for sharing, I'm a 100% pad person as I had always the worries you had, plus with my memory issues I would leave a tampon up there for too long, plus also pads have always been comfortable for me to, great review of the products :)

    Nic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes

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    1. I agree lovely, pads all the way for me! Like you said, pads are comfortable and are much easier to use x

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