Tampons: how did you start?

To female Zity members... How did you start on tampons? (or: say if you never did!) How old were you? Was it straight after starting menstruations, or afterwards? What decided you? Was it difficult? Did you experience pressure (from family or others) to use or not to use tampons? Was tampon use common where you lived? What era was that (1950s, 1960s, 1970s etc) and which country?

The first time I ever used a tampon was when I was in 7th or 8th grade, witch was several years after I stared my period in 5th grade. This was probably the late 1980s. I had never used tampons, my mom always just bought me cereal sized boxes of Stayfree pads ?

It was the summer and I went RV camping with one of my friends and her family. There was a pool at the campground, but I wasn't going to swimming because I was on my period. My friend's mom asked me why I wasn't swimming, and when I told her that I was on my period she asked me why I didn't just use a tampon. I told her I had never used one before and she said they were easy to use and would show me how. She got a tampon and went to that bathroom with me. She took one out of the package, I had never seen one up close before, and showed my how the one piece pushes the cotton part up. She explained to me that I would put it inside me and then push the one piece up inside me and the cotton would stay behind. I had no idea how to do that, but I would try it because she said it was easy. My friend's mom gave me a tampon and waited outside the bathroom stall while I put the tampon in. I put the applicator inside me and pushed the cotton up inside me, but I didn't do it far enough and it felt really uncomfortable. I told my friend's mom that I don't think I did it right, and she told me that I had to put my finger inside me and push the tampon up as far as I could. So, I did what she said and it seemed to work. I was able to go swimming that weekend and she supplied me with tampons.

I have never really liked tampons because I feel like they are uncomfortable and don't always work. Most all of my friends have always used tampons instead of pads, it seemed like I was always the only one using pads. I feel like tampons are the more popular choice, but I just don't like them.

Allie80: Swimming seems like a common reason to use tampons for girls who normally don't. I've even heard about PE teachers imposing their use.

I started tampons at about 16 when I first got my period. It is a somewhat weird story. My step brother helped me because I never had a mom and my dad was not home. When I went to the bathroom there was blood in the water and I thought I had internally injured myself. My step-brother asked questions and said I was having my period. He said girls normally use sanitary pads or tampons and explained the difference. He said he would get them for me. After overcoming the shock I asked him to get tampons because I did not want anyone to know what was going on. He asked if I was sure because they would have to be pushed inside me. I said yes and he rode his bike to the convenience store telling me to take a shower while he was gone. When he returned we opened the box of tampons and read the confusing instructions. I don’t know why it seemed so difficult because I had previously pushed other objects into my vagina. Finally my step brother asked if he could try and somehow he got it in. Surprisingly it wasn’t that bad and it completely stopped the bleeding. It was weird to see a string hanging out of my crotch which I disliked, but later I found another type which had none.

I first bought a box of tampons when I was in college, because I wanted to try them. But I couldn't figure out how to put them in properly and they hurt. I started using them again last year, in a pinch - my period started early, and i didn't have a pad. Since there is mostly women at work, my boss keeps tampons in her desk. My friend helped me put them in correctly. Now I go back and forth between using tampons and pads. Always pads at night, but tampons during the day, because they tend to be easier with my work.

Growing up with an older sister and her friends made me want to try them but I didn't come out and say it. I had used pads but one day my sister talked me into trying a tampon. I looked at it and said it would not fit. I knew what my hymen felt like and so did my sister. Yes, we used to masturbate together. I mean we were young and shared a room. She was the one who taught me that it was alright to masturbate when I was 12. From what I understand a lot of girls experimented with their sisters. Anyway, when we masturbated I would never let her go beyond my hymen. I could tell when she was there and would make her stop. I had this fear that somehow mom would find out if my hymen was broken. Just one of those young age fears. So I kept telling my sister it wouldn't fit and she kept telling me it would. She told me I would expand. Then she had me put a finger in her and then two. I was amazed but still scared. Then I watched up close her putting one in. She told me she would put one in me and I refused. I told her I would do it myself. So I opened one and took my time and it was uncomfortable and hurt. I finally got it in and left it for a while. Then came time to take it out. OMG, that was worse pain than putting it in. I was afraid I was going to break for sure but I didn't. I did not try another one until I was seventeen and had sex. I was around 13 closer to 14. I think I had one maybe two periods before. This was in the 80's USA