Tampons and beach

Hey! Im going to San Diego this weekend..and I think my period might be comming around that time! But I still want to go to the beach IN THE WATER to go surfing....but I never 'tried' a tampon before...but I have to wear one! But I'm kinda scared....how do you even put that thang in? Does it hurt the first time? (I am a virgin lol!) Do they work good when you go swimming? What tampon brands do you use? Thanks!!!

 

No, they don't hurt when you put them in. Try to find a brand that is more natural and doesn't use bleach. You can often find them at health food stores. You might want to consider buying a Diva Cup or the Keeper. Another alternative product is the sea sponge.
I don't actually use anything unless it's the first day - which is my heavist. I used to wear tampons when I was younger but I don't like the feeling. I remember the first time I jumped into a pool with the tampon inside me. It swelled up with water and felt weird. I was a virgin at the time too. LOL
Also, since you are young and a virgin you should look for ones that are slim fitting or for teens. They'll be more comfortable.
Good luck
Saje

 

it may hurt the first time you put one in so perservere till you get them comfy.

 

definitely, definitely, DEFINITELY get some with plastic applicators. if not you will likely NOT succeed your first time! hehe i still can't use the non-applicator ones and i've been using tampons for yeeeeeeears. just make sure you get it in high enough (and don't worry about losing it in your body, that's virtually impossible ) and you will be totally comfortable. the boxes come with a little pamphlet that has a picture walk through of how to put them in. if you just relax you should be ok

i do know a couple of girls who have problems with them, but they're quite "faint of heart" if you know what i mean, so if you're pretty normal (not quick to freak out/faint over ANYTHING) then you should be fine! good luck

 

it should not hurt when you put them in. If it dose that means you are doing something wrong. I agree that you should get something slim, since you have never used them before. I also recomend something with a plastic aplicator, gose in alot easyer than a cardbored. In every box of tampons comes am insert, that tells you how to wear them. Also if you put them in corectly you should not feel them, and they will not swell up when you first jump in the water. Water can not get to where they sould be placed. Take your time when you first try them. The first time you insert one, stand up, make sure you can't feel it, if you can or it's not comfortable, take it out and try again with a new one. I think tampons are a god send,,,, much better than pads

 

I can't use tampons. I used to use them, but for some reason, I started getting severe headaches and I felt really dizzy when I'd have one in. So I switched to pads and the symptoms cleared up. I'm super-sensitive to things, so I don't know if I was having an allergic reaction or what.

Peace.

 

When I first used tampons and was a virgin I used slimfits
If you want to try something to be sure it will hold everything in try a regular tampon first. I like to use playtex with the plastic aplicators because they go in really smoothly. You can just sit on the potty spread your legshold the aplicator with your middle finger and your thumb and push the stick in once its in thats it..throw the plastic away...go swimming. pull the sting out when your finished swimming or no more then 4 hours later. Dont worry about spending a few extra dolalrs on a box that will be comfortable for you. Once you get teh hang of using them you can use the cheeper cardboard ones or even the heathstore ones that have cardboard aplicators

 

Someone reccomended trying the Keeper or a Diva cup. The keeper is awesome but I definitely wouldn't reccomend it for a first time internal product user or a virgin!!! Tampons are best to start out with in my opinion, until you get used to the whole idea of shoving stuff up there. LOL. Besides, if you're going to be doing something really physical like surfing (lots of bending, twisting, upside downing), the Keeper or Diva cups are likely to leak a lot easier than a tampon.

 

From the title, I was expecting something about tampons washing up on beaches, like all the other litter you find in some areas...

I'll be honest, I'm surprised that so many people endorse the plastic applicators. After pinching myself once or twice -- accidentally push the tampon enuf to open the plastic tip a tiny bit while moving into position, then pull back to shift the angle slightly (something I imagine a first-time user would do a few times trying to get it in there right) -- I won't use the things. That is NOT an area where I want to be pinched!

Personally, I suggest the slim fit tampax with the cardboard applicator. With that, get a small (the smallest you can find) thing of water-based lube -- put a small amount on the tip of the tampon before inserting, & that will take care of any dryness problem that I'm assuming is the reason others suggest the plastic applicator kinds. Before I used lube on them, they would kinda hurt & be hard to get into position, once I learned to use lube, they slid right into place no problem.

 

Recomended them because they are smooth and I have never been pinched. My first tampons were cardbuard aplicators though. I had to use one before I went swimming real quick...it was rough and it hurt. I didn't have it in far enough. I can laugh at it now

 

"Mom! Look! That seasponge has a tail!!"

Ewwwwww.....

 

i had trouble getting tampons in when i first started using them. using a mirror helped me a lot. so if they're tricky at first, try squating over a mirror.

also, try using them a couple times before you hit the beach. if you're in a rush and stressed out, your vag will be real tense and it will be a lot harder to insert the tampon. being relaxed is real important.

this might sound a little weird, but i'll suggest it anyway. again, if you're nervous or stressed, your vag will be tense and extra tight (since you'll be clenching your muscles). so... try playing with yourself, or think dirty thoughts. when you're turned on, the vagina expands. this should make it easier, though you might feel silly.

also, someone suggested using lube... that's a good suggestion, because it'll go in easier and help you get the hang of it. you can pick up free trial-size packets from planned parenthood and the health center at local colleges. it saves room in your suitcase, and you probably won't need a whole bottle anyway. a little packet would fit easily in your beach bag, too, so you don't have to worry about someone grabbing your bottle of lube, mistaking it for sunblock. plus, trail-sized packs are free.

 

tampons are great man. i myself am a pearl girl. i dont really see why its such a big deal to get the non bleached ones. theyre all good.

 

is going in the ocean while on your period a good idea? i am asking because i have always been afraid because i know sharks scent blood.

 

Cool! I did not know that! When I was going thru that, I had an older female relative who worked at a hospital, so she brought home a couple of little packets like that... That is definitely better than buying a whole bottle!

 

Oh yea Laurel...i wonder about sharks smelling my blood...they cant though right wen u have ur tampon on, right?? ahh! haha oh..thanks everyone!!!! but can you 'practice' putting a tampon on when you DONT have your period? Because i dont have it YET but i just wanted to practice! So, can you? Thanks again!!!

 

hmmm i imagine sharks couldn't smell the blood, since none of it is actually floating around you in the water to carry the scent. most of the shark attack stories i've heard of involve males. if they could smell blood from a tampon, i bet we'd hear about a lot more females being attacked over spring break, when the shores are full of raggin' college girls... cause most of them have been drinking, so their blood would be flowing faster. thus, they'd be the first to go. so my guess is they (sharks, not drunk chicks) wouldn't notice. i'm no shark, though, so i could be wrong.

i'd advise against trying out a tampon when you're not on your period. it would probably absorb some important moisture, and would be uncomfortable to remove. now, if you have the kind with a plastic applicator, you could always try inserting that and removing it, so you get the feel for it... but i wouldn't fire it out of the tube 'till you've got your period.

 

I'm 99% sure that whole sharks smelling menstruation thing is a myth. I mean, they can smell blood, but menstruation doesn't just smell like blood, it also smells like woman.

And, no, you shouldn't really practice tampons when you aren't on your period. If you're really desperate to, do it once and only once, use copious amounts of lube, and remove it right after you've gotten it into place. Like lawngirl said, it will soak up important juices!

 

okay...thanks guys now next summer i can go to the beach and swim even if i am on my period!

 

it's been a while since i used tampons. i'm not really fond of them, cos i'm constanlty thinking i've this thing inside me that i have to take out (ouch!) eventually...last time i used one of the ultra slim one with plastic applicators, the way to insert is pretty simple:
first relax your vaginal muscles and breath deeply and take your time.
then take the tampon out of its package and put it between your middle and index fingers as if you were holding a cigarrete.(make sure the tip faces outwards)
with your thumb you should be able to push the slimmer part of the applicator into thethicker one so the tampon comes out.

the trick is to hold your vaginal lips with your other hand to allow the tampon to be inserted. do this slowly, always holding it right,insert it up to the end of the thick tube of the applicator. then when it's already inside, push the slim tube with your thumb and voila!!!!

make sure the string is left hanging so then you can pull it out.

anyways, good luck sister, hope it was clear (tried to explain it as best as i could)