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.)

So I’m a young female who started getting my period around 16, so a year and a half ago, I’m still not regular (my last was maybe 3 months ago) and more often than not when I get a period, barely anything comes out like not even enough to stain a panty liner, but my first few periods I had an extremely heavy flow, so I’m not sure what changed?

My question is basically, does having an intact hymen prevent blood from coming out? And how can I actually tell if my hymen is intact or not? I’ve tried putting in tampons with no luck and I’ve tried to insert my fingers to see if maybe I’m aiming the tampon wrong but I also can’t find the opening with my finger either? It just feels like I have no opening for tampons to go in, and for blood to come out, but I don’t understand how I had such heavy periods at the start and now it’s almost like something is stopping the blood? I don’t know if it works like that but that’s what makes the most sense to me.

I guess I’m also just wondering is there any way to break my hymen? I know what the most straightforward answer will be aha but I’m honestly not ready for intimacy and just feel like there has to be some other way to break it, so that I can use tampons and also just get a normal flow again.

Edit: I just realised how many questions I asked lol.. I’m sorry for the jumbled post and the different questions I just don’t really have much knowledge when it comes to periods and I couldn’t find what I was looking for on Google.

I took my first unwanted 72hrs on 11th of July and a ipill on 14th of July. My periods are usually around 20. It’s delayed for 2 days as of now. Is this normal but I have my period cramps as usual. When will I get my periods?

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

Give me all the “random tips to get rid of your period faster”

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.

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!

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?

does anyone else’s actual vagina ache while on their period? like the hole actual hurts idk how to explain it😭

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.

Hello, I had my first period on June 6, 2025, my second period in September 2025, and I had my period approximately every two months until at least March. Since March, my periods have been irregular.And will my periods always be like this?

I’m quite young (not sharing age) so I have very very little knowledge on what my period should smell like. what I’ve noticed recently is that the odor is REALLY strong, like, I can smell it from where my face is when I sit down on the toilet. its lowkey hard to describe but my period smells heavily of chemicals, and its so bad that my brain tricks me into remembering the smell even when I’m nowhere close to my underwear. it genuinely smells foul, does anyone have any ideas of what might be happening or anything? I don’t know if I’m just worrying too much or something but I want opinions from others. :)

My periods are regular, last 7 days, and the last time I had a double period was 3 years ago. I ovulate in 3 days. I’m on day 13 of my cycle and I just had to throw away a pair of underwear because it was stained on both sides with blood. I thought I was having regular pre ovulation discharge because I felt wet all day, but when I wiped I saw a couple small clots and red blood with mucus. it had a slight iron smell to it. I wiped again a couple minutes and I saw more pink blood, but it wasn’t like period blood that is pure blood with no discharge.

I’ve had lower back pain all day and slight cramping. this is normal for me around this time. I’ve had spotting before, but this time seems different. The pink/red blood makes me think it’s a double period month, but usually on my first day of my period I start having bad cramps. I haven’t felt much. I am slightly stressed in my personal life.

PLEASE HELP ME I HAVE TO GO TOMORROW ON DAY 4 OF MY PERIOD, im scared to tell anyone and they already bought me a swim suit what do i do?

My cycles have been pretty regular but I missed my period in June entirely.

In May it was around the middle. And I got my recent one today. Do I count it as missing period for 2 months or 1 month?

I took swimming lessons last month so that might have messed around with my body. When should the missing period be a concern?

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.

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!

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!