So little old me is bored again and decided to make a thread. LOL it may seem a bit silly too but it can also be informative.:frown:

So!

Tampons or pads?:confused2:

I find at my heavier times I have to use two, end to end with a little over lap. I can leak in any direction lol, so I've found this works for me.

That's what works for me, too. I use the Stayfree Ultra-thin Overnights with wings and Ultra-thin Regular with wings. Overnight goes in front, Regular behind with the Overnight overlapping.

I looked into the Novasure, but it turns out my uterus is on the outer limit of the size range it is effective for. Since my periods aren't THAT big of a problem, I decided not to have it done, since there was the risk that it wouldn't be effective.

The only tampons I ever had trouble with were Tampax with applicators. Those applicators complicate something so simple! I don think they're even on the market here now.

Stupid things, mustve been a man that designed them.

Ihaven't seen those applicator thingies on the shelves here for years and years. I'm surprised they are still common elsewhere.

I've been on Depo-Provera for over 6 years now. For the first 6-8 months after I started it, I would spot a lot more, but then one day, I just stopped and it never came back again :Banane34: I haven't had any spotting or periods since, and I LOVE IT. It's the one benefit I get for being overweight, they're letting me stay on Depo until I'm down to about 200 lbs, when the bone density issue may become a problem AND other methods will actually be effective for my size.

However, before I started Depo, I was a true pads only gal. My mother was completely and utterly against tampons because "they're so bad for you" with TSS and I think she just had a problem with her daughters having anything in their vaginas at all. But, when I did have to use a tampon once in awhile (like period came on suddenly or I didn't have any pads with me), I hated them. They were so uncomfortable. But I think it was probably because I wasn't using them completely right. I probably didn't put them in all the way because I was a little scared of them and scared the string would break and I wouldn't be able to get it back out! I would use Always Ultra-thin with Wings. My periods were always regular and I could set a watch by my periods :thumbup: Gynos everywhere were shocked that I had such normal periods for being so overweight.

Does anyone else use "Instead"? It is a diaphram like device. You can wear it 12 hours. It works pretty well.

I use Instead and it is great! Occassionally when I don't want to deal with the mess, I use tampons. But I special order Instead because its not available in any stores around here anymore. A lot of the places don't even know what I'm talking about when I do ask. Its just easier to order it, I order enough to last about a year.

I have an IUD so I rarely get periods, but when I do, I use cloth pads- so much better for your body and the environment. My son was also cloth diapered.

I have heard a little about Instead. Can you reuse those?

Tomatogirl, what kind of IUD do you have? I have an IUD but my periods are from hell now. I have cramps so bad, I can time them, they get to be 7 minutes apart, and for about half a day every month I go through that. Plus they are heavier since getting the paragard IUD.

I have a Mirena- the plastic one with hormones in it. Hormones in BC pills always bothered me (and lets not even speak of Depo), but the Mirena has been a dream. I hardly ever have a period- and when I do, it lasts a day, maybe two, and is nothing more than spotting. If something happened to mine (expelled or whatnot), I'd totally do it again. :thumbup:

I have heard a little about Instead. Can you reuse those?

No, but they last 12 hours so you use only 7 days.

I have the Mirena IUD also. I love it because I haven't had a period in over 4 years. I want my husband to get a Vas done. He is very scared though. I told him I pushed out two kids and it was his turn to do something. I have had light period when I had them except when I first got my period. My mother only used pads. I hated them. When a friend introduced me to tampons that is the only thing I would use now. I sometimes use pads at night. I do not like leaving a tampon in for too long of time. I am a little afraid after I have the Mirena taken out that my periods would be different. I am closer to menopause and some people get very heavy period before. It happened to my mother and Aunt.

Meh. My period ended on the 19th and since then for 3 or 4 days I have had brown discharge and then bloody clots and leaking then brown discharge...bloody...over and over and over again. So frustrating.

I have the Mirena IUD also. I love it because I haven't had a period in over 4 years. I want my husband to get a Vas done. He is very scared though. I told him I pushed out two kids and it was his turn to do something. I have had light period when I had them except when I first got my period. My mother only used pads. I hated them. When a friend introduced me to tampons that is the only thing I would use now. I sometimes use pads at night. I do not like leaving a tampon in for too long of time. I am a little afraid after I have the Mirena taken out that my periods would be different. I am closer to menopause and some people get very heavy period before. It happened to my mother and Aunt.

I had a Minera IUD a few years ago. Worked like a dream, my periods lasted only 2 days and were so light I only went through a few tampons per month. Oh yeah, then I got pregnant. Needless to say without the IUD my periods have returned to the normal widespread bloodshead they were pre-IUD. So if you have the choice I would keep it in to keep the periods light.

I had a thermal uterine ablation. That is where they run hot water through the uterus to burn it. After that, I didn't have a period for over a year. Because it could be dangerous to accidentally get pregnant after this procedure, I had my tubes tied. Now my periods are worse than they ever were before. I had no idea that getting my tubes tied could actually make my periods worse. Now I am on birth control pills trying to get them back under control. I have to use both tampons and pads to control leakage.

Pads. Easier. I seem to have such a heavy period that tampons never suit me. Besides; I never felt comfortable with tampons. But that's just me!