14 year old daughter, periods and tampon size?

Yea, there are "slender" ones for
smaller and/or younger girls.

well i have had my period for a while and i tried to use a tampon but it wasnt in all the way and it was annoying so ask her about that

i am thirteen and i am also a hard core gymnast who works out about 30 something hours a week so i use playtex sport tampons and the regular and super are like a tad bit different. i hope this help.

Hi Kelley,

How is your daughter doing with the tampons? I was not allowed to use tampons in my house until I was 18. I personally don't fall for the "it doesn't interfere with your virginity" line. Of course you will still be a virgin because there's no sex involved and tampons are significantly smaller than a penis. BUT I was 18 years old when I first tried inserting a tampon and when you're a virgin, even a pinkie would hurt to insert into your vagina. Just my two cents.

I also wanted to know how she was doing because although I use tampons out of convenience (to avoid staining), I find that my cramps multiply when I wear tampons-- Does she experience this too? Or could it just be me?

Thanks!

im 11 and i had my period last night, is that bad?

My daughter who is now 14 and received her period when she was 13. She told me that she had some vaginal discharge on and off for many years prior to starting her period. I know it can frustrating, especially when many of your friends have started their periods but hang in there. Try to enjoy the additional freedom you have now. It will come soon enough.

Hi. I am 14, I have had vaginal discharge for a year, and still no period!!! Is there something wrong? My mom got her period when she was 14, my cousins when they were 16! Should I expect it soon?

I I'm 17 and try to use tampons regularly but they don't seem to catch everything. I'm only aloud to use regular or teen size and if i ask my mom to pick up a bigger size that she might think that i am having sex. She doesn't use tampons, and i am not having sex. How can i bring up the subject and what size should i ask her to get for me?

-Heather-

Hey, it's the 13 year old from above! Thanks so much for the advice! Thank you Shannon for the Size issue and thanks Diane for the Plastic vs Cardboard issue and School issue! I think the problem was the type. I went to the store today and bought a Tampax Pearl-plastic box which included Lites, Regular, and Super tampon sizes. I found these way easier to insert and a lot more comfortable! I was however out of school today due to a winter storm, and haven't been able to test them there. I'm not exactly sure on when to switch them during school, but I will probably just ask my 3rd hour teacher to use the restroom so I can be alone and not rushed to hurry it in. Besides, my 3rd hour is Science and we are always busy in that class so I doubt that anyone will notice if I'm gone for a little bit. Anyway, thanks for the support and taking the time to help me out! I really appriciate it! :^)

Hi, Anon, I'm glad you found us here at Empowher.

Do you think that on your heavy days, your problem is that you can't change your tampon often enough? I imagine that being in school gives you only a small window of opportunity between classes to go to the restroom, and that if you are stressed while inserting them, that hurry-up-before-the-bell-rings issue would make it worse.

Were you able to read the tips about tampon insertion up above? Did they help you at all?

Are you using a brand that has a plastic applicator, or a cardboard applicator? The plastic ones are sometimes more curved at the top and therefore easier to insert, like the expert at the company above said.

Also, you might try switching brands. Another brand's "slender" might fit you better than your brand's "slender." With feminine hygiene, it's really an individual choice as to what works better for each person.

In terms of slender vs. regular, there's nothing wrong with moving up a size -- you just have to be aware of how it feels to you and whether it works better for you. If the regular seems too large, have you tried a tampon with a panty liner, to prevent accidents?

Tampons do take a little practice. As one of the above people said, if you don't have it inserted far enough it can be uncomfortable. A tampon that is the proper size and that is properly placed can hardly be felt, if at all.

You may not need this information, but here's a guide on first tampons, and on how to insert them, with an illustration. It's important that you are pushing them toward the small of your back, not straight up:

http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/tampon.html

Be patient with yourself. This is new to you, and it takes a little practice.