Tampons!

I tried tampons for the first time around your age if not a little younger, I'm 37 now.  Once you try them you will not want to go back to a pad.  I am pretty loyal to the brand Playtex, they just feel more comfortable to me.  It would be a good idea to maybe buy one of the boxes that has an assortment of sizes in it.  These assortments usually contain some slender-regular, regular and or super tampons.  I'm guessing by your description that you won't need the super size ones.  It sounds like, by your description, that we have a similar type of cycle.  I tend to have a light flow too, so I buy the Playtex combination pack of slender-regular and regular.  I tend to stick with mostly the slender, unless it is a particularly heavy day, then I will use the regular.  A few years ago tampon manufacturers were required by law to regulate tampon sizes.  What that means is that all tampons that are labeled "regular" absorb the exact same amount of fluid.  This standardization is true of all of the sizes.  So a regular size tampon from Playtex will absorb the same amount as a regular tampon from Tampax.  This standardization does not mean that all tampons are the same shape and size.  It will take some experimenting to find the right fit for you.It would be a good idea if you set aside some private time to buy a box of these, find somewhere you won't be interrupted and read the package insert.  This will inform you about Toxic Shock Syndrome, a rare but serious disease associated with the use of tampons.  The insert will also give you specific instructions on how exactly to insert a tampon.  It may take a few practice tries to get comfortable with the insertion process.  I, myself, find it much more comfortable to insert a tampon while standing up instead of sitting on the toilet.  These are the specifics you will figure out as you go along.  Everyone's body is different and I'm sure you will find out what works for you.  You should never feel self-conscious about asking for advice on a feminine topic such as this.  All of us, of the female persuasion, have been there and it is my privilege to pass on what I have learned to you.  Once you get comfortable you will feel much freer and more comfortable using tampons.  You can swim and it is far more comfortable than using a pad.  Tampons should be changed every 4-8 hours.  It can be dangerous to change them too often, as you can cause an abrasion on the inner walls of the vagina if the tampon is too dry.  You can use a lubricant, such as K-Y if you find there is pain from the dryness when you insert one.   You said that you wear liners on a daily basis.  This is fine, but you should never wear a tampon if you are not menstruating.  It would block the vagina's natural ability to clean and keep itself healthy.  Here is a valuable website for any questions on woman's health issues:  womenshealth.about.comAlso you should never be afraid to bring up any concerns, questions or fears with your gynocologist, or doctor.  That is what they are there for to help you, and trust me they've heard it all before.  They won't be embaressed and neither should you.  Good luck and congratulations on entering womanhood!

Oh, and I just wanted to add this.. don't be too worried if you have trouble with it the first time, or the first couple of times. And practice before you wear one out of the house! The first time I wore one was to the pool.. a friend convinced me to go, and since my mom was so anti-tampon she had never shown me what to do. Needless to say I didn't insert it properly and it was no longer there when I went to remove it. I of course freaked out and all reason and knowledge of anatomy left me temporarily, as I was convinced it was lost up inside me. It was a few years until I tried again, after the aforementioned 'unfortunate incident'.

Fun/weird fact--in Vietnam I couldn't find a place that sells tampons! Apparently they're considered too sexual, and women just use pads.The advice that was already given is absolutely great. The only thing I want to add is that get the good kind, with a nice applicator, when you first start using them. It makes everything easier :)Also, you can get free tampons from a few brands:http://www.playtexgentleglide.com/Gentle_Glide_Sample.htmlhttp://www.playtexsport.com/Demand-It.aspxhttp://www.beinggirl.com/en_US/sampling_teen.jsp?sourcetype=ygirl&source...And some info about TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome), general menstruation info, insertion, can be found here:http://www.playtexgentleglide.com/Moms_and_First_Time.html(I find the pictures to be helpful!)The free packs usually have instructions and diagrams and everything.

my mom never really liked the idea of tampons because she thought it was too sexual. this is the same with most of my older female relatives. i convinced her to get me some though and she doesn't have any problems with it anymore. i started using tampons when i was a junior or senior in high school and they are great. you might have to test some different tampons to see what works best for you. my favorite one so far are the Playtex Gentle Glide. they are very easy to use. I'd start with the smallest size and practice...and remember to relax so it will be easier to insert. that is the key!

I love Tampax Pearls. They're definitely the easiest to use for me. I also like that they have the thicker cord thingie. I always use a liner with a tampon, just in case, unless I'm going swimming or something like that. I definitely recommend something with a plastic applicator vs. a cardboard one. You just have to relax and if you need to use some personal lubricant. You should be good to go then. Good luck :)

You know, I was never allowed to use tampons in high school because my mom thought they were a bad thing. I always thought it was a Catholic thing. So I used to buy them and hide them in my locker so I could use them at school, and at home I still used the pads that she bought me, and I always had a heavy flow, so I was constantly having to run to the bathroom and change them, and I took about a hundred showers during my cycle, because you get so paranoid that you're not smelling fresh. Tampons are so much better, you will never go back to pads.

It took me months to learn how to use a tampon! The instructions scared me to death. My mom actually wanted to show me how to do it using herself as the model. I, of course, declined.  Just relax, don't clench your muscles, take a deep breath, slip it in, push the tube in there then pull out the applicator. You'll be surprised how comfortable it is once it's in there. It's not really that big of a deal. Good luck!

I have been wondering about this too.

I couldn't go back to using pads,i've been using tampons for years now.. and i don't no how i could ever live with out them... they make my period go alot smoother i don't have to worry to much about a pad being leaky or what not, my fave are the tampax pearls!