Tampons - Feminine Hygiene Product

Tampons - Feminine Hygiene Product

When you think about tampons, you might imagine it to be a recent invention, when a bunch of product engineers brainstormed in a meeting and came up with an idea that changed women's lives to a small extent. However, that's not true. In fact, tampons are as old as any other sanitary device that women from the dawn of time have been using. The Egyptians used softened papyrus to make their tampons that was disposed off easily, while the Greeks fashioned tampons from lint. Wool, paper, grass, etc. are some of the other materials which were utilized by the ladies in the ancient times. The point is, tampons have come a long way. The modern tampons are made of cotton, rayon, and a combination of these materials.

A tampon is a product made of materials that are highly absorbent, and is placed in the vagina during menstruation to soak up blood before it stains underwear or other clothing.  A tampon is a cylindrical mass of absorbent material, primarily used as a feminine hygiene product. Historically, the word "tampon" originated from the medieval French word “tampion,” meaning a piece of cloth to stop a hole, a stamp, plug, or stopper. At present, tampons are designed to be easily inserted into the vagina during menstruation and absorb the user’s menstrual flow.


There is record of using materials in the vagina during menstruation thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt, but the modern tampon got its start in the early 20th century. Two styles of tampons, made of cotton-like material, began to gain popularity during this time. One was the digital type, which is inserted into the vagina with the fingers only. Applicator versions of the tampon, which American women in particular prefer, were developed by the early 1930s. Tampons competed with the other feminine products, like sanitary napkins, and became more popular for some women.

Today, numerous styles of the tampon exist and they are aggressively marketed. Women who use this feminine product choose them because they offer the freedom to engage in activities that sanitary pads cannot, though alternatives like insertable menstrual cups might offer a similar freedom. For example, wearing tampons makes it possible to do things like wear a swimsuit and engage in water activities, which is much more difficult to do with most maxi pads. They’re also easy to insert, and easy to remove because they feature a string that sits outside the vagina which is pulled to bring the tampon out. Most tampons are also flushable, though this may not be the case if waste goes to a septic system.

Two types of the tampon are generally available. Some offer absorption by increasing in length as moisture comes into contact with them. Others expand outward in a parachute fashion. Both types are effective, but they also come in different sizes, and tampon size does need to be considered. Smaller sizes are generally designed for smaller built women and/or for low flow days, while larger sizes may offer greater absorption and be more effective for times when menstruation is heaviest. Some companies sell boxes of tampons in numerous sizes to accommodate for days when flow is heavier and for days when it is lighter.


Tampons are available in many different applicators, depending on brand. The traditional applicator is a simple cardboard tube, which is flushable and biodegradable. Others may be plastic and designed for more comfortable insertion.

Advantages of Using a Tampon
1. Gives you freedom: You must have seen a smiley girl in the commercials, who is either prancing around or jumping with joy, for feeling free in 'those' days. Even though it might not be the same for every woman, a majority do feel light and comfortable when they use a tampon, as compared to a sanitary pad. They don't have to fret about it "falling" off. A tampon allows you to keep your life active. You can go for swimming, rock climbing, or any other strenuous physical activity.

2. Makes you feel cleaner: Women who experience heavy flow may need to wear a bulky pad just to save themselves from the hassles of changing the sanitary napkin frequently. However, those women who hate the bulky feeling, prefer tampons as these eliminate the smell and mess that are usually involved in using pads. As tampons are more compact and securely placed, they don't leave much room for a mess. As a tampon is specially made to keep up the protection against stains and leaks for eight hours, it makes your life a lot easier. However, tampons should be changed after every 4-8 hrs.


3. No risk of it showing through your pants: As it goes inside your body, you don't have to put up with the embarrassing lines that show while wearing a pad. Needless to say, tampons are quite discreet. You have all the options in the world to wear anything you want including tight-fitting clothes, as there is less chance of leakage and no visible pad lines.

4. Easy to use and dispose: As tampons are compact, they easily fit into the palm of your hand. You can easily carry them in your purse or pocket if needed. They are even easier to dispose off in comparison with sanitary pads.

5. No odor: The worst thing about sanitary pads is that they tend to smell after a while. This happens due to the contact of menstrual blood with air. However, there is no way this would occur with a tampon as it remains securely inside your vaginal walls.

Disadvantages of Using a Tampon
1. Carries risk of an infection: Women who use tampons face a higher risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), which occurs when toxins released by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria enter the bloodstream. The symptoms of this condition are: fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, giddiness, dehydration, muscle pain, etc. In very rare cases, this condition can prove fatal too if the diagnosis is not done at the right time. However, it is to be noted that tampon use does not cause TSS.

2. The right absorbency tampon should be used: Usage of highly absorbent tampons increase the vaginal dryness and can even lead to vaginal ulcers. Therefore, tampons should be used very carefully and it is suggested that women use the tampon that has the lowest absorbency level according to their needs. This way, they might reduce the risk of TSS. Tampons can also change vaginal microflora, due to the collection of menstrual blood inside the vagina, which can pose a risk of an infection.

3. May shed fibers: It is true that most tampons have fiber loss. Back in the 90s when this issue surfaced, most tampon manufacturers denied this allegation. However, they did try to overcome this problem in their subsequent products by adding an overwrap material, specifically polypropylene to make tampons safe for use. However, this problem still persists in certain brands.

4. Not eco-friendly: The overwrap material of a tampon, polypropylene, is non-biodegradable. Moreover, it is believed that harmful chemicals, like pesticides and chlorine, are used to bleach the cotton in the tampons. Dioxins are also present in the tampon in small quantity. Although the dioxin in it is not enough to pose a health problem, some people might still experience inflammation because of the chemical.

5. No way to know when to change: You might not know when you need to change the tampon as it is not visible to you during usage. If you have not realized the tampon that you are using is over soaked, you might have to deal with staining.

6. Might make your cramps worse: There is no concrete scientific evidence that suggests tampons can make your period pain worse. However, there are several women who feel so. The reason given for it is that a tampon dries out the vaginal area, more than it is supposed to, which leads to muscle cramps.

Additionally, tampons are not acceptable for use for other forms of vaginal bleeding, such as after childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion. In these instances, inserting anything into the vagina can risk infection. Comfort and health should be your first priority while making up your mind about tampons. Whether you choose a tampon over other sanitary products or vice versa, it is totally a personal decision.

Difference between Tampon and Pads
Tampons and pads are the most commonly used menstrual products. The choice between tampons and pads is a personal one but there are some advantages and disadvantages to both. Tampons are more discreet and comfortable but carry a slight risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Pads, also known as sanitary napkins, carry no such risk but tend to be bulkier and inconvenient. As they are non-biodegradable, their use is not environmentally friendly.

For their first period or experience with menstruation, most young girls prefer to use pads, as they tend to be bit more user-friendly. They are available in many sizes and types and they stick onto the inside of the underwear. Some of them have extra wings on the sides, which keep the pad even more firmly in place. Pads can be changed as needed and this depends on the heaviness of the blood flow, but a general rule of thumb is to change them every four hours or so. This will ensure odor free protection, with odor being one of the disadvantages of using pads.

The biggest disadvantage is the disposal of pads. They should be wrapped in toilet paper and placed in the trash if there is no special disposal box. Flushing pads down the toilet should not be done, as they tend to block the drains and cause a lot of problems.

A major difference between tampons and pads is that tampons are much more convenient once the use of them has been mastered. It is not difficult but may be a bit daunting at first, as they must be inserted into the vagina. Once inserted correctly, they are comfortable, convenient and discreet in that they are easier to carry around and odor-free. Swimming with a tampon is not a problem, and playing sports becomes easier and more comfortable.

There is a disadvantage to using tampons, and that is the slight risk of contracting TSS, which is a very rare syndrome that is caused by the growth of bacteria in the tampon. The bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause a potentially fatal illness. This usually only happens when the tampon is not changed for a long period of time, such as 24 hours.

One of the fears of using a tampon is that it will somehow get lost in the vagina. This is a groundless fear, as the opening of the cervix is too small for a tampon to pass through. Some women prefer to use both tampons and pads in order to decrease the risk of leakage, especially when the period is at its heaviest, which is usually in the first couple of days.

Tips:
• If you can feel the tampon when you walk or sit down or if it is uncomfortable, go to the bathroom and push it up further. If it is still uncomfortable, than it isn't in right and should be taken out and disposed correctly.
• If you find that inserting the tampon is painful, take a few deep calming breaths first and insert slowly.
• If you're younger, start with a small, light tampon. You can always increase later once you get the hang of inserting it.
• You might feel more comfortable alternating between tampons and pads.
• Always have extra pads and tampons with you just in case you need them.
• If you aren't queasy about wearing pads, consider wearing them when you are at home. It can give your body a break and, for certain people, can actually be more comfortable as well.
• Putting the tampon in may hurt at first so just stretch, breath slowly, and relax. This will loosen your muscles.
• If you're nervous about leaks in school, there's no shame in wearing a pad too!
• Adding a liner (a very small thin pad, often used for just in case, or very light bleeding) can stop small leaks without all the bulk of a normal sized pad.
• If you are just starting to use tampons, start off with wearing a pad and tampon. This can prevent any leaks.

Myotcstore Related Products:

O.B. Tampon Procomfort Multi Pack with Silk Touch Cover, 18 Ea

Maxim organic non applicator tampon, Super Plus # 1-133420-1 - 20 ea

Tampax Compak Pearl Regular Absorbancy Plastic Tampons - 40 Ea

Playtex gentle glide deodorant multipack tampons - 36 ea, 2 ea

Kotex Security Tampons Regular, Touch of Natural Cotton - 18 pads