Do you remember taking your first roller coaster ride? The thrill in anticipation, palpitation, and jitters right before taking the ride is so spine-chilling! Well, using a tampon or a menstrual cup for the first time might be an adventure at par. The decision to ditch the easy-to-use pads and switch to tampons or menstrual cups comes with a lot of doubt and anxiety.
On one hand, pads are a conventional period product that comes in handy on the other hand tampons and menstrual cups require a few directives before use. This basic distinction might scare you to try out tampons and menstrual cups down there.
Mumma says get to know a person well before getting into a relationship! Isn’t that a good idea to know about your period products well before you hit it off with any of them? Let’s fix this issue once and for all.
What’s the Hockuspokus about tampons and menstrual cups
Tampons
Are you sick of sticking to sanitary napkins that often end up giving you stains on pants? Dear ladies! It’s about time to try out something new. Tampons are a period product designed to absorb blood menstrual secretions. Unlike pads, these need to be inserted inside the vagina. The tampon once inserted soaks up the blood. Tampons come with different absorbencies that last up to a few hours.
How to use a Tampon
First up! Get comfortable
Before inserting tampons you need to decide on a comfortable position conducive to insertion. For some squirting down with knees apart is an easy position while for others standing with one leg on the toilet seat works. You can also simply sit on the toilet seat with your legs wide open
Get to the real task
Now that you are comfortable in a chosen position. Push the tampon up your vagina with the help of an applicator or finger depending on the type of tampon you have chosen.
Pro tip
To make the insertion easy use the tampons with smooth and round applicators. You can also use a bit of lubricant at the tip of the applicator or tampon to make the insertion easier.
Keep a check
Remember to change your tampon once every 4 to 8 hours. Do not let the tampon stay inside the vagina longer than eight hours. You can leave a tampon overnight but change it as soon as you wake up. Leaving tampons for long hours can lead to TSS i.e Toxic Shock Syndrome.
Consult Doctor
In case you feel nauseated, dizzy, faint, or weak while using a tampon it is advisable to immediately consult a doctor.
Menstrual cups
Menstrual cups are yet another popular choice for menstruators. A cup designed to hold menstrual blood with little to no possibility of leakage dissipates all the worries in thin air.
These cups are of bells or bowls-like shape. They are made of rubber, silicone, or soft plastic. These cups are inserted into the vagina to collect blood and other secretions. Some menstrual cups are reusable, and thus can be used more than once after a wash. While others are disposable and need to be thrown away right after one use.
How to use menstrual cups?
We have pulled up some easy tips for you to use menstrual cups.
Firstly understand that there are different types of cups with varying sizes. One can choose it based on details given on the packaging.
Choose a comfortable position
As in the case of tampons, One needs to decide on a comfortable position to insert menstrual cups as well. You can decide to squirt down on your knees, with one leg up on the toilet seat, or simply seat on the toilet seat with your legs wide open.
Squeeze the cup narrow
Read the directions to squeeze the cup correctly so that it can fit into your vagina. Be relaxed while inserting the cup into the vagina. If you are facing any trouble ask your mother, sister, or anyone you trust to help you out. It is advisable to insert the cup higher up in the vaginal canal so that there is a space for the cup to pop open. This will create a perfect seal on the vagina
Practice make perfect
No doubt using a menstrual cup initially might be a tough job. However, one need not worry as it is obvious for some menstruators. Try inserting and removing your cup in the shower this will help your get over the discomfort in some measures.
Removing menstrual cups
For a lot of menstruators removing a menstrual cup seems like a horrifying task in the beginning. Thoughts like getting the blood spilled over in pants might occur. But this won’t happen if you get the task right! Use your vaginal muscle to push downwards and use your finger to squeeze the base of the cup and pull it out gently.
Getting used to menstrual cups and tampons might feel like a tough task at the beginning but once your these menstrual products become a part of your period routine it all becomes easy. Remember to not panic as everybody is different that needs to be treated differently.
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