# Female dopers: Pros & cons of pads vs. tampons? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 1, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346 "2003-08-01T13:13:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/1 "2003-08-01T13:13:38Z")
Last night before going to bed I saw an ad for some brand of winged maxi-pad. The advertisement was selling its ability to stay in place. Which got me wondering, why not just use a tampon? Obviously there must be good reasons for choosing pads over tampons, but having no experience with this sort of thing, I have no idea what sort of factors and preferences go into making the choice. So, if you don’t mind, what reasons are there for choosing one vs. the other? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/2 "2003-08-01T13:17:58Z")
I have no clue why a woman would use pads. In thirty-three years, I may have used one twice. They suck. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/3 "2003-08-01T13:19:36Z")
Pads are just gross! I have NO idea why ANY woman would use them. TAMPONS 4 EVA! LMAO ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/4 "2003-08-01T13:51:58Z")
Every tampon I have ever tried has been uncomfortable or has leaked. I’ll stick with pads myself. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/5 "2003-08-01T14:16:56Z")
No pads. I can’t imagine sitting around in my own filth all day. Although, if you have a baby or surgery on your female parts you must use pads because tampons could cause an infection. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/6 "2003-08-01T14:19:34Z")
There was a recent thread on “feminine hygeine” product choice and quite a few posters use pads mainly or all the time. Some of the reasons I can think of personally and recall from that thread: -When you put them in right, tampons are easier to forget about… leads to leaving them in too long and “accidents.” -On the flip side, it’s hard for some people to get them to “sit right” so you constantly feel them. -Some started using pads during Toxic Shock Syndrome scare… never stopped. -Some found tampons were not absorbent enough for overnights or heavy flow days… ended up using pads in addition, got sick of buying 2 products. **Kalhoun** a lot has changed in 33 years. I [heart] Always Ultra-thin w/ Wings. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/7 "2003-08-01T14:20:13Z")
I cannot use tampons. I don’t mean I prefer not to use them, mean I physically cannot. My pelvic exams ain’t real fun either. ---
**Author:** ![Contrary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@Contrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrary)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/8 "2003-08-01T14:20:13Z")
I hated, hated, hated using pads after my sons were born. Why on earth anyone would choose to wear a blood diaper is beyond me. Then again, I’ve never had problems with tampons, unless my flow is crazy. But that would be even worse with pads, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/9 "2003-08-01T14:23:22Z")
Also, some women are much more prone to “toxic shock syndrome.” A girl in my univeristy residence was one. **Tanookie** that’s odd. Most women can’t feel a tampon that is properly in place and leakage can be controlled by trial and error – you need to find the most appropriate absorbancy for your flow. Then again, we all come in different shapes and sizes, so perhaps there just isn’t a design that accomodatesyour body. I had bad luck _at first_ with uncomfortable tampons and leaky ones, but then sorted things out after I read a bit about 'em. Now I’ll never go back. I can not stand pads. Yuck! It’s like sitting with a dirty diaper all day. Never again! ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/10 "2003-08-01T14:31:40Z")
I have never liked the idea of walking around with a wad of cotton stuffed up between my legs. Add to that the blood and whatnots that come out of my uterus, and it makes me shudder. I have mostly used pads for the past 19 years, using tampons only when I was going swimming. Then, about five years ago, I developed a nice little allergy - not one you want too ever experience. I can now only use one product (that I have found), and I have to import it from Canada. Stayfree Prima. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/11 "2003-08-01T14:34:46Z")
You know, I had assumed up to this very minute that pads (which I haven’t bought since 1994) were cheaper, but browsing through the products at [drugstore.com](http://drugstore.com), this doesn’t seem to be the case. Tampons are great, but it takes a certain amount of courage to try them for the first time, especially since most teenaged girls in our culture receive minimal information and lots of scare stories about such matters. Also, there’s a certain adjustment period involved; the first time is going to be uncomfortable. I’d guess that most women who use pads are either afraid to try tampons, or tried them once or twice and didn’t like them. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/12 "2003-08-01T14:42:13Z")
I generally use tampons, but have had to use pads on certain occasions while treating gynecological problems (due to topical medication and/or postsurgical infection risk). ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/13 "2003-08-01T14:55:10Z")
I find tampons to frequently be uncomfortable, plus my periods tend to be very light these days, which leads to the problem of insufficient flow to get the thing properly wet, so taking it out is REALLY uncomfortable. _shudder_ I don’t get grossed out by my own flow, so using pads really doesn’t bother me. ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/14 "2003-08-01T15:12:25Z")
I just found them awkward and uncomfortable - no matter what brand I tried. I also have horribly irregular cycles and my flow reflects this. If I get a perion two weeks after my last one it is pretty light and then the tampons are painful to take out. If I go six months between periods they don’t make one absorbant enough and I’m changing them quite often and when they come out I tend to get clumps that fall out with them and not necessarily neatly and well aimed. Pads just work better for me. ---
**Author:** ![chickengrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb9ed0/32.png) [@chickengrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chickengrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/15 "2003-08-01T15:14:05Z")
For those who find tampons uncomfortable–you may have a short ‘canal’. If I use Tampax they are longer and they either feel odd or they try to sneak out when I use the potty. I use OB and although inserting them without an applicator takes a bit of practice, they are shorter and more comfortable. I think they also can be bought with an applicator, as well, for those who prefer. I started using tampons at 17 and never went back–I can’t stand having all that yuck on me. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/16 "2003-08-01T15:38:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tanookie \* > \*\*…is pretty light and then the tampons are painful to take out. \*\* Um…they’re painful to take out because they’re not lubricated, but going in ain’t as bad because they have a nice smooth applicator thingie? Is that an accurate guess? ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/17 "2003-08-01T15:44:06Z")
That’s part of it… also when they come out they are larger than when they went in. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/18 "2003-08-01T16:47:28Z")
The opposite of men, eh Tanookie? Heh. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/19 "2003-08-01T17:05:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kalhoun \* > \*\*The opposite of men, eh Tanookie? Heh. \*\* And a tampon probably lasts longer than 20 seconds… ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-pros-cons-of-pads-vs-tampons/192346/20 "2003-08-01T17:08:03Z")
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