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.
There’s a lot to know about your period flow, so let’s go!
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If you’ve had more than a few periods, you know what’s normal for you, but you may wonder if your flow is like others. Most periods last 3-7 days, but all days aren’t the same. It’s normal for your flow to change through your period. Typically, there are 1-3 days that are heaviest, then it tends to taper off over the rest of your period, becoming light or “spotty” toward the end.
First of all, tampon size has nothing to do with vagina size (and there’s no such thing as a “wide-set vagina”)! It’s all about flow and absorbency. Bigger size tampons are for heavier period flow. Smaller size tampons are for lighter flow. It matters because the safest way to use tampons is to always use the lowest absorbency that will manage your flow. That’s why Tampax Pearl has 5 tampon sizes for your period flow needs: Light, Regular, Super, Super Plus, and Ultra absorbencies. We found it helpful to try different absorbency tampons to find out what works best for your flow.
With 5 different sizes, you have a lot to choose from, but sometimes you just need an answer! Tampon sizes are based on the amount of fluid they absorb. Most women use a Regular absorbency. If you want to start with the smallest size tampon until you figure it out, try the Light size. If your tampon leaks in just a few hours? Go Up; If your Tampon is uncomfortable to change? Go Down.
If you're a tampon beginner, we recommend the Tampax Starter Kit for an an easy first tampon trial. It comes with step-by-step visual instructions (even on the wrapper) and two absorbencies, so you can find what works best for you. Once you’ve used a tampon a couple of times, you can switch to the tampon size that works best for your flow. Tampon size has nothing to do with your experience using tampons or your body size, but it’s all about using the best size that works for your flow. Check out this guide for first time tampon users on how to insert a tampon.
If you remove a tampon after 6 hours and it still has a lot of “white” showing or it’s uncomfortable because it feels dry, you can try going down a size. If you fill or overflow a tampon in less than 4 hours, go up a size.
Sometimes it’s hard to know when it’s time to remove your tampon and you obviously want to remove your tampon before it leaks. While you are still learning how frequently to change, we recommend checking every 2-3 hours. There are a few ways you can check if it's time to remove:
Tampons can be worn for up to 8 hours. If you get to 8 hours and there’s no leak, it’s time to take the tampon out whether it’s full or not.
You can change your period products for different reasons, not just because they’re always full, so there’s not an exact answer here. However, 3-6 products per day (pads or tampons) is normal. If you’re using less than that, you may not be changing them enough for health and hygiene. If you’re using more than that because they are filling up fast or leaking, you may want to try a bigger size.
Whether you use pads, tampons, a menstrual cup or period underwear is totally up to you. There are LOTS of period products to choose from, and the choice is yours to make. Sometimes it depends on what you’re doing. For example if you want to swim during your period, a tampon makes that easy. Some of us only use tampons as part of our routine, and some never use anything but tampons. It really depends on what works best for you! If you're interested in learning how to use tampons, try the Tampax Starter Kit for an easy first tampon trial!
