Sanitary napkin or menstrual cup or tampon? Which one is more suitable?

To answer this question we have to tell you the choice between these three Women’s health products It depends on the person. how much a person feels more comfortable with which product; What is the lifestyle and physical condition of the person? In general, the menstrual cup is out of sight sanitary, economic and saw Environment It has more advantages than sanitary napkins, but all these items with Easy to use and available to be sanitary napkin And the tampon has made these products more suitable.

Stay with us until the end of this article to compare sanitary napkins, menstrual cups and tampons and check the advantages and disadvantages and which item is most suitable for where.

What is the difference between sanitary napkins, menstrual cups and tampons?

In terms of usable time, you can use a menstrual cup for up to 12 hours, while you can use a sanitary napkin between 4 and 6 hours and a tampon between 4 and 8 hours. From the point of view of the costs you have to pay for sanitary pads and menstrual cups, the cost of menstrual cups is much lower than sanitary pads and tampons.

If we want to examine the difference from the point of view of damage to the environment, we must say that sanitary napkins and tampons cause more damage to the environment than menstrual cups.

If you are worried about the amount of leakage, we must say that if you use the menstrual cup correctly, it will leak much less than sanitary napkins and tampons. On the other hand, it is very easy to use sanitary napkins and tampons, but you have to practice a little to use cups.

From the point of view of sensitivity, it is possible that your skin will be sensitive when using sanitary napkins. To use a tampon, it can cause an allergic reaction due to the absorbent material or thread, but in contrast to the menstrual cup, because it is made of medical silicone, it has the lowest level of sensitivity for women.

If vaginal health is important to you, we must say that if you use sanitary napkins and do not change them on time, you may experience skin allergies and skin inflammation. While using tampons, although it is very rare, you may experience toxic shock syndrome (TSS). For the menstrual cup, because blood collects but is not absorbed, it has the lowest risk of TSS and does not cause dryness.

Which product is more suitable for virgin girls? It is recommended for virgin girls to use sanitary pads because tampons and cups can damage the hymen.

From the point of view of the possible uses of each of the women’s hygiene products, we will check below.

What is a sanitary napkin and how is it used?

Sanitary napkins are one of the first and most popular women’s health products, which are produced in different thicknesses and sizes with different absorption powers. Women use the combination of tampons and sanitary napkins together for more certainty. It should be noted that sanitary napkins should be changed every 3-4 hours. To use the tape, just buy the right size and then put it on your underwear so that the wider part is towards the back. Press well until it adheres completely. If you use a winged sanitary napkin, put its wings under your underwear and fasten it firmly so that the strip stays in place.

Among the advantages of sanitary napkins, we can mention the following:

Easy to use: It doesn’t matter what size and dimensions you use. It doesn’t even matter Winged sanitary napkin Do you use mesh sanitary napkins, in any case, it is suitable for any age with any activity.

A lot of variety: Different types with different absorption levels and with different dimensions and sizes for sensitive and normal skin are available in most stores.

How many times a day should we change sanitary napkins?

On average, you should change your sanitary napkin every 4 to 6 hours a day during menstruation, but in the early days when the bleeding is more intense, you should change it even faster, for example, every 2 or 3 hours. To say how many times a day you should change the tape is not a fixed answer because the answer is different for each person and with different physical conditions.

You can use the following list for different intensities and days of your period:

Heavy menstruation days (days 1-2): Change 5 to 8 times every 24 hours.

Average days of menstruation (days 2-3): Change 4 to 6 times every 24 hours.

Days of low menstrual intensity (days 4 to 7): Change 3 to 4 times every 24 hours.

At night, you should sleep Sanitary napkin suitable for the night which last longer for 8 to 10 hours.

What sanitary napkin is suitable for heavy bleeding?

For times when the bleeding is heavy, the first option suggested for use is the Overnight Pad. The length of these strips is between 30 and 40 cm and longer than the daytime strips. These strips prevent leakage from the back and front when sleeping or sitting and have a more absorbent layer to control the strongest currents.

The second option is winged Super Max bands because the wings of this band stick to the underwear and do not move. They have a high blood-holding capacity and are suitable for the first days of the period.

The third option is ultra or extra tapes, and this type of tape is suitable for people who bleed more or need to change their tapes soon.

To choose a sanitary pad for heavy bleeding, pay attention to the following: long length have, winged be, Anti-leak back layer have, soft material to have and not to have a fragrance, High absorption capacity have

What is a tampon and how is it used?

Since they were discovered in 1930, tampons have become the most popular product for women under the age of 41 to have more freedom to be active during the day. Tampons, like menstrual strips, are produced in different dimensions and sizes with different absorption levels, which you should prepare according to your needs and sizes. If it is your first time to use a tampon, you may find it difficult to use this product, but with a little practice, you will master how to use it.

To use a tampon, first wash your hands thoroughly. If you want to insert the tampon while sitting, you must sit on a clean surface. If you want to place the tampon while standing, you should place one of your legs on a higher surface.

After removing the tampon from the packaging, gently pull the string to make sure it is tight. Insert the tampon into the applicator and gently insert the applicator into the vagina. After making sure that the tampon is fully inserted, remove the applicator so that the tampon remains inside the body.

Be aware that the tampon thread should be outside the vagina and downwards. If you feel pain while inserting the tampon, push the tampon in a little or remove it completely and use another tampon. If you don’t want to use the applicator, you should remove the tampon paper and hold the tampon in the middle with your second and sixth finger so that the thread is facing down.

Open the edges of the vagina with the other fingers and gently insert the tampon with the index finger. The direction of placing the tampon should be towards the lower back. Pay attention that the index finger should touch the opening of the vagina and you should push the tampon inside until it does not touch. Keep in mind that the thread of the tampon is out and down.

Among the advantages of tampons, we can mention the following:

Unlimited activity: Using a tampon, you can easily do your daily activities without any problems.

Use for lasers: If you use a tampon, you do not need to change your laser sessions.

What is a menstrual cup and how is it used?

Menstrual cup, as its name suggests, is a device similar to a cup or bell that holds menstrual blood with its silicone material. It is recommended to use smaller cup sizes for women who are less than 30 years old and have not given birth naturally.

To use a menstrual cup, you must wash your hands first. Apply water or lubricant on the rim of the cup. Hold it firmly and fold it in half and hold it in one hand. Make sure that its edge should be upwards and insert it into the vagina. Just like a tampon that is installed without an applicator, it should be placed a few centimeters below the cervix. After turning your hand, the cup will open in the vagina and you should not feel it or it should fall while walking. If you have placed it correctly, you can do your daily activities without feeling uncomfortable or falling.

Among the benefits of the menstrual cup, we can mention the following:

Convenience: Menstrual cups can easily collect blood for up to 12 hours.

High hygiene: Due to the hygienic nature of cup-half, they do not provide an environment for the growth of bacteria, and it reduces the risk of infection, and it does not cause vaginal dryness or bad odor.

Should we use sanitary pads, tampons or cups for daily use?

The answer to this depends on your needs. If things like: body health, costs, not having to worry about leaks and not needing to change frequently are priorities for you, it is recommended to use a menstrual cup. why Because studies show that women who use cups are more satisfied with leaks. The higher blood holding capacity of the cup has made this product suitable for all menstrual days, especially heavy flow days.

Under what circumstances is a strip or tampon suitable for daily use? It is recommended to use tampons and sanitary napkins at times when a person is afraid of harming the hymen, and when a person wants to exercise and is not used to a cup yet.

The medical journal The Lacet Public Health answered this question as follows:

Menstrual cups are not only non-inferior to safety, they are as leaky as or better than more traditional options.

van Eijk AM, et al. “Menstrual cup use, leakage, acceptability, safety, and availability: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” The Lancet Public Health, 2019

Should we use sanitary napkins, tampons or cups for school?

If you are a student or you have a student girl who has just started her period, you have definitely come up with the question, which women’s health product is more suitable for going to school?

If your period has just started, we suggest using a sanitary pad because it is easy to use and change. If you exercise at school or are worried about leaks, we suggest using a menstrual cup.

Sanitary napkins are a more suitable option for girls who are still virgins to use at school, but if you are on busy days, you should change them quickly because you may be embarrassed, or it may cause you stress during exercise class or group activities.

Tampons are considered a great option for sports and swimming classes because wearing different pants does not cause problems and is not obvious. Among the disadvantages of using tampons for school, you can mention the frequent changes to avoid the risk of TSS. Also, removing the tampon for days when there is little bleeding may be painful for the teenager.

It should be noted that tampons may damage the hymen, although this has been medically denied, but caution is a condition of reason.

On the other hand, we suggest using a menstrual cup for school because you can use it for up to 12 hours without changing it and cover your entire school day. The cup does not cause dryness and smell, and you will not have to worry about leakage. If you have heavy periods, this product is recommended.

It is suggested to consult a gynecologist about this XS cups size Designed for teenagers.

What should we use for traveling during menstruation?

If you are planning to travel during your period or if you have your period while traveling, you can use the following products to minimize the need to go to the bathroom and change during the trip. These products were selected based on several criteria such as durability, volume, need for waste disposal and travel flexibility.

The first rank of women’s hygiene products in travel is the menstrual cup, which has all these criteria and gives an excellent combination of leakage safety, comfort, economy, etc. for travel, especially international travel.

The second place is tampons, which are more suitable for intercity trips, and the third place is sanitary napkins and washable pads because they need to be changed frequently and their waste must be disposed of.

Which one should we use between tampons and menstrual cups?

To answer this question, we will compare these two products so that you can decide whether to use tampons or menstrual cups.

Tampons are disposable, if you can wash and reuse the cup after using it. On the other hand, tampons should be changed every 4 to 6 hours, if you can finally empty them every 12 hours.

From a medical point of view, the probability of getting an infection after using a tampon is much higher than using a cup, but if you change or empty the cup too late, it may harm your health. From the point of view of vaginal dryness, the possibility of dryness after using a tampon is more than using a menstrual cup.

Removing the menstrual cup may be difficult for a person who is just going to use it, but on the other hand, it gives the person more comfort and freedom.

From the point of view of the fees that you have to pay to buy each of these products, the cost of buying a tampon is much higher than a menstrual cup.

It should be noted that both products can cause skin sensitivity and are allergenic. It is true that the cups are made of silicone or medical plastics, but studies show that 0.18% of people who use cups can suffer from allergies and sensitivities.

What products should girls use for menstruation?

It is recommended for girls sanitary napkin use why? Because if they use a menstrual cup or tampon, their hymen and hymen may be damaged. This is why it is recommended for girls to use sanitary napkins according to their bleeding rate and size, but if you plan to use other feminine hygiene products, it is better to consult your gynecologist.

Is it better to use a menstrual cup or a tampon for exercise?

If you are an athlete and you have a question about which model is better to use during sports such as swimming, we must say that both are suitable for sports, but menstrual cups are more suitable for swimming due to less leakage.
Which item do you recommend for use? Share your experiences with us.