Tampon differences around the world

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

The recent hoo-hah over the moldy tampons got me thinking about this.

In the U.S. it would seem that most tampons are sold with applicators and only a few brands (I see OB mentioned a lot) sell non-applicator tampons. Also, many brands have plastic applicators.

In Australia there is only one brand of applicator tampon (Tampax) and they have cardboard applicators. Most brands (among them the most popular/heavily advertised brands - I haven't seen a Tampax ad in years come to think of it, and I only saw their ads in teen magazines) don't have applicators at all. Most of the marketing emphasises the smallness of the packs and cute patterns/colours on little flip-top pouches and things like that.

Does this vary in other parts of the world too? Why do tampon varieties/marketing strategies differ so much?

Comments

[0embryo.livejournal.com]

I'm from the Netherlands, and as far as I know all brands here sell tampons without applicators. I always use the same brand though (OB), so it's not like I've really looked, but the fact that I've never noticed it either is probably telling about how scarce they are.

In fact, I remember that a brand (it may have been OB, but I'm not sure) briefly sold a pack with one plastic applicator (that you re-used, I guess? never bought it) included as a sort of ~bonus~ a few years ago. But that's really where my knowledge of Availability of Tampon Applicators in The Netherlands ends, I'm afraid. They're not widely used around here.

[mel-darcy.livejournal.com]

Living in Australia I had presumed that applicators were an old fashioned thing, like that tampon technology had 'evolved' past that or something, since I've never seen tampons with applicators, and I work at a supermarket.

[lemonsalt.livejournal.com]

I live in Brazil and most tampons come without the applicator. I know there is one brand that comes with - I bought it the first time I used tampons - but I can't remember which one.

[thebunnygeek.livejournal.com]

Well, in Canada we only have OB brand without the applicator (from what I know). Not a lot of people use tampons without applicators, and they're generally regarded as "unclean" or a "novice" tampon. Like, when my cousin saw that I was using them (she's in her 30s and I'm 21), she looked at me and went, "Aaaawww I remember using those when I was a kid!"
But while they're considered "unclean", I still find rogue plastic (USED) applicators everywhere in public washrooms...!

[la-mia-cara.livejournal.com]

In Germany tampons are mostly sold without applicator. In South America tampons in general seem to be more expensive (compared to pads) and less widely used than in Europe, and in my (limited) experience they're generally without applicator in Argentina and with applicator in Peru.

[luinecu.livejournal.com]

Same in the uk, it's rare you get an applicator. The first time I came across one I was a bit freaked out!!

[annabelle64.livejournal.com]

i'm in the uk and i've found it easier to find tampons with applicators. i've only ever seen lil-let tampons that are nonapplicator, many moons ago i found moxie applicatorless tampons but i can't find them any more. whereas you can get 3 different types of tampax with applicator, lil-lets have just made a plastic applicator tampon and again many moons ago i found moxie plastic applicator tampons.

and i'm confused moxie tampons website say they are an australian company, so surely an australian company would sell their products in australia. just saying it sounds weird that they don't.

[chamilet]

I'm pretty certain the backwardness of the US when it comes to women/sex is why we still have mostly applicator tampons (OB is the only one I know about that doesn't come with an applicator). Women are icky, their cycles are icky and women should be sequestered away in their homes when they have their bleed.

Oh, and sex is only for procreation, not recreation.

Disclaimer: I have never even considered a tampon without an applicator because I, too, have succumbed to the Icky Period Blood, I'm Not Sticking My Finger In There, No Way indoctrination.

[wiirenet.livejournal.com]

I'm in the US and so confused reading this!

I thought the applicator is to help it get inside, rather than being an "icky" issue.

So you guys are describing just the cotton part of the tampon, that is all you use? I would think 1. dry cotton would hurt rubbing against the opening and 2. cotton is more flimsy and would bend trying to go inside

the tampons I use in the US, i thought the point of the applicator is to have something stiff and smooth to insert. i can't imagine trying to get in just the cotton. unless tampons without applicators are made different? i'm just really curious!