Comments on: Tampons – Regular Vs Applicator

By: Kahurangi

Kahurangi — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:56:20 +0000

I know that this is an old post but I found it while googling: Do American's use non-applicator tampons because I was wondering the same thing.

Anyway, I live in NZ and prefer the regular kind even though my first time experience put me off them for a bit for a while. The thing is when I was teen applicator tampons were just easier: I didn't have to put my finger into my vagina to push it in, figure out if it was in far enough and the string was already out. After a while I got kind of sick of them though – they just cost SO MUCH MORE than the regular ones and decided I needed to give them a try…

First time using one: I forgot that the string wasn't already out, so just put it in and then realised there wasn't a string on the outside of my body. Spent about 10 minutes trying to squeeze/tweeze the damn thing out with my fingers and was put off using them for a good three or four years. Can't get enough of them now though

By: Swimming Accident

Swimming Accident — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:54:50 +0000

My horror story comes from being 13 and on an island with only one store. I got my period at 11, and had only used pads, cuz that's what my mom used. I was a little afraid of tampons, but willing to give it a go, so that I could swim. We went to the store and bought the only brand available–a store brand with a cardboard applicator. I read the directions, and tried to insert it. It took a while, but I thought I had it. Well…a little bit later, I was swimming, and noticed a tampon floating next to me…it had popped out! I guess it never went in all the way, or expanded too much for my small frame. I stuffed it into my bathingsuit without anyone noticing, and promptly got out. I didn't wear a tampon again for 8 years. Then I was tired of almost accidents wearing a pad and a harness (running a ropes course). I decided to try tampons and went for the only non-applicator brand–OB (I'm American), and they worked great! Rarely do I have a "mess" on my finger…it's covered! Now, I alternate between pads and tampons, depending on my mood and activity. I would like more choice though…I've never really understood how to use an applicator. It just doesnt make sense…

By: Monica

Monica — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:51:17 +0000

well i live in the states and ive only ever tried applicator ones and i just think they are easier i understand the confusion about it but its like i would just never know how far to push it up there…..with the applicator its put it in until the grip touches your body and then push the back and its in perfectly like its impossible to mess up and plus i would think it would hurt putting the pure cotton in because when i remove it only after only like three hours once it hurt like a b*tch because it was so dry….but yeah i get that its bigger but its really not that bad they make new ones know where you pull the back out till it clicks so the packaging is smaller….im pretty sure that its just because i learned with the applicator so thats what im used to and the same for the nonapplicator users….if you learn without one its just going to be pointless to add one in, unless its hard without one thats why they make them.

By: unknownworld

unknownworld — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:29:29 +0000

hey, well i don’t have any horror stories or experiences. But i found this blog quite interesting because quite soon i am going to the USA on exchange for a year and this tampon style just popped into my head because its all you ever see in the movies. i am a big tampon user cause i just hate pads and i had no idea what to expect for when i went over there at least now i know there are at least some non-applicator tampons in the US!!!!

By: Nomad

Nomad — Mon, 24 May 2010 22:23:25 +0000

Wow, haven’t some of you got your knickers in a twist over this! Why would one care what other people feel comfortable using. If it doesn’t confirm to the way you would do things yourself it is of no consequence; live and let live ladies. I came across this Blog while searching online for hours trying to order my usual Playtex applicator tampon and they no longer ship them to NZ. I was introduced to them by a Canadian friend, many many years ago, and have never used anything else since. There is really only one issue for me and that is my nails are nearly as long as my fingers, natural of course, and I’m not chancing slicing and dicing my most valuable asset. It used to be a real issue for me before I started using an applicator. Another plus for me is the Playtex string seems to be coated, possibly in a wax of some kind, as it does not chafe like some other tampon strings. Alas though for me there will be no more Playtex as I can no longer get them shipped out of the US of A!

By: sarah

sarah — Sun, 02 May 2010 15:49:22 +0000

leslie, it’s not gross or uncommon to use tampons without an applicator. and your vagina is already lubricated from having your period, and many of the tampons have a silky-type cover over them to make them easier to insert. also, having your period isn’t like you’re constantly gushing out blood like a tap. you don’t walk out of a bathroom covered in blood or looking like you just murdered someone. you always wash your hands before and after inserting a tampon and generally use toilet paper to wipe your hands with quickly if there is excess blood before leaving the stall and then go and wash your hands. just because you prefer to use applicator tampons doesn’t mean you need to be rude or make accusations or statements that aren’t true. you can offend people. it’s just a personal preference. i’ve been using non-applicator tampons for years and have never had any infections or problems down there. and it’s not gross. it’s just your vagina, your body. you use your common sense, take care of yourself and be hygienic. if you’re that worried about infection etc, you should probably be more familiar with yours. oh and if it sits in the wrong spot and leaks, YOU PUT IT IN WRONG. practice it a bit until you feel comfortable. they are designed fine, you’re just doing it wrong. plenty of other girls use them without discomfort or leakage.

By: jen

jen — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:12:53 +0000

hey
im from the uk and it still surprises me that in australia and south africa its hard to find applicator tampons unless they are those huge horrible cardboard ones! ewww i cant use them cos its hard to get a grip on the applicator and so its hard to push in and pull out. however the plastic ones are amazing – you end up in the right place every time, no mess, no fuss and they are smaller to carry round – almost the same size as a non applicator!
i dont choose them for prudishness i think they are cleaner and i find them easier to use and in most of the rest of the world they are the norm! i find it hard to believe that aussie girls dont get much of a choice – its about 50/50 over here but all my friends use the applicator ones.
i guess its what you are brought up with but i am sick of having to pack tampons when im travelling to these countries!! vital luggage space is taken up with tampons just so i can be comfortable at that time of the month! if they made the cardboard ones – which over here are smoother than when i first used them god 15 or so years ago – the same shape and size as the compak plastic ones, i would switch for the environmental factor, but until then ill stick with what suits me!
but i reckon they should at least give you guys a choice!

By: lyssa

lyssa — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:29:49 +0000

I have been using tampax tampons for yrs now they r so much better than non-applicator ones. I found this out when in the school toilets I used to hide my bloody finger when walking to the sink to wash my hands in front of 20 other girls and when I found tampax in woollies I was over the moon they go in so fast quick and easy with no mess apart from the card board or plastic tube there’s no repositioning just in and out and no dirty fingers (Y) for tampax!!

By: Brit

Brit — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:34:46 +0000

Hi! I live in the UK. We have equal numbers of both types.I prefer inserting with an applicator but prefer carrying around non-applicator ones (slip one in the back pocket of jeans). The deciding factor for me was performance- and non-applicator wins hands down as they expend widthways- so much better. Lillets have recently started doing a compact applicator one that expands widthways but they always seem to get stuck in the tube. Also, all that plastic isn’t very environmentally friendly. I’ve actually just started using a Mooncup.

By: crazygirl

crazygirl — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:47:35 +0000

ok here it go’s. i was told that with a pad u get completey clean as in u get all the new and old blood out. and with a tampon it my help from accidents but it dont always soke it up and when ur done with ur tampons and ur period. u may still have some old blood that just sat there with ur tampon in and its stuck, and then whn it gets loose i get this gross dark jelly stringy crap a couple days later. be cause it happened to me and i only use tampons if i have to and it is a must if i have to, other wise i hate them.