So, you have never heard of menstrual cups or just don’t like them (or maybe you find them gross!), and you want to use tampons, but you are not sure how to go about it. You may be holding the tampon for the first time in your hand wondering how to insert a tampon.

Well, first of all, tampons – unlike menstrual cups or period cups, are disposable products used to absorb your menstrual flow. They are made of soft cotton pressed together to form a bell-like shape, so that they can be inserted into the opening of the vagina. A tampon absorbs menstrual flow, or blood, before it has a chance to leave the body. Tampons come in various sizes and absorbency and can be purchased at most supermarkets, pharmacies and convenience stores.

If you are currently using tampons, I urge you to consider switching to reusable menstrual cups.

A menstrual cup offers superior protection, is safe, and ecologically friendly. Most popular brands include Divacup, Mooncup, the Keeper and Lunette. Buy a menstrual cup HERE.

Follow these simple steps to easily insert a tampon.

How to insert a tampon

Inserting a tampon may seem awkward and uncomfortable especially for girls and women who try to use it for the first time. You may a little feel nervous about inserting a tampon for the first time.

If you are learning on your own, follow these instructions to have a positive experience:

1. Select and purchase the correct type type of tampon. Tampons fall in two main categories: by type of applicator and absorbency. Initially you may want to start with the applicator variety, as it is easier to use.

2. Tampons also come in different absorbency levels and you should buy tampons that are appropriate to your menstrual flow: light, average or heavy. Use the super tampons only when your flow is at its heaviest, and purchase a variety pack until you find what works for you.

3. Wash your hands with soap and hot water before and after insertion.

4. Prepare the tampon by removing it from the wrapper. Depending on the type you purchased you may have to extend the applicator for use (follow the instructions on the box).

5. Sit or stand in a comfortable position. Some women prefer to place one leg on the toilet seat or tub, while others prefer to squat down.

6. Hold the tampon with your fingers in the middle of the applicator and the tampon string pointing away from your body. Position the tampon at the entrance to your vagina. You may have to pull back the folds of the labia.

7. Gently slide the applicator a few inches into the vagina (tampon side in), following the angle of your body, until your fingers meet your vagina, and the outer tube is completely inside you.

8. Be sure to relax! The more you relax, the easier the insertion will be. When you are nervous, your muscles tense up, making insertion more difficult. Try different positions until you find one that is easy and comfortable.

9. Push the inner part of the applicator tube into the outer end while holding the outer end still. This pushes the tampon inside your vagina.

10. Be sure that you push it all the way until the applicator stops. If the tampon feels uncomfortable, you may not have inserted it all the way into your vagina and you will need to remove it and try again with a new tampon.

11. Slide the applicator out, while making sure the string is hanging outside the vagina. The string will be used to remove the tampon.

12. Wrap the applicator in toilet paper and throw it in a garbage can. Do not flush it down the toilet!

13. Tampons can be disposed of by throwing them in the garbage or flushing down the toilet. However, flushing Tampax Pearl tampons is not recommended for septic systems.

There you have it! Remember the more you do it, the easier and faster it becomes.

Tips For Using Tampons

• You shouldn’t be able to feel the tampon inside your body. If you can, you may not have inserted it far enough. Remove it and try again with a new tampon. Try inserting the applicator a little further into the vagina before pushing the inner tube of the applicator into the outer tube.
• You may not be successful on the first few tries. Relax and use a new tampon to try again.
• Use a small amount of petroleum jelly if the tampon does not go in easily.
• Tampon packages have directions inside. Read all of the warnings and advice that are located on the tampon instruction sheet.
• Change your tampon every 4-8 hours, or more often, to avoid leakage.
• If you have any questions or concerns, contact your doctor or other health care professional before engaging in any activity related to health and diet. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

Important Warning about Toxic Shock Syndrome and Tampons

Leaving a tampon for more than six hours is not healthy. It can cause a toxic syndrome. Sanitary towels should also be changed regular according to circumstance.

Learn about Toxic Shock Syndrome on the insert that comes with tampons to reduce your risk for contracting this disease.

If you experience the following symptoms while wearing a tampon, remove the tampon, and contact your health care provider immediately! These symptoms may seem similar to the flu. If they occur while you are menstruating and wearing a tampon, they may signal TSS. Otherwise, it might mean that you have another infection. It is recommended that you see your health care provider regardless. Symptoms of TSS include:

• Sudden high fever
• A sunburn-like rash
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness, fainting, or lightheadedness
• Vomiting

Also, read about the menstrual cup, an eco-friendly tampon alternative, as well as instructions how to insert a menstrual cup.

You can buy a period cup online HERE.

Shop for Menstrual Cups - Eco-Friendly Reusable Silicone Cups

Read more about menstrual cup products on my blog.

Could it be it’s because large corporations spent billions on marketing ”essential” products –  sanitary napkins and tampons  – that most women buy every month for most of their lives.  Hmmmm…..

Although this article is about Mooncup, but really it could be about any other brand of menstrual cups: Divacup, Lunette, the Keeper – there are more and more of them appearing on the market.

Buy a menstrual cup HERE.

The Mooncup – An Amazing Alternative to Tampons and Pads

By Vanessa Attlee

Menstrual Cup - a reusable silicone cup

“My discovery of the Mooncup was somewhat of a Eureka moment. Having been used to churning through boxes and boxes of tampons, and just regarding that as “what one did”, it was with some skepticism that I tried the Mooncup. I can honestly say it has been life-changing. I could not believe how easy it was to use and I am determined to spread the word about this amazing invention.

The Mooncup is a menstrual cup worn inside the vagina during your period to collect the menstrual fluid. Unlike tampons and pads, the cup collects menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it. They are a fantastic alternative to tampons being very safe and hygienic. They do not encourage bacterial growth or prevent vaginal cleaning and they don’t leak and can be worn for up to twelve hours including overnight and for sports. Recent research has shown that the action of the tampon absorbing blood may not be beneficial. The Mooncup addresses this by being passive – it just collects what your body releases.

Sometimes ‘ethical’ products can mean having to spend more, or making a compromise in comfort or convenience. The Mooncup is unique not only because of its obvious environmentally friendly credentials but also its significant safety benefits compared to tampons (not to mention being a thousand times cheaper!)

The Mooncup is basically a small squishy cup made from medical grade silicone which sits inside the vagina and collects blood/fluid during your period rather than absorbing it. The Mooncup is safe, ethical, environmentally friendly and cheap. It really does mean you can kiss goodbye to tampons and pads forever.

Interestingly, menstrual cups are not a new invention, they have been around for as long as tampons. Tampons probably ended up being the preferred product because large corporations spent billions on marketing an “essential” product that women buy every month for most of their lives. This has caused the menstrual cup to fall out of favor. Naturally this means we have been conned into believing that disposable sanitary products are the only option. In addition to this is the bizarre Victorian idea that ladies should not be familiar with their anatomies, let alone touch our vaginas. The good news is that products like the Mooncup (and the Keeper in the US) are starting to become more mainstream – they are for busy, modern, normal, ethically minded women like you and me!

Finally, there is the environmental argument. In the West, the average woman uses over 10,000 tampons during her life. We all know of the huge environmental impact that the millions of tampons used every day around the world causes. The manufacture, transportation and packaging of sanitary products like tampons and pads all takes a needless toll on the environment. Using a Mooncup is an easy way to feel a little bit better about your impact on the environment. Another brilliant reason to use one.

I want women to find out more about the wonderful moon cup and how to use one. Hopefully this article has given you a good introduction to the Mooncup.”

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vanessa_Attlee; http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Mooncup—An-Amazing-Alternative-to-Tampons-and-Pads&id=2291954

Buy a menstrual cup HERE.

Read more about menstrual cups and other reusable feminine hygiene products on my blog.

Buy a period cup online HERE.

Shop for Menstrual Cups - Eco-Friendly Reusable Silicone Cups

Read more about menstrual cup products on my blog.

Although the situations when my menstrual cup leaks are rare, it does sometimes happen, if I don’t insert it properly; so if you want to keep your panties clean you may want to use a cloth pad for added protection on your heavy flow days.

Many women are devoted to using cloth diapers, recycling, and buy organic produce. Yet they still may continue to use disposable menstrual pads. Conventional menstrual pads are made out of wood fiber, which means that trees need to be cut down to make these products. They are then bleached using chlorine bleach, which adds additional chemicals to the environment. Finally, paper pads are thrown away after a single use, contributing to waste problem.

Choosing reusable cloth pads is a sensible environmental choice, and it’s not that hard!

Cloth Menstrual Pads

Plus, some of them are really cute!

So, Let’s Talk About Cloth Pads

Cloth pads have the advantage for being environmentally friendly as well as cost-cutting. They may come with or without wings. Generally they are made from layers of absorbent fabrics (such as cotton or hemp) which are worn by a woman while she is menstruating, for post-birth bleeding or any other situation where it is necessary to absorb the flow of blood from the vagina. After use, they are washed, dried and then reused.

Advantages of using Cloth Menstrual Pads

Just like menstrual cups, cloth menstrual pads are environmentally friendly and do not contribute to landfill as they are reusable and do not come in or contain plastic packaging.  When cloth menstrual pads wear out (after years of use), those made from natural materials can be composted whereas disposable sanitary napkins made from synthetic materials cannot be recycled or composted.

Fewer chemicals are used in the cloth compared to disposable menstrual products. They create less overall waste compared to disposable menstrual products as they can be made from reused materials, including old pillow cases and towels.  Some cloth pads use hemp as the absorbent core which is more environmentally friendly to grow when compared with cotton or wood pulp. Organic options, such as pads made of organic cotton grown without pesticides and chemicals, are available.

In the long term, it is less expensive to buy and produce cloth menstrual pads compared to disposable menstrual products. They can be made by hand for little or no cost.

While less convenient than disposables, they are still convenient as they can simply be cleaned in the washing machine.

Cloth menstrual pads are less likely to cause rashes, contact dermatitis, as well as helping women afflicted with certain types of vaginitis. Women with sensitive skin and allergies may find cloth pads to be more comfortable against their skin, particularly cloth pads made of undyed organic cotton. They do not use adhesive.

Many women note that they have shorter periods, lighter flow and/or less cramping. Though no studies have, as yet, focused on this phenomenon, anecdotal evidence is widespread. However, this may be an example of the placebo effect or some other form of selection bias.

Cloth menstrual pads reduce the scent of menstrual blood on the cloth pad. As they are more breathable than the average disposable sanitary pads, they carry less odor.

Cloth menstrual pads, like all menstrual pads, remove the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) sometimes associated with tampons.

Disadvantages of Using Cloth Menstrual Pads

Washing reusable pads requires water. The desire to reuse must be balanced against any local need to conserve water. Also, it is important that the water used to clean pads be disposed of appropriately. Even “biodegradable” soaps take a long time to break down.

Cloth menstrual pads are generally more time consuming due to the need to wash, dry, and care for the pads.
Special care may need to be taken if the user has a Candidiasis infection (i.e. yeast infection). Once the infection is treated, the cloth menstrual pads may need to be sanitized in order to prevent reinfection.

Initial cost for reusable menstrual products is typically higher per pad than for disposables, although savings over time make them more economical.

Personally, I prefer silicone period cups. But if you don’t like wearing a cup inside, a cloth pad could be a good alternative. Read more about menstrual cups and other reusable feminine hygiene products on my blog.

Shop for Menstrual Cups - Eco-Friendly Reusable Silicone Cups

Disposable feminine hygiene products

Disposable sanitary napkins (sanitary towels) or pads — They are probably the most commonly known and used. Somewhat rectangular pieces of material are worn in the underwear to absorb menstrual flow, often with “wings,” pieces that fold around the panties, and/or an adhesive backing to hold the pad in place. Disposable pads may contain wood pulp or gel products, usually with a plastic lining and bleached. Older styles of sanitary napkins were held in place by a belt-like apparatus, instead of adhesive or wings.

Divacups - Reusable Menstrual Product

Tampons — Disposable cylinders made of soft cotton or rayon blends pressed together to form a cylinder-like shape, usually bleached, that are inserted into the opening of the vagina. A tampon absorbs menstrual flow, or blood, before it has a chance to leave the body. Tampons come in all different sizes and absorbency and can be purchased at most convenience stores or supermarkets.

Padettes – Disposable wads of treated rayon/cotton blend fleece that are placed within the inner labia to absorb menstrual flow.

Disposable menstrual cups — A firm, flexible cup-shaped device worn inside the vagina to catch menstrual flow. Disposable cups are made of soft plastic.

Reusable Feminine Hygiene Products

Reusable cloth pads are made of cotton (often organic), terrycloth, or flannel, and may be sewn by hand (from material or reused old clothes and towels) or store-bought.

Menstrual cups — A firm, flexible bell-shaped device worn inside the vagina to catch menstrual flow. Reusable versions include rubber or silicone cups.

Reusable Cloth Menstrual Pads — healthy alternatives to disposable menstrual pads, both for you and for the environment.

Cloth Menstrual Pads

Sea sponges — Natural sponges, worn internally like a tampon to absorb menstrual flow.

Padded panties — Reusable cloth (usually cotton) underwear with extra absorbent layers sewn in to absorb flow.

Blanket, towel — (also known as a draw sheet) — large reusable piece of cloth, most often used at night, placed between legs to absorb menstrual flow.

In addition to products to contain the menstrual flow, pharmaceutical companies likewise provide products — commonly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — to relieve menstrual cramps. Some herbs, such as dong quai, raspberry leaf and crampbark, are also claimed to relieve menstrual pain; however there is no documented scientific evidence to prove this.

Divacups, the Keeper, Mooncup are all great reusable menstrual cup brands!

Read more about menstrual cup products on my blog.

Buy a period cup online HERE.

Shop for Menstrual Cups - Eco-Friendly Reusable Silicone Cups