(no subject)

[mooncake.livejournal.com]

Dear menstrual hut,

This is slightly embarrassing (as these things always are!) but I'm getting quite annoyed! My periods are notoriously light - they last about 3 days maximum. I tried using tampons for the first time a couple of days ago and it was really uncomfortable because I didn't insert it in enough. Needless to say I'm not using them anymore, at least for this month. BUT my period is still going, a week after it started! It's really light but annoyingly persistent. Do you periods last longer if you've used tampons? This sounds really stupid, I know. Or could I be bleeding for non-menstrual reasons?

I doesn't hurt but it's seriously affected my plans to go swimming this week!

Comments

[morning-stand.livejournal.com]

If you haven't lost your hymen yet, it could have broken because of the tampon, which may have been why it didn't go in all the way.

But generally, I dont notice a difference in length between tampon use and pad use.

[mooncake.livejournal.com]

That's possible, thanks for pointing it out... hypothetically if that is the case, how long will it be until my very long period is over? I'm getting really impatient!

[morning-stand.livejournal.com]

I dont know.. normally bleeding from a hymen breaking isn't much, normally just like a few spots here and there so if it's continuing for a few days it most likely isn't that.

Also, if you're going swimming, you can always try a tampon again. It just takes some getting used to.

[dindin.livejournal.com]

If your periods are very light, it may make inserting a tampon quite uncomfortable! There's no reason using a tampon would make your period last longer - it could just be a fluke. Have you been sick or on any new medication? Those are things which can affect your cycle.

You might want to try a menstrual cup - what's great is that they're worn internally ...kind of like a tampon, but are better for any amount of flow.

menstrual_cups is a great place for more info, but you can try picking up Instead disposable cups (http://www.softcup.com) at most drugstores if you look!

[mooncake.livejournal.com]

No, nothing out of the ordinary to affect my periods.

I have indeed been thinking about menstrual cups, our uni's really progressive about it (graffiti on bathroom walls and free cups through college!). My plan was to start on tampons and progress if that went well.. I think I might give it a few more tries before moving onto mooncups though - this is completely undiscovered territory for me as you've probably gathered!

[brigittefires.livejournal.com]

If your period is so light that you can't use a tampon, then just go swimming without anything. The water pressure will hold in any period flow. The only time you really need to worry about wearing something while swimming is if you can sit in a bathtub and watch the blood gush out of you without assistance.

[mooncake.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I've given in and gone swimming already :) although it's quite nervewracking because I end up checking quite often to make sure I'm not contaminating the pool!

[breelligerent.livejournal.com]

I've done some research on the affects of tampons and disposable pads on the female anatomy, and tampons can make periods longer by causing very small cuts in the vaginal tissues and irritating said tissues.

[mooncake.livejournal.com]

That does make sense - I think this doesn't have the same... quality to normal periods, but it could be because I'm obsessing over it. I will keep that in mind next time though, thank you!