I'm trying to find a brand of tampons I like best and I've figured out that I prefer a certain shape once the tampon has expanded, but it's hard to find definitive information online about which brands expand in which shape. And I'm trying to avoid having to buy a bunch of different brands to try, realizing I don't like some of them, and then having lots of leftover tampons I don't like.
So I thought maybe crowdsourcing some info from you all would work. For reference, I'm in the US so it should be something that's available here. I prefer full size plastic applicators, not the compact type. It doesn't really matter to me if it's an organic brand or not. TL;DR at the end.
So far, I've tried 4 brands and have figured out some stuff about what I do and don't like:
- Tampax pearl: I sort of like it, but maybe there's something better out there? It expands widthwise in a wing shape, or kind of like a book opening, so it's a bit more rectangular/flat once expanded. They are shorter and wider once expanded than the August brand tampons described below.
- August: this is a newer organic brand that I saw at Target. So far, it's my favorite of the 4 but it's pretty expensive compared to other brands. What I like about this brand is that it has good applicators, and the tampons open in a wing shape similar to what I described for Tampax pearl. But the August tampons seem like they also expand in length and/or maybe are longer to start with?, so they're longer and thinner upon removal and that's more comfortable to me.
- Playtex Sport: dislike. I don't like the shape it expands in and it's more uncomfortable to me to remove. I've seen this shape described as like an umbrella, a tulip, teardrop, or a ghost. I'd describe what it looked like in my personal experience as kind of shaped like an American football - tapered at the ends and wider in the middle.
- Lola: dislike. It expands outwards all around, like from the shape of o to O. It was also rather short and wide once expanded, iirc. To me, it was more uncomfortable to remove. I also didn't like the applicators because they were compact style and don't have a good grip section.
TL;DR: recommendations wanted for tampons with plastic full size applicators, that expand in a "wing" shape - specifically that they tend to be longer and thinner once expanded rather than shorter and wider, available in the US, either organic or non-organic
Thanks for any suggestions any of you can provide!
I like o.b. Plus less plastic waste and they seem to protect from leaks more effectively because you kind of flare the base out before inserting.
You could look into other options if tampons aren’t working for you, they aren’t for everybody.
Also, you could possibly donate unused tampons to a women’s shelter since they’re individually wrapped?
Previously, when I was trying to find out how to donate some items to the local women's shelter, I couldn't get a response from anyone about what things they accept and where to drop it off and all that. Also, I think some organizations might only take product donations if the whole box/package is unopened.
I'd like to figure out a brand of tampons I find workable for occasions I do want to use one, even if I'll still use pads for other times.
Have you ever tried a menstrual cup or disc?
I've tried menstrual cups, though not discs. I'm not really planning to go back to using menstrual cups because ultimately I found it too much of a hassle to remove and empty. In the future, I'd probably only use one in an emergency if I had completely run out of other products.
That’s totally fair, tampons definitely have some advantages. I tried disposable discs a couple of months ago and they’re not too bad. I hope you find something that works well for you.