8 Tampon Mistakes That You Should Avoid at All Costs
We use tampons all the time – and rarely worry about hygiene. But we should! Because these 8 mistakes happen to women again and again.
Mistake 1: Do not wash hands
You should wash your hands not only after but also BEFORE inserting them!
Mistake 2: Wear tampon too long
Change your tampon regularly. As a rule of thumb, do not wear it for more than eight hours – otherwise the risk of toxic shock syndrome increases. If it’s been soaked earlier, you may want to change it. This is the case if the tampon already moves when you pull it slightly. You can also wear tampons at night without any problems, as long as you insert a fresh tampon before going to bed and change it as soon as you get up.
Mistake 3: Always use the same size
Not every day the menstrual period is equally heavy. It is therefore best to always use the tampon size that corresponds to the strength of your bleeding and has the lowest possible suction strength. The tampon will only fit properly when you no longer feel it. If it does, it will probably have to be pushed up a little further.
Mistake 4: Throw the tampon into the toilet
Unfortunately, many women still do this – and clog the toilet with it. Wrap the used tampon in toilet paper and dispose of it in the household waste. This also applies to the protective cover and the insertion aid, should you use one. In many public toilets there are also hygiene waste bins for tampons and sanitary towels – just stick it in, throw it in the bin, done!
Mistake 5: Change the tampon every time you go to the toilet
The vagina, urethra and intestine are separate organs, each with its own opening – so you don’t have to change the tampon every time you go to the toilet. When urinating, you can hold the string to the side so that it doesn’t get wet. Basically, only the amount of bleeding determines how often the tampon should be changed. If it is still not soaked after eight hours, use a tampon with a lower suction strength.
Mistake 6: Do not change the tampon before and after swimming
Just like the skin, the tampon band absorbs chlorine, salt water or residues from the lake, depending on the type of water. To avoid skin irritation or allergic reactions, you should definitely change the tampon before and after swimming. In addition, the blood flows a little faster towards the vaginal opening when swimming.
Mistake 7: Use tampon with broken protective cover
As the name suggests, the plastic cover protects the tampon from dust and dirt. If it is damaged, bacteria can get to the tampon. If the protective cover is torn, please throw the tampon away.
Mistake 8: Use tampon against discharge
A tampon is there to absorb the menstrual blood – period. Do not use it beyond that, even if you have increased discharge in the middle of the cycle, for example. Firstly, this is quite normal and secondly, light panty liners are sufficient.