How to Put on a Pad? A Beginner's Guide

Besides, there are so many types to choose from on the market - pads with and without wings, thin and ultra-thick pads, scented and unscented pads, disposable and reusable pads... How do you know which ones will work best for you?

If you want my advice, here it is: start with the most common ones - they are usually labeled "normal". Also, skip the artificial smell - your pussy has its own, and it is 100% natural. It is best to avoid synthetic additives altogether, not only for the sake of Mother Earth, but also for your own body. I am writing this as someone who once experienced a strong allergic reaction to one of the ingredients contained in such a widely available, completely non-ecological pad, and at a time when my period had just started. 0/10, I do not recommend.

How to properly put on a pad?

To put on a pad, go to the bathroom. Wash your hands, pull your panties down to your knees and assume the most comfortable position for you - you can sit on an open toilet bowl or stand with your legs slightly apart (I personally recommend sitting down, this way you will avoid the risk of staining the floor tiles or the rug). Take the pad out of the packaging and stick it to your underwear so that the middle part of the pad is a few centimetres in front. If you have decided to use pads with wings (a good choice, they prevent the pad from moving, which is important), only now should you peel off the securing strips and stick the wings to the inside of your panties. Voilà! You now have solid protection for the next few hours. All you have to do is wash your paws and you can go back to bed, a warm hot water bottle, chocolate and Netflix. Or just to life, because your period does not have to automatically knock you off your feet.

How often should you change your pad?

When your bleeding is heaviest (for example, the first two days of my period), change your pad every 3-4 hours. On other days, changing every 6 hours or so is enough. However, treat these tips as guidelines, not specific guidelines. You will quickly see what you really need. If you need to put on a pad more often than every 4 hours on the days of heaviest bleeding, reach for a more absorbent one. If only a small part of the pad is full after four hours, a thin one will be enough.

Which pads should I choose for the night?

In order not to stain your underwear or bed linen, choose the most absorbent pad in the evening, with an extended back and wings. You don't have to set an alarm - you can easily change it after waking up. This is a big advantage of a pad - you should change a tampon every eight hours at most, so this option is not necessarily suitable for sleeping.

Advantages of sanitary pads

I use tampons during my period, but I like to have that one pack of pads on hand, and I'll explain why. A tampon is cool, yes, but it won't work in every situation. As I mentioned, it's more convenient (and safer) to give it up at night. It won't necessarily be a good friend during cystitis or genital tract infections. Sometimes, when your period is very scanty, the application isn't the most pleasant either. And here, all in white (literally!), the pad comes in. Or flies in. Because it has wings (oh, stop this carousel of laughter...). Considered the safest of all available products, the pad is still the most common choice for beginner menstruators.

In conclusion, I hope you will take my advice and remember that you do not have to decide on just one option - you can freely choose menstrual products depending on the situation, also during one period. Do it so that - especially on these days - you are as comfortable as possible.