So, today Kotex put those on the shelves, pretending it’s just an innocent new package rebranding, while in fact they totally changed the pad material and texture. What the heck? Like why did they felt the need to lie about it as if we wouldn’t notice?

The soft cotton like material I used liked so much is now some rough artificial garbage that doesn’t breathe nor absorb as well and irritate the heck out of my skin. Wow.

They also did a shrinkflation too by sneakily removing 2 pads from the package. That alone I could have lived with it, but the complete change of product? Fuck off.

Is there any brands out there that have that cotton feel just like Kotex used to sell a minute ago?

Thank you!

I’m 16 and I use tampons every period. No biggy. Have been since I was 12.

AND YET many many of my friends have told me that they’re too “scared” to use them. When I’ve asked why they say the usual: “what if I forget it’s there? What if I put it up the wrong hole? What if it gets lost? What if…”

And then there’s the “you’re not a virgin anymore” argument. I’m sorry WHAT?? Who came up with that? Even if that were in the slightest bit true, why would it matter?

I’m not saying everyone needs to use them, but why are we all so afraid of them? Who instilled the fear of god into this generation about a literal hygiene product??
Our education system is screwed.

Imo they’re more convenient but obviously it’s each to their own.

Mothers, please start teaching your daughters that tampons are not evil and how to use them. We’re too old to be sitting poolside complaining we can’t go in.

Thank you for reading my rant :)

(Obviously there are some people who don’t have female role models to teach them and using a tampon can be scary the first time. I just wish we were better educated on this topic and that it were more freely spoken about.)

i genuinely think im going insane. im 20 years old, i have a 35 days cycle and it often gets delayed. every month, and i mean this, every fucking month i would get this insane thought that i am pregnant js bcs my period is late even though im a virgin?????? and its not just a funny thought— it would seep through me, wouldnt let me sleep in peace, would make me google shit and even post here in reddit.

right now my period is late and i think its bcs of stress. but i am absolutely losing my mind about being pregnant even though im a fucking virgin, i know it is impossible but for some reason im still scared. i know that this fear is irrational and funny as hell but im still scared.

this happens every month. i lose my mind every month about this thing thats so impossible to happen.

Like whenever I’m on day 2 or 3 it’s sensitive like an open air paper cut… it’s hard to describe but do you know what I mean? Is that normal? No

Mine wasn't even the cramps. 😅 What's one symptom that surprised you when you first experienced it?

For two days I was somehow able to fall asleep naturally and now for the past week I've needed trazodone or else I don't start falling asleep until 5 am. I'm afraid to try a tiny dose of Zzzquil cause I haven't used it in a long time and I'm on Lexapro. I've also been peeing a lot and am apparently having heart problems according to my PCP, who is really pushing me to see a cardiologist ASAP. I'm already still having high heartbeat and hand tremors when all I did was watch Netflix and eat cake. I really wish I could figure what's going on. That's really hard to do when you're moving in less than a week and they're withholding your unemployment money on top of copays being fucking $50.

P.S. I know how late I was thanks to the Clue app. I'm not pregnant. I don't have my tubes.

Confused

Hi!! I'm a 22 year old with a 2 year old son. Ever since I had my son I have only had 4 periods total. I never had issues before I got pregnant. Two months ago we tried the 10 day trial of progesterone to start a period and it worked but I haven't had one since. So today I went and had a transvaginal and pelvic ultrasound and the results came back "normal" and I've also had my LH, TSH, and estradiol tested and that came back normal as well. They want me to come in a couple more months if I'm still not having a period for FSH and prolactin tests. I don't want to wait that long. I was hoping for answers with the ultrasounds but now im more confused and lost. I just came on here to look for some relief and maybe some similar situations!

My heating pad sparked up electrically and my mom got rid of it :( Any safe ones that are good for extreme cramps?

​

**Hi girls, I want to ask you about a problem: I feel a burning sensation in my stomach similar to period cramps, and also in my lower abdomen even though my period hasn’t come yet. I feel this very often—do you have any idea what this could be?**

Prefacing thisnwith a sorry if this is tmi.

Ohhh my god i dont know if I tagged this right??? I hope I did, Im in too mcuh pain to think too insanely hard about it. I have pmdd, gastritis, and ibs, but my periods have never been THIS bad before. I was so nauseous yesterday I couldnt move too much or I mightce puked, and now today I cant hold ANYTHING in my stomach, it immediately passes in diarrhea. My ass burns SO bad, Ive never experiened this before, and I don't know what to do. How do I make it stop PLEASE.

Hello fellow period havers :) I (27f) started my period last night and today I feel rough in a way I never have. I’ve been super fatigued all day and pretty lightheaded every now and then, not even when I’m just standing up too quickly. Obviously looking up these symptoms on google tells me I’m about to have a heart attack. Did anyone else experience new period effects as they got older?

Also, if it counts, I’m not pregnant.

Thank you!

Today my period decided to randomly start. I usually get it at the end or the beginning of the month, but strangely enough it decided to give me cramps at 1 PM and show up at 2 PM while I was on my way to work.

I had no pads, so I had to use paper and somehow survive for four hours. That's exactly what I did. The cramps were killing me and I honestly just wanted to throw up.

Fast forward, I got home, checked the bathroom to see if there were any pads left, and sadly there weren't. So I decided to go buy some.

I visited over FOUR stores, and none of them had pads. But STRANGELY ENOUGH, every single one of those stores had female "beautifying" products: creams, lashes, lip glosses, lipsticks, etc...
I seriously just wanted to cry. But I finally found pads in a tiny, run down store, almost as if they were being hidden. And the smallest pack cost me €2.95.
I'm actually so tired.

or something I don’t know about and how do I help cramps ?

Hello all,

I am having terrible cramps today, and as I searched online, one of the tip was not to drink caffeine.

I always feel so much better after having coffee or tea while on periods.

Would love to know if you stay away from caffeine or enjoy it like any other day?

any comments or advice would be so appreciated, i truly feel like im going psycho.

i got put on birth control for suspected PCOS (high testosterone, but never got an ultrasound done. the ultrasound i DID get done once i got off the pill showed no cysts) for about 1.5 years before i decided to come off for physical and mental reasons.

i got off birth control in january (specifically nextstellis), and took a plan B in march. i got off the pill mid pack, so my first cycle was super short, but heres the length of all my cycles post BC until now: 17 days, 26, 24, 36, 37. this cycle is currently on day 47, no period. ive taken 5 pregnancy tests now (i know, excessive, but im a major hypochondriac! my last test was taken about an hour ago even though its mid day. took a first morning urine about 3 days ago). all tests have been very very negative.

whats most frustrating is the symptoms from pms dragging on and on to a point where its concerning. i had sore nipples to the touch about 11 days ago. usually i feel that pain mid cycle or where i think im ovulating, so im not sure exactly where that puts me. 4 days ago, that pain went away and now the sides of my boobs hurt to the touch as well as the under part of my right boob. mild lower abdominal cramping comes and goes and ive had more frequent urination. so theres the physical, and on top of that the mental. i think ive cried more this week than i have in the last 3 months!! absolute torture and i truly feel like im losing it and so miserable.

ive even tried little methods and tricks ive seen online. probably had way too much vitamin c for this week, as well as saffron tea, and have only been doing cardio and stopped weightlifting to not stress my body out more (although my mind is mega stressed LOL)

has anybody experienced this? any tips/tricks/advice/reassurance on the subject?

thank you in advance~

i have been diagnosed with dysmenorrhea, and before I got on the bc I’m currently on(which has me having 4 periods annually) I had back pain basically constantly as a hang over from my periods. i knew that Was from my period, but obviously I’m not having them now and haven’t been for a while. whenever I have to stand for A long time and even occasionally when I have to walk for a while I get what feels like my period back cramps in my back. I’m active, I play sports and walk and stand all the time. So I find it weird it’d be like actual back pain from fatigue or something. Im just wondering if anyone else experiences this, is it like normal?

i just got my first period today and i’m wondering what i should buy. i asked some people i know what they use and they all said pads. but from what i know about tampons they don’t seem that bad, are they good for your first time?

ladies!! if you have bad cramps please request naproxen for pain relief (may be another name but this is the uk name)

i had severe pain and a really heavy flow from ages 12-16. i tried 5 different birth controls to try help and nothing worked. paracetamol, ibuprofen and codeine didn’t touch the pain. i use to ball up on the floor in agony. then my doctor prescribed me naproxen. it’s a very strong version of ibuprofen.

once i started that it was a game changer. my severe pains were just uncomfortable aches. i was able to go to school (id have to miss school on day 1-2 of period every month). i was able to continue sports. not only did it take away the pain but also reduced the flow.

it’s an anti inflammatory (cramping is caused by your uterine lining shedding which cause inflammation) and it last 12 hours! one pill twice a day with 12 hours inbetween and you’re set to go. takes about 30 minutes to dull the cramps and about an hour to fully take it away.

i’ve stood by this medication for 4 years. i only take it 2-3 days during. normally the first sign of cramping and then the first day of my period and the second day time. by the second day night all pain is dulled and manageable.

as a girly who’s got a long cycle (8-10 days😒) this has really helped. no pain after the first two days which means i can simple just get on with life while bleeding. it lightens my flow which means i don’t have to worry about leaking.

i was so shocked to find out not a lot of people know about this medication. it truly is a diamond in the rough. so please if you struggle with cramping and heavy flows request it to your doctor!

I (24F) started a new BC about a month ago. My last BC had no side effects or breakthrough bleeding, but it didn't help with my vaginal dryness, which is the reason I'm on BC. Estrogen creams don't help and I have lower estrogen (51 during predicted ovulation). I also have low RBC count with my last being 4.08. My last labs were June 9th, so not too long ago.

I'm now on the sugar pill week as of 2 days ago, but I've been bleeding for 15 days. I told my provider the pain and bleeding was getting worse each day and they told me to keep taking the pill for 3 months. Last Thursday I passed a decidual cast (very painful!) and the bleeding seemed to slow, but has not stopped. My flow is lighter now and mostly clots. Blood goes between brown and dark red throughout the day. My issue is that I am now so tired and moving is difficult. I worry about my RBC count since I already run low. Simple tasks like taking a shower make me weak and my heart races. I already have heart conditions and don't want to strain my heart further. I'm dizzy everytime I stand. My bedroom is on the 2nd story and stairs are a nightmare.

What do I do at this point? I've lost my health insurance so planned parenthood is all I can afford and that's who I've been seeing. Do I just stop taking the pills and hope I go back to being dry and uncomfortable, but not slowly bleeding out? This can't be normal

TMI-
I‘m about 6 months postpartum, I have always had PMDD symptoms before, but now after birth, i feel they exaggerated, especially when it comes to being accidentally pregnant again, the anxiety is affecting my daily life and sleep, i keep thinking about it and fearing it to the point where I get insomnia, even if it didn’t make sense, we use condom, sometimes there isn’t even penetration, yesterday i was ovulating and we happened to have sex (protected) and i was so anxious I asked that her wears two condoms, only to read afterwards that it’s not recommended and could fail, I tested the condoms for leak they were intact but i‘m still overthinking it to the point of crying.
Could PMDD start that early after ovulation?
Is this at all related to this?

I need help because I’m going insane.

My period has been late for the last 3 months, always just a week after when I thought it was due. I assumed my cycle had maybe just changed. I’m going away for a week, very beach, lots of swimming, not due on for another TEN DAYS. But today, I get the pre-cramps I always get a handful of days before. I start spotting, as I always do a handful of days before. WHY IS IT EARLY FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL SUMMER AND RUINING MY VACATION.

I assumed it would stay on its later schedule now after being consistently late for three months, but absolutely not. Probably because it’s the first time in three months I’ve not been stressing about work it’s decided to arrive earlier than it would have even been before the lates.

FML. Rant over, I’ll tough it out with pain meds and tampons.

Hello there. I'll be having my period in about three days, and my vacation is aligning perfectly with it, and both are a week long, and since I only use pads it will be a nightmare since I won't be able to swim. In addition, we will be going on a road trip that's about 19 hours long to get to our destination so I can't have my period, it's just not an option.

I'll go to a pharmacy tomorrow to get medication to delay my period but I have never taken anything like that before and was worried because of the negative reviews I found online regarding norethisterone.

My period is very regular and has been for as long as I can remember and I don't have a medical history with any complications except mild pain occasionally and iron deficiency so I'm wondering if it's the right call to take the med and delay my period. What do you girls think?