13 questions and answers about tampons –

But calm down! Although frightening, this disease is quite rare – 1 case in every 100,000 women. In any case, so that you can use tampons without plumbing, we went after the answers to the main questions about the product. Check out:

1. How should I choose tampon size?

The criterion is the intensity of the flow – and not local characteristics such as the size of the vulva. The vagina is elastic and therefore easily adapts to the product, informs gynecologist Graciela Morgado Folador, from São Paulo, affiliated with Febrasgo (Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Associations). The super is for women who bleed profusely and the mini for those who bleed a little.

2. Can I use only this type of absorbent?

The tampon can be used from the first light on the first day to the last one, so it is released throughout the period. But, for that, it needs to be used correctly – that is, it must remain in the vagina for a maximum of four hours”, guides the gynecologist.

3. Even while sleeping?

While you sleep, you can keep the same pad on for up to eight hours, teaches Graciela. If you intend to sleep ten hours or more, in the middle of that period it’s best to get up, change and go back to bed. If you don’t intend to interrupt your sleep, it’s best to opt for a tampon.

4. Is there a risk of leaking?

Only if you have a heavy cycle and choose an insufficient size (mini or medium) or, even if you use the super, stay with the same pad for more than four hours. The possibility of allergy is also remote, as the material is hypoallergenic.

5. If the flow is light, at the very end of menstruation, can I keep the same pad all day?

The time of use continues to be just four hours, as the product, in addition to blood, absorbs cervical mucus. But it’s worth switching to the mini size for easier removal: when you pull off a wet pad, it comes off more comfortably. In the last few days, as the bleeding subsides, it becomes drier, hence, the smaller it is, the less unpleasant the output.

6. Why is it not good to keep it longer?

Despite being called a tampon, the tampon does more than just obstruct the flow of blood through the vagina. The cotton that composes it absorbs the flow and, if that blood stays there for a long time (more than eight hours), there is a risk of the growth of bacteria capable of altering the flora of the vagina, causing genital infections. If you forget to remove it for several days, the woman runs the risk of inflammation in the uterus and fallopian tubes as well. In the most serious cases (and fortunately rare!), the bacteria can reach the bloodstream, causing widespread infection.

7. Can someone who has an IUD use this type of product?

Yes. They occupy different spaces: the contraceptive device is inserted by the gynecologist into the uterus, and the absorbent is in the vagina. There is no danger of bringing the IUD with you when removing the absorbent or pulling the wrong string. The one for the tampon is left at the entrance to the vagina while the one for the IUD is at the top, leaving just 1.5 cm outside the cervix.

8. What to do if the string disappears?

There is no danger of the pad getting lost inside the body. “The vagina is a dead-end street”, says Graciela Folador. In the rigorous tests carried out by the manufacturers, the string does not break, but sometimes it can remain inside the vagina. In that case, use tweezers with your fingers to pull. If that doesn’t work, go to your gynecologist. Sometimes, the woman does not find the tampon and ends up despairing. He may have fallen when she went to the bathroom and strained to have a bowel movement. Leaving the string always visible, the removal is easier and reduces the risk of forgetting the tampon inside. You can also get into the habit of changing your pad when you poop. This reduces the risk of contamination of the cord by bacteria that may be present in the feces.

9. After getting out of the pool or the sea, does it need to be removed immediately?

Only if you feel that it has soaked or started to leak, but this is not common. If it is in the right place, the water does not penetrate the vagina.

10. How do you know if you’re in the right place?

It’s easy: if you feel uncomfortable, it means that the pad is wrongly placed. The right place is at least 1 centimeter away from the entrance to the vagina (vaginal introitus), a portion that is less innervated and therefore has less sensitivity.

11. What’s the best way to introduce it?

Standing, with one leg bent and foot resting on the toilet. Fit the absorbent between the index finger and thumb, forming a tweezers, introduce and push with the index finger up to the middle of the finger or use the applicator.

12. Are there any contraindications?

No. Even virgins can use it. But it is interesting to go to the gynecologist first to check the type of hymen – most women have a circular opening, which offers no resistance, but some may have a film in the middle, which makes it impossible to insert the absorbent. According to the doctor, it can be used even in the presence of candidiasis, which is characterized by whitish discharge, itching and burning. During menstruation, as the vagina is lubricated by blood, these symptoms usually subside. “In general, the tampon is more hygienic than the tampon, since the menstrual blood does not come into contact with the vulva”, explains Graciela.

13. Is the menstrual cup a good alternative?

The silicone cup, available on the market in two sizes, inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual blood, is ecologically correct: it reduces expenses with pads and the production of waste. However, it requires more attention in the introduction and hygiene. “The opening has to be facing the cervix, otherwise the blood will leak”, warns the doctor. “You have to remove it every four hours and wash it very well before the next use, otherwise it could take bacteria into the vagina.”