Tampon Myths: DEBUNKED!

Maybe back in the olden days they believed these myths, but now we know that they are just that- MYTHS! Completely false! Here's the truth about tampons to help set your mind at ease and help you be informed. Feel free to share it with your friends to help them out, too!

Tampons protect for 8 hours. According to the outside of most tampon boxes and the leaflet inside, tampons protect for "up to" 8 hours. The actual protection will only last as long as the absorption material can collect blood. During heavy flow days, tampons may last only one or two hours. During light days, teens may find it difficult to remove and change tampons every 8 hours because flow is light and a dry tampon just doesn't want to come out as easily as a saturated tampon. 

You cannot sleep in tampons. This is a huge myth. Tampons are safe during sleeping and waking hours if used properly. Flow tends to be lighter at night, for some teens (including me!), so the tampon should last through 8 hours sleep, but what happens if the teen is sleeping longer than 8 hours? Wearing a feminine napkin to bed instead of a tampon is safer 100 percent of the time. Overnight pads absorb much more than panty liners and regular pads, so invest in a thick, absorption pad if you plan on sleeping longer than 8 hours. That way you won't have to worry about how long you sleep. You won't feel a pad when you're sleeping anyway, so why risk it?

The tampon string never pulls off. The withdrawal string breaking is an extremely rare occurrence, but it CAN happen...  If it does break, DON'T PANIC! It is usually a simple matter to reach the tampon with your fingers. Wash your hands and use the same position you used to comfortably insert the tampon to remove it. If this can’t be done, you should see your doctor the same day.

Virgins cannot wear tampons. Having sex has nothing to do with wearing tampons. Some mothers want to protect their daughters from anything related to insertion into the vagina, but this is an old wives' tale. Virgins can insert tampons into the vagina as can teens that have lost their virginity. The tampon may tear the hymen, but a torn hymen can also occur from sports, gymnastics, horseback riding and other activity.

Teens can only use "regular" tampons. Tampons are graded based on absorbance. Some girls start out with "teen" tampons and quickly progress to regular and then super on heavy days. Teens should choose tampons based on period flow. At the end of 8 hours, if the tampon string is just tinted with blood, the absorbance is just right. If the tampon does not last 8 hours, move up to a more absorbent size or change more often.

Tampons can get lost inside you if you push them in too far. No. The opening at the end of your vagina is only the size of a pencil point-much too small for a tampon to fit through. The tampon is held in place by the walls of your vagina until you pull on the string to remove it.

Tampons can fall out. When inserted properly, the muscles around the entrance to the vagina will hold the tampon in place so it cannot fall out. 

If you have any questions or comments about this topic, you can leave a comment below (feel free to do so anonymously) or email us at GirlTalkTime@yahoo.com.

Love,

Alli

Tbox review!

                We have a review of a really neat product we were sent for you girls today! Meet the Tbox.  What is it, exactly? Basically, the Tbox is a tampon holder. It can house up to 8 tampons. It has suction cups on it so it can easily attatch to the side of your toilet or in other smooth surfaces, so you're never caught off guard again!

REVIEW 

Amii: "The design is really cute and girly. The suction cups are also really great, but I think sticking it on the toilet is kind of weird for me. Handy, but weird. I stuck it on my bedroom mirror and it works great! I rate it a 6 on a scale of 1-10."

Alli: "I feel like this product would work well for so many girls. If you have your own bathroom or a guest bathroom, it's nice to keep a Tbox in there. Otherwise, this would be great for your locker or to just throw in your purse when you're on the go. I have a lot of brothers, so I personally wouldn't put this in one of the family bathrooms, but it's a good concept. These products are sturdy and well made. There are a few different patterns and colors to choose from, which are all really cute."

You can buy the Tbox at their website: http://tboxgirl.com/buyonline or from Amazon.com. You  can also check to see if your local Walgreens has them available.

 

Dauzat Designs Giveaway Winner

It's time to announce our blog giveaway winner! One lucky gal will receive a Maxi Pouch from the lovely Dauzat Designs! You can read our full review of these here, they are really handy to have at that time of the month!


The winner of our very first blog giveaway (chosen by random.org) is.... (drumroll please)

SARAH
Sarah says "This would definitely come in handy at work. As a writing tutor, sometimes our Writing Center is full of tutoring sessions, and when I have to go upstairs to use the bathroom, it's just a little TOO obvious when I take my whole purse with me. Haha. This would be discreet!"

Congratulations, Sarah! I hope you love your pouch! Dauzat Designs will be in touch soon.

Okay girls, even if you didn't win, I highly recommend that you check out the affordable tampon and pad pouches from Dauzat Designs. Amii and I both LOVE ours.

PERIOD PRODUCTS

If you’re like a lot of girls, when you first started your period, you used whatever your mom gave you. Chances are it was the same product she uses. Eventually, you started experimenting with other options to find what's comfortable for you. Let's face it, your body is different than your mom's and most likely so is your period. Maybe you're not happy with the pads or tampons you're using now, or you're wondering how to use the correct products. It can be hard to figure out which is right for you, since there are SO many different choices!

So let’s start with pads. They come in all shapes, sizes and absorbencies. I like ultra thins with wings during my first couple of days when my flow is normal to heavier. If you play sports or are active, wings are especially good to give you extra proctection.

Depending on what’s on the calendar (like swimming, soccer, or ballet), I’ll switch to regular tampons. If you've just started using tampons, it's best to use size "lite" with a plastic applicator. If you have a heavier flow, try "normal" or even "super." Just make sure you aren't using something too absorbant. Oh yeah, and I recommend tampons with plastic applicators, especially for noobs. ;)  They're much easier to use.

Pantiliners are a great idea to use a few days before you know you're going to get your period. That way you're covered in case you start earlier. I suggest using em at the very end of your period too, when minor spotting spells the end of Aunt Flo.

Oh, you might want to keep a package of overnight pads around too, if you bleed heavily at night since you won't be able to change for 8+ hours. Those are great to break out if you're invited to a sleepover and you're on your period.

You may have noticed I didn't mention anything about brand name. Always, Tampax, Kotex, Playtex, drugstore brands...it's up to you. A "regular" tampon is a tampon, right? You can choose if you prefer name brands or store brands. Don't be fooled by those cheesy commericals on TV- don't let the ads influence what brand you buy. The girl that's smiling so big and looks like a skinny supermodel on the Kotex commercial...she isn't really menstruating. If she was, she wouldn't be smiling so much.

So mom, thanks for sharing your stash with me. But I’m pretty sure I’ve got things covered from here.

Until next time,

Alli

Pros and Cons of Tampons!!

Now, we all have the good days and the bad days during our period and sometimes its great to vent about the pros and cons of the kinds of products we use to control it... So, Alli and I have come together and made a pros and cons list just for you- all about tampons!

Tampon Pros:

1. You can swim with them :) (A definite plus!)

2. They are easier to store or throw in your bag

3. You don't get a visible pad or panty line (VPL)

4. You can't feel them if you put them in right

5. You can flush them away in the toilet, making disposal more discrete :)

6. They are smaller and don't take up as much room as a pad

7. You can (at times) forget you even have one in

8. They are more comfortable

9. No one else can hear the crinkle of the wrapper or the peeling sound like a pad, so a more discrete way of changing them if you're in public

10.They catch everything a pad would and its all kept inside until you change your tampon, so less mess than a pad

Tampon Cons:

1. They are harder to know when to change

2. They may cause you to bleed out and through your clothes if you can't go and change it soon enough

3. Sleeping in with a tampon in without having to get up is out of the question

4. Not very eco-friendly

5. They aren't natural for your body

6. They go inside you

7. If your cervix tips they become harder to insert properly

8. Tampons often make cramps worse.

9. Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) can happen if they are left in too long

10. Some people find them uncomfortable to wear

And for all you girls out there reading this, e-mail us your pro's and con's lists at girltalktime@yahoo.com

and let us know what you think!

Pros and cons for pads coming soon!

Love, 

Amii

Pad & Tampon Pouch GIVEAWAY and review!

Recently, a company called Dauzat Designs sent us some personal pouches to review. They make pouches for pads or tampons, depending on which you like to use. You just put your feminine products inside, then slip the pouch in your purse, backpack, or anywhere else. It’s great for hiding them so no one else needs to know! Here are our individual thoughts on the items:

Amii’s thoughts: It’s awesome! The pattern’s ok but it’s really great for people on the go and fits perfectly in your purse or bag and just looks like a wallet or makeup pouch. I’d rank it as an 8 out of 10. The company was also very personable with a sweet handwritten letter which made it seem friendly, thus the higher score. I soooo think this company has it right in the bag! They're awesome and have a wonderful product. I might just go and order some more. :)

Alli’s thoughts:  This is a fabulous idea! It’s exactly what I need, and I think so many other girls would benefit from it to. No longer do I have to worry about other people seeing my girly products when I’m rifling through my purse. The cute little pouch conceals everything very discreetly. The fabric it’s made out of is great too- very easy to clean, and virtually silent- no noisy Velcro. These pouches are sturdy and very well made. I can comfortably fit 3-4 pads in there, so it’s perfect. You’ll never be caught off guard!

The pouches are easy to use. They open like sandwich bags. Simple and quick, you’ll always have your products with you when you need them! You can buy them from http://www.dauzatdesigns.etsy.com/. They’re very affordable and would also make a great gift for a niece, granddaughter, friend, etc.

GIVEAWAY

One lucky entrant will receive a Maxi Pouch from Dauzat Designs. It will definitely come in handy, especially as the school year is starting! Perfect for your purse, gym bag, backpack, locker, office, school, or anywhere else you need to be discreet.

To enter: (here's what you gotta do)

-Leave a comment (with your email address) telling us why this personal pouch would come in handy for you!

For additional entries: (please leave one comment per additional entry you do)

-“Like” Dauzat Designs on Facebook

-Follow our blog, http://www.girlietalktime.blogspot.com/

-Post a link to our giveaway on Facebook so your friends will be able to enter

-Post a link to this giveaway on Twitter

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES GREATLY INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING!
This giveaway will run until September 8, when a winner will be chosen randomly.

Thanks for entering! Good luck!

My Favorite Pads & Tampons

Sorry for the lack of posts last week, girlies! Amii and I have been super busy this summer, but we will have some posts for you this week. <3 Don't forget to leave your requests below!

Today I just wanted to quickly share with you my top products for "that time of the month", mostly pads & tampons. This was requested from an anonymous reader of our blog. Amii will be doing the same things later on this week, so check out her recommendations too!

MY FAVORITE TAMPONS

I use the Tampax Pearl tampons with plastic applicator (plastic applicator are SO much easier than cardboard), unscented. You can get whatever size you need, but I prefer the multi-pack with lite and regular sizes.

PADS THAT DON'T MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE WEARING A DIAPER

I like the brand Always. I use the ulta thin ones with wings. You can get whatever size you need, I choose "slender". The Always Slender pads (look for the green and pink package) are great for teens or smaller-built women who find regular pads are just too big.  I've also used other Always pads, and I find they feel comfortable and give great protection.

PROTECTION FOR EVERY OTHER DAY

When I have a super-light period or just want to stay fresh all day, I like the U by Kotex Liners. They come in a little black box and are around a dollar. The colorful packaging is adorable and the liners are sooooo thin you'll barely feel them!

OTHER GIRLY PRODUCTS

Secret deoderant (the gel kind is the only one that doesn't leave white chalky stains on my clothes!)
Always on- the- go wipes (see my post all about that topic HERE)
Burt's Bees lip balm

I could go on and on..but I'll stop now. Hope this helped!!
If you have any questions or comments about this topic, you can leave a comment below (feel free to do so anonymously) or email us at GirlTalkTime@yahoo.com.

Love,

Alli

How to discreetly store your pads and tampons

Many teenage girls worry that people will notice they have a purse full of pads, or that they will have their purse open or someone will look through it and notice the tampons or other feminine products. If you worry about how to conceal these items (or keep them from getting banged up when they're floating around in your purse), I'm here to offer you some alternatives. There are lots of cute ways to store your pads/tampons so they will be discreet and also stay unharmed. This is especially important once school starts! You always want to make sure you are prepared and can quickly find protection whenever you need it. Here are some ideas I love.

-Glitzy Glam sells Pad holders and Tampon holders that keep your feminine products in a small, cute holder. You can pick lots of different fabrics and designs based on what you like. It's a fun way to store them in your purse!

-Try something you already have around your house, like a makeup bag, small clutch, or pencil case. You can easily put your feminine products in there and if your purse is open or spills, it won't look out of the ordinary. (this is what I do)

-Next time you're out of tampons, consider trying Compak Tampons by Tampax. They're more discreet since they're much smaller. They start out about half the size of a regular tampon, and you pull it to make it regular size. They're great for girls on the go, and easier to conceal!

-There are also whole companies dedicated to products like this, such as

http://www.myladylike.com/ ("Keeping Personal Products Private")

-http://www.tboxgirl.com/  The Tbox is a box you can store your tampons in. It has a suction cup on one side so you can easily attatch it to your locker or by your toilet, so you'll always have products on hand, but no one will know what's inside! It's a really clever idea, and it would also make a great gift for the tweens or teens in your life.

I hope these ideas helped you out!  If you have any questions or comments about this topic, you can leave a comment below (feel free to do so anonymously) or email us at GirlTalkTime@yahoo.com.

Good luck!

Love,

Alli