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Learn more about Tampax tampons and feminine care products, including tampon and period information and helpful women's health articles.

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Tampax 2015

When it comes to your period, paying attention to your menstrual flow can pay off in several ways. Obviously, it can simplify your life to know when to expect your period and plan for having tampons on hand to help you manage it. 

Beyond convenience, knowing your flow is also important for your health. If your flow is too heavy, it can cause health problems, or it might signal a medical condition. And even knowing the right tampon sizes to use can have an impact on your health. No joke. 

There’s a lot to know about your period flow, so let’s go!


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Which Tampon Sizes Do You Need? Know Your Flow

ThingLink

Tampax_1936

Can You Flush Tampons? The Facts on Tampon Disposal and Recycling Tampax

Tampax 1940s

Tampax and Amy Schumer

### 2002: 
#### The Next Big Thing in Period Care
That groundbreaking new tampon was Tampax Pearl, which debuted in 2002 with a plastic applicator and rounded tip; it was an immediate success. In addition to an easy to insert plastic applicator, Tampax Pearl was designed with FormFit expansion to gently expand to fit her unique shape. That, plus a LeakGuard braid to help stop leaks before they happen, made Tampax Pearl up to 100% leak free to help women be worry free on even their heaviest days.

Game on with Tampax Gen G

### 1985
#### Tampax Breaks TV Taboos
In an effort to break a crazy taboo, Tampax uses the word “period” in one of our TV ads, a revolutionary move at the time. It was all part of our mission to stop people from making women feel ashamed or embarrassed about a perfectly natural function of the female body.  

### 1986
#### 50 Years of Living Life Without Limits
Tampons were named one of the “50 small wonders and big deals that revolutionized the lives of consumers.” We like to think Tampax had a part in that, considering we celebrated our 50th anniversary that same year and boasted a market share of over 60 percent at the time. 


# Can You Flush Tampons? The Facts on Tampon Disposal and Recycling Tampax


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Tampax history

Tampax 2012

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Find Your Flow Quiz

Period Health - How to Manage a Heavy Period (aka Menstrual Menorrhagia)

How to Manage a Heavy Period (aka Menstrual Menorrhagia)

Our Mission

There’s nothing worse than feeling a little *squish* in your pants and being faced with the potential horror that you might’ve just started your period unprepared. “When should I get my period?” you wonder, followed by “Did I just start my period?” are not the best things to cross your mind on a day you’re not expecting it. Be your own period prepper with the Tampax Period Calculator to know when your flow is about to start.
For those vagina-havers with regular cycles (how’s it feel to be genetically lucky?), use our period calendar tracking tool to find out when you can roll the dice with your favorite pair of white jeans. 

__How do menstrual calculators work?__
Glad you asked. Basically, your body runs on a four-part “menstrual cycle” — and while you might assume that phrase means just the week of bleeding, in actuality, your menstrual cycle also refers to the weeks you don’t bleed. Your body is still grinding and putting in work — it’s not like your reproductive system just goes all-out the one week you bleed.
[You start with the menstrual cycle (your period, when the lining of your uterus sheds), followed by the follicular phase (when the follicles in your ovaries mature and get ready for the prime time: ovulation), then comes (you guessed it) ovulation (when the egg is released), followed finally by the luteal phase (when the egg makes its way down your fallopian tubes and gets ready to bleed)](/en-us/period-health/menstrual-cycle-phases/).

Knowing this, you can track your period and your cycle. Voila!

It’s like those annoying SAT logic questions. If luteinizing is def gonna happen, then the menstrual cycle is def gonna happen next, and it’s only a matter of time before you bleed. You can also tell other ways to see where in your cycle your body is, like tracking your basal body temp (your temp when you first wake up), and checking your cervical mucus, both of which are helpful to know if you want to see if you’re ovulating, aka at your most fertile. But since seeing your period is an easier way of pinning down where you are in your cycle, tracking the days you bleed can also help you fill in the missing gaps to better picture your cycle’s timeline. 

It’s using this information that you can get a chronological, clearer picture of what to expect. 

Of course, not everyone’s cycle is totally the same. The average length that people usually go by is 28 days, but [anywhere from 21 to 35 days is normal too](/en-us/period-health/menstrual-cycle-phases/), so don’t stress if you tend to be on the earlier or later side, as long as it’s consistent for your bod. If you’re on birth control, this can also help give you a more stable idea of your cycle, as birth control regulates your period a bit better. 

But whether your period is three days, five, or seven days, whether it comes every month or more like every month-ish, you can still use a period calculator to better learn your cycle.
__How to Use a Period Tracker:__
Simply input the length of your average period and the length of your last period, and let the period calculator do the rest. 

Pop in the date your last period began, the length of time it lasted, and the average length of your cycle to get a better idea of when you can reasonably expect your next period. If you have no idea how long between your periods, make a note the next time it starts and when it ends so you have it on hand for next month. Better late than never amirite?

You can also use a “period tracker” for way more than just predicting bleed week. Since ovulation usually occurs on the [14th day of your cycle](https://www.medicinenet.com/menstruation/article.htm) (with Day 1 of your cycle being the first day you bleed), you can also learn and track peak ovulation.

Period Calendar Bottom Text

Switch between tampon absorbencies throughout</br>your menstrual cycle for better comfort and protection.

## GO UP</br>or GO DOWN

How to Decide Between Pads and Tampons Title

Tampax 1986

Tampons

### 1934
#### Taking Care of Business 
Enter a Denver-based female entrepreneur who purchased the tampon patent and set about building a female-led, female-focused company to produce, market, and sell tampons. At the very beginning of the business, she was actually hand-sewing the tampons herself before scaling to machinery.

Time to Tampax with Amy Schumer

Tampax

Do you have a late or missed period? Have changes in flow? Learn the causes of irregular periods, how long periods last, and how to regulate your cycle.

Why You Might Have Irregular Periods

Why You Might Have Irregular Periods | Tampax®

Tampax Our Ingredients | Tampax®

How to Insert a Tampon 

## Let’s Talk About It. Seriously.
Our mission is to make period conversations as normal as periods so women and all who bleed can feel educated, empowered and limitless every day of the month. 

Tampax is proud of our 80+ year history as a brand founded by a fearless female entrepreneur. Our founder created an all-female workforce to sell tampons - from women factory workers to traveling nurses who educated the public. She even convinced newspapers to run public ads - at a time when no respectable lady was supposed to be talking about vaginas, let alone things that went inside of them.
 
We continue to believe in a culture of confidence, female empowerment, and courage that comes with knowing women can live their life without limits, even while on their periods. Period. 

Sadly, society has created a world where there's no real talk about women's bodies, periods, or tampons. And when we don't talk about periods, people feel like they can't talk about periods. This lack of conversation self-perpetuates myths and misinformation, makes people worry about the unknown, leads them to put up with physical discomfort, and results in a lack of knowledge that still holds us all back today.

Let’s get real. The last extensive period conversation many people had was likely about their first period. It was probably awkward. They were probably awkward. People should be allowed more than one conversation about their bodies and their periods, because lack of conversation leads to miseducation, misinformation and missed opportunities.
## No Shame. No Stress. No Limits.
Tampax is building on our [bold history](/en-us/about/our-story/history-of-tampax/) by helping women, and others who bleed, imagine a future without limits. What if we could talk freely about our periods? What if we could be empowered with facts about our bodies, rather than silently stress-Googling? Tampax believes talking about your period should be as easy as any other life update, like a hard day at work or an exciting new boo. The topic of tampons should be as neutral as toothbrushes or shampoo. No shame. No stress.
## Tampons Are Our Business, but You Are Our Priority 
We are, and have always been, about improving the lives of women and other people who bleed. We put you at the core and each of our [products](/en-us/all-products/) have been created, updated or advanced based on your needs. We’ve also made it our business to clear up any period-related mysteries, because not having the right information can be scary and create barriers that are keeping you from living your fullest lives. To change this, we are [partnering with other period powerhouses](/en-us/about/partnerships/) and experts to provide opportunities to laugh, teach and talk about periods, while sparking conversation and supporting those who are doing the same. When it comes to periods, we’re ready to shatter the limitations that hold all who bleed back. Let’s do this!

## Gen.G

Light

LIGHT

Tampax 2019

Which Tampon Sizes Do you Need? Know Your Flow 

About Us

About

### 1940s
#### Tampax University Is Now in Session
World War II pushes more women into the workforce, and the need for reliable, limitless period protection becomes a driving force in the popularity of tampons. Tampax responds by creating our own formal education program to teach women about tampons and the best way to use them.  
In 1941 Tampax established the company’s first educational department. The women educators became known as the ‘Tampax Ladies,’ traveling to colleges and schools, as well as trade shows and conventions. 
Also in 1941, at the New Brunswick Plant, Tampax produced cotton bandages and surgical dressings for the U.S. military alongside the tampon assembly lines.

Our Ingredients - Article List

Our Ingredients

### 2019
#### Go With the Flow
Did you know that you can use different tampon sizes depending on your specific period flow? Tampax worked to spread the word on this common misconception— and that only Tampax Pearl tampons have five absorbencies (Light, Regular, Super, Super Plus and Ultra), so you can find the best match for your changing period flow. Not sure how to find the right size? Use our guide for picking the [best tampon sizes for your flow](/en-us/tampon-truths/best-tampons-sizes-for-heavy-light-flow/). 


Are tampons flushable? How do you properly dispose of them? Find tips and more answers on flushing tampons.

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Can You Flush Tampons?

Can You Flush Tampons? | Tampax®

Tampons Truths

Tampon Truths

### 1960s/1970s
#### The Tampon Boom
While still dominating the tampon game, competition starts to get fierce as companies like Playtex, Kimberly-Clark, and Johnson & Johnson debut their own versions. Magazine ads focus on how tampons are discreet and let you wear whatever you want when you’re on your period.
In 1972, tampon ads are shown on TV in the U.S. for the first time ever, marking a major milestone towards normalizing period talk and bringing more awareness about tampon options to women across the nation.

### 1980s
#### Tampax Begins TSS Education
Tampax began an educational campaign discussing both Tampax tampons and Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) to educate women on the effects, symptoms, and treatment options. Learn more about [Toxic Shock Syndrome Causes, Symptoms and Treatment options](/en-us/period-health/toxic-shock-syndrome-causes-treatment/).

Tampax, with a little help from Amy Schumer, is on a mission to help provide education on periods and tampons. Get your questions answered here!

Amy Schumer and Tampax are teaming up to make period conversations as normal as periods – removing the stigma around periods and tampons so people can laugh about them, learn about them and have a more comfortable period experience. Join us!

Talking Tampons and Periods with Amy Schumer | Tampax®

United Esports

Find your flow combo with Tampax Pearl

Power of Our Partners

Game on with Tampax Icon

Game on

Tampax_1934

Experience heavy menstrual bleeding? Learn about the causes, symptoms, treatments and Tampax products best for Menorrhagia or heavy periods.

Menorrhagia (Heavy Periods) Symptoms and Treatments

Our Partnerships

Gen G

Sustainability

Tampon truths - What You Need to Know About Menstrual Cups

What You Need to Know About Menstrual Cups

## Please Don’t Flush Tampons Down the Toilet
No shame, we’ve all been there. The oh-so-tempting convenience of pulling a tampon out and wanting to flush it down the toilet (especially in a public restroom) seems like the perfect mess-free thing to do. We hear you...and we wish it were true. But PLEASE do not flush your tampons down the toilet. One thing we know everyone could enjoy less of is opening a stall door and coming face to face with a red, bloody, and clogged toilet. Do your part and please don’t flush tampons.
## Tampons Disposal: How to Get Rid of a Tampon
So, now that you’ve decided to never flush a tampon again, how should you dispose of it? Tampon disposal is pretty straight-forward, you can simply wrap your used tampon up in toilet paper and throw away used tampons in the garbage bin or trash. Nothing fancy. Tampon applicators, whether they are cardboard or plastic, can also be wrapped in toilet paper and thrown away and we suggest our [Radiant tampons](/en-us/all-products/radiant/regular-tampons/), which come with a CleanSeal wrapper, for quick, easy disposal.
## Tampon Recycling – What You Can and Cannot Recycle
We’ve covered the bases on can you flush tampons down the toilet  – please don’t flush them and simply toss those in the garbage along with the wrapper. But can I recycle my tampon applicator? It’s a good question. Unfortunately, you cannot recycle tampon applicators. Because tampons have been in contact with blood which is considered human waste, conventional city or country recycling streams are unable to process them.

While tampon applicators cannot be recycled, all Tampax boxes in North America can be recycled and 96% of all Tampax packaging globally is recyclable. Many of our packages are made from recycled materials, so continue helping us out and recycle your Tampax boxes after use. We’ve reduced the amount of packaging required for our products and continue to look for ways to reduce the material needed to get products into your hand. 

If you’re interested in a fully reusable period product, we suggest checking out our [Tampax Cup](/en-us/tampon-truths/what-is-a-menstrual-cup/). It’s a medical-grade silicone cup that you insert into your vagina to capture period blood for up to 12 hours. Menstrual cups work a little differently than tampons. Instead of absorbing blood like a tampon, menstrual cups capture the blood and hold it until you’re ready to change. When you remove it, you need to dump the contents into the toilet and rinse it with soap and water before using it again. Insertion, wearing, and removal can be a little tricky at first so [check out this menstrual cup guide](/en-us/tampon-truths/what-is-a-menstrual-cup/) if you’re interested in learning more. Enjoy reusing a Tampax cup over and over for up to 1 year. Good for you and good for the environment.


Your flow is different every day.  
Your tampon should be, too.

#### Find your flow combo with Tampax Pearl

Tampax and Amy old

Tampax and Amy

Ultra

ULTRA

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Ingredient Transparency

Only Tampax Pearl tampons have five absorbencies so you can find  
the perfect match for your period flow. Tampax Pearl are available in Light,  
Regular, Super, Super Plus and Ultra tampon absorbencies.

Five Absorbencies to Match Your Flow

## Five Absorbencies </br>to Match Your Flow

Period Tracker

Once upon a time people used the stars for navigation and thought the earth was flat. We’re better than that now. Thanks to modern science (namely period trackers), knowing exactly when to throw an extra Tampax or two into your bag doesn’t have to be a complete shot in the dark anymore. Simply punch your info into our period cycle tracker to see when you might be feeling that PMS bloat, when you can expect your period, and when you’re the most fertile during ovulation.

### Period Tracker

You probably have never really thought about when tampons were invented, or even who invented them. Why would you? We’ve been fortunate enough to have never really known a time where tampons weren’t a thing. But, up until 1929, the prevalent method for women to deal with their period each month was with bulky pads, usually made of some type of thick cloth. As you can imagine, those weren’t really the most convenient or comfortable ways to manage your monthly flow. Imagine walking around with what felt like a diaper stuffed in your underwear. Not fun.
Which is where we came in. While tampons as we know them today were invented in 1929, it wasn’t until 1934 when our fearless female founder bought the patent and started a female-led and female focused company. Tampax has been educating and empowering women and those who bleed to live life without limits since then. Tampons, have revolutionized how we deal with our periods. From introducing a product that helped women join the workforce in the 1930s to normalizing conversations around women's health and period care, Tampax has a long history of game-changing moments that promote well-being for all

Keep reading to learn some of the most fascinating moments in Tampax (and tampon) history.

## Timeline:
### 1931
#### Where It All Began
An inventor patents a new kind of period product made of compressed cotton with a string in the center and housed in a paper tube. And so the “modern-day” tampon was born.

Find Your Flow Combo with Tampax Pearl  1

Find Your Flow Combo with Tampax Pearl

How to Decide Between Pads and Tampons Body

How to Decide Between Pads and Tampons

Game On with Tampax

Get comfy and game on! Break gendered stigamas and learn about our partnerships with leading esports organizations - Gen.G and United Esports.

Game On with Tampax

Gen.G

United Esports

Related articles:

The History of Tampax

Can You Flush Tampons? The Facts on Tampon Disposal and Recycling Tampax

Our Mission