leaking with tampons

[stenodork.livejournal.com]

I was going to skip my period this month until I was talking to a friend who said she uses super absorbancy tampons throughout her period and decided I should try super tampons.
Until now, I've only used regular pads, cloth pads, and regular absorbancy tampons.
I find that I have way too much leaking with tampons and hardly ever use them and thought maybe I'd have less/no leaking with a super tampon.
Well, I'm still having leaking. The first one lasted almost 4 hours. I know it says to change them every 4-8 hours or more, but if I'm going to be in the bathroom every 4 hours anyway, and I'm going to stain my clothes or have to wear a pantiliner, I'd rather just use cloth pads.
Even when I have leaking, the whole tampon isn't saturated, just half of it, I think just the back half of it.
Should I try super plus tampons? Is this abnormal? Should I just give up on tampons? I've seriously stained so much underwear, and I'm frustrated.

ETA: The super tampon I'm using today started leaking after 2 hours.

Comments

[luvleelocs.livejournal.com]

it may not be in all the way. You may want to play around with how far you put it in and at what angle.

[stenodork.livejournal.com]

okay that's totally it.
i feel pretty... dense since i'm 23 and don't know how to use a tampon properly.

[luvleelocs.livejournal.com]

it's ok! I am 28 and still have problems getting tampons in just right. It's takes practice and even then every time is not the same.

[falnfenix]

when i used tampons i used to need super plus every 4 hours - i was always a mess. i feel your pain. give them a try...maybe see if your friend can give you a couple to try out?

[dayglow.livejournal.com]

Do you have heavier flow times during your period? I have to use a super tampon for the first 2 days of my period and change it every 2-4 hours, then the next few days I can leave in a super for 8 hours, and after that I switch to regulars or lites and they barely fill in 8.

Have you thought about trying a

[flyingdogs.livejournal.com]

menstrual cup? There's a learning curve to figuring out how to use one, but many women in the menstrual cup community have complained about having to change tampons too often find that a cup is a much better option for them.

Once I found a cup that worked for me (mooncup UK) I'm so happy with it.

Re: Have you thought about trying a

[stenodork.livejournal.com]

i totally have, i'm just pretty squeamish about period blood.

Re: Have you thought about trying a

[jilliaun.livejournal.com]

Try wearing latex exam gloves when you dump out your cup? Seems as though a cup would solve the tampon problem.

I use Mooncup UK, too. I heart it.

Re: Have you thought about trying a

[mandaryn.livejournal.com]

I thought I would be too, but having to deal with tampons leaking made me think, "I'm pretty much having to deal with period blood now, why not just bite the bullet?" That and you figure you're going to wash your hands after changing a tampon/pad anyway.

I love my DivaCup, I've been using it for over 2 years now. It's really not that bad, honestly. Give it a bit more thought, and read more stuff on it and maybe you'll change your mind (like I did), and maybe you won't (which is ok too!).

Good luck whatever you decide! =)

Re: Have you thought about trying a

[stenodork.livejournal.com]

tmi question - how much is actually in the cup when you empty it? i think i'm really just overexaggerating in my mind how much it is.

Re: Have you thought about trying a

[mandaryn.livejournal.com]

It really depend, my flow is a lot lighter now that I've been on NuvaRing, it once in a while it will get heavy. Really though, it's not all that much, and I kind of just dump it into the toilet as I'm pulling it out. You kind of just have to experiment to see how long you can go between emptying it out, and to get a feel for how full you want to let it get for your comfort level.

Re: Have you thought about trying a

[jpress.livejournal.com]

Do you rinse out your cloth pads by hand? Just wondering.

Re: Have you thought about trying a

[stenodork.livejournal.com]

yes, i soak them in the sink, i make an icky face when i swish them around, and then i wash them in the washer with dye/fragrance-free detergent.

i might be under the impression a lot more blood comes out than actually does.

Re: Have you thought about trying a

[jpress.livejournal.com]

I rinse out my cloth pads in the sink until the water runs clear. Sometimes it seems like there's a lot of menstrual fluids but I know only a little got absorbed. With the cup I don't have to deal with touching blood, only seeing it. If I ever touch it it's only a little from the outside but I could avoid it. It does seem like a lot less fluid than from rinsing cloth pads or from pulling out a huge saturated tampon. Disposable pads didn't even absorb much for me. Cloth pad are comfortable, very absorbent but cups are easier to clean.

[wynter793.livejournal.com]

I have to use super plus ultra mega uber tampons (Ok, slight exaggeration, but you get the idea) and they can need changing upto every 2-3 hours. Some months better, some months worse. Personally I hate the feel of pads, I feel unclean and messy using them, so I stick to tampons unless under medical instructions not to use them.
With stained underwear, as soon as you see the blood run the undies under a cold tap to wash off the worse, then,stick them into a bucket of cold water and leave to soak(Obviously this isn't always practical, such as if you're out, but where practicality allows). Not the most glam thing to have sitting in your bathroom, I know, so warn other family members! Once soaked for a good while the stains should wash right out.

Personally I've never really looked into a cup, but I might investigate given the bloody good reviews (bloody.. get it? :P)

Hope everything works out in the end :]

[stenodork.livejournal.com]

cloth pads feel better than regular pads, but it's such a nuisance to wash them (similar to your description of washing underwear post-leak)

i'm totally used to soaking pads, and even last night i had a pair of underwear in there from yesterday. aargh.

i'm considering the cup, it's just a lot of money when i'm unsure.

[wynter793.livejournal.com]

Aah I see, sorry I misunderstood the pads. I've never used cloth ones, but even the idea of pads of any kind doesn't appeal to me.

I guess you've just got to get as much advice/reviews from other people, speak to your doctor perhaps, and then see if you feel it's worth it.

[jpress.livejournal.com]

The cheapest menstrual cup I know of is the divacup from www.betterlife.com

Thekeeper.com has a silicone and rubber cup with (i think) a 3 month return policy.

The livejournal called Menstrual_cups has more information.

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

I could never find a pad that didn't leak (haven't tried cloth pads), and tampons would always leak, but when I removed them it was bloody painful because they barely had any blood on them.

I found Carefree and Libra tampons (Aussie brands) less leaky than Tampax because they expand widthways rather then lengthways, but that made them even more painful to remove.

I now use a cup and have no issues. No discomfort (I forget I have the cup in!) and no leaks.