Everything to know about Tampons

When it comes to feminine hygiene and their importance for women's health, menstrual awareness, and issues related to familiarization with female hygiene products are some of the topmost concerns among the adult population. Although developing nations are still struggling with basic hygiene awareness and stigma related to menstruation among women, it also affects the mental and physiological well-being of adolescent women in many ways. From sanitary pads, menstrual cups to tampons – there are multiple options available for women, and one can choose to pick the best-suited product according to their needs and budget. 

What is a tampon? 

A lot of people are still unclear about tampons, and to put it simply it’s a far more effective way of soaking up menstrual blood as it is designed to absorb vaginal secretions during heavy periods. It is a cylindrical stick-like product made of rayon, organic cotton, or a blend of rayon and cotton, along with synthetic fibers and comes in various sizes – depending on your flow you can choose what suits you best at what time of the menstrual cycle. It is inserted in the vaginal canal like a plug with a string and once it's inside, the sanitary product expands and absorbs all the menstrual blood without any leakage issues. A normal tampon acts like a sponge and can be used for six to eight hours. Once used, it can be removed easily with the help of string and disposed of in the waste bin. 

How popular are tampons? 

 According to the recent Persistence Market Research report, East Asia is one of the emerging markets for tampons and it comprises around 22% of the global population, of which, 49% are women. With the growing popularity of this sanitary product among women with an active lifestyle and adolescent girls, tampons sales are growing at a considerable rate. With the rise in awareness about the benefits of tampons, a lot of women have started using them over regular pads or cups. According to a study, an average consumer may use approximately 11,400 tampons in her lifetime (if using only tampons) based on the absorbency rates of the product. For an average woman, expected blood loss during the periods is between 5ml to 80 ml, and experts suggest that a tampon can hold between 3ml to 12 ml of fluid in one go. 

Things to know before you buy tampons:

1. One of the best things about a tampon is you can wear in the shower or even while you swim – once inserted properly in the vagina, it can keep you stain-free and you won’t have to think twice before you go on an adventure.
2. Usually, a box of tampons might cost the same as a pack of sanitary napkins, and you must check out the absorbency rate of the product as it may vary between high to low. Pick the ones with sustainable materials like organic cotton or bio-degradable matter that are good for the environment. 
3. It is a pain-free and hassle-free way to control your blood flow.
4. While using a tampon, keep in mind the period as Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) can be a side-effect if you wear it for a long duration of time (over 8 hours). 

Also, read "What are Panty Liners? And why should we use them?"

Cover photo by freepik