Menstruation

What kind of sanitary product should I use?

There are many options of sanitary products available. The most common are disposable pads and tampons. Pads are absorbent pads that can stick to your underwear, while tampons are absorbent sticks that are inserted into the vagina and can be pulled out using a string. There are different sizes and levels of absorbency depending on how heavy your bleeding is. They should be changed often so that there is no overflow and you don't stain your clothes. Keeping a tampon in for too long, over 6 hours, can lead to infection. Starting off with a pad is recommended because it is easier to use but you can always change to a tampon if you find it more comfortable. Besides these disposable options, there are reusable items, like period cups or period panties. Period cups are made up of medical grade silicon and are inserted into the vagine to catch any blood and emptied out into the toilet and cleaned when they are full. Period panties are underwear lined with extra absorbent material so that they can catch the blood, just like with a disposable pad, except these can be washed and reused. These two products can last for years if they are well cared for. What you use is up to your own personal preference and it may take some experimenting to figure out your preferred system.