Tampon shortage

[NewOrleans]

😖

www.npr.org/2022/06/12/1104393549/tampons-are-the-latest-supply-chain-casualty-women-took-notice-months-ago

[VillainV]

@@@@@@@@@@ snarky response@@@@@@@






“Just get pregnant so you don’t menstruate.”

— Some Douchebag Republican White Guy (probably)

[dancingirl21]

I’ve been thinking for awhile about trying the flex disc. Has anyone tried it and liked it?

This might push me in that direction.

[cattledogkisses]

Lovely. I can't wait to drive around to a dozen stores looking for tampons.

Since this is an issue that primarily affects women, and, as the article notes, decision-makers and CEOs are overwhelmingly men, I don't have confidence that resolving this will be a high priority.

[lostrn]

Jun 14, 2022 19:00:34 GMT -5 dancingirl21 said:

I’ve been thinking for awhile about trying the flex disc. Has anyone tried it and liked it?

This might push me in that direction.

I switched over to them a couple years ago. I leak a little overnight on my heaviest day but otherwise I feel pretty secure. I still haven't managed to change it without the bathroom looking like a crime scene though. But I do think my cramps have decreased, which I didn't think would be possible, but it was one of the benefits they claim happens.

[InBetweenDays]

Jun 14, 2022 19:00:34 GMT -5 dancingirl21 said:

I’ve been thinking for awhile about trying the flex disc. Has anyone tried it and liked it?

This might push me in that direction.

Not exactly the same, but I use the Lunette cup and have for probably 7ish years. Once in awhile I leak if I don't insert it correctly. But the majority of the time it works great, I can't feel it, and I don't need to empty it nearly as often as changing a tampon.

[winecat]

I have to use ultra tampons (and a pad and period undies; it's as fun as it sounds) for a few days. This is a disaster for those of us with heavy flow.

[isabel]

Not trying to minimize this because I know it's a bad situation, but I've used a Diva Cup and Thinx for many years now. Just throwing that out there in case it's an alternative anyone has considered.

[chilerellanos]

Jun 14, 2022 19:00:34 GMT -5 dancingirl21 said:

I’ve been thinking for awhile about trying the flex disc. Has anyone tried it and liked it?

This might push me in that direction.

I used the disposable discs for awhile and then ended up buying a reusable one a year is so ago and love it so much.

[basilosaurus]

Jun 14, 2022 19:43:45 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Lovely. I can't wait to drive around to a dozen stores looking for tampons.

Since this is an issue that primarily affects women, and, as the article notes, decision-makers and CEOs are overwhelmingly men, I don't have confidence that resolving this will be a high priority.

Kinda like it took forever to figure out TSS was a thing. Meanwhile, roughly the same era, Legionaire's disease had allll the resources thrown at it.

[goldengirlz]

Jun 14, 2022 19:00:34 GMT -5 dancingirl21 said:

I’ve been thinking for awhile about trying the flex disc. Has anyone tried it and liked it?

This might push me in that direction.

I’m a huge fan of the disc! On medium and light days, I only need to change it every 12 hours — so much easier than tampons and much more comfortable! On heavier days, I usually have to empty it every 4-6 hours, which can be annoying (or even impossible) in public restrooms. So I do keep tampons on hand for certain circumstances, like traveling on a heavy day.

But the best part (IMO at least) is that you can have sex with them!

[dancelnow]

Jun 14, 2022 19:00:34 GMT -5 dancingirl21 said:

I’ve been thinking for awhile about trying the flex disc. Has anyone tried it and liked it?

This might push me in that direction.

I didn’t like the disc styles (tried a few) because they still felt sharp and inflexible to me. I use the diva cup and life is much better than tampons. I need to introduce it to my daughter when she’s ready

[wise_rita]

Your annual reminder NOT to flush tampons down the toilet!

[ECB]

Yup. I noticed a couple months ago and my brand and “weight” have been totally missing.

I tried the Diva cup a few years ago - didn’t work for me. Used it for 6 months, tried, retried, and so on and so forth and it simply never worked. Unfortunately.

[msmerymac]

Jun 14, 2022 20:57:33 GMT -5 isabel said:

Not trying to minimize this because I know it's a bad situation, but I've used a Diva Cup and Thinx for many years now. Just throwing that out there in case it's an alternative anyone has considered.

I also use a cup, and I just got Thinx a few months ago for light days and backup on heavy days and OMG. No leaks at all. Love it. I'm 40 years old and I think I've finally figured out how to deal with my period.

[boiler717]

I use a salt cup and period undies now and it’s life-changing but a high buy-in cost.

[konapoppy]

Jun 15, 2022 4:06:54 GMT -5 ECB said:

Yup. I noticed a couple months ago and my brand and “weight” have been totally missing.

I tried the Diva cup a few years ago - didn’t work for me. Used it for 6 months, tried, retried, and so on and so forth and it simply never worked. Unfortunately.

I have tried so many different cups. They just don’t work with my anatomy. And they are so expensive to keep trying.

[jane6672]

Jun 15, 2022 7:39:54 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

Jun 15, 2022 4:06:54 GMT -5 ECB said:

Yup. I noticed a couple months ago and my brand and “weight” have been totally missing.

I tried the Diva cup a few years ago - didn’t work for me. Used it for 6 months, tried, retried, and so on and so forth and it simply never worked. Unfortunately.

I have tried so many different cups. They just don’t work with my anatomy. And they are so expensive to keep trying.

I’ve tried one brand (both sizes) and it was an utter failure (repeatedly, I didn’t give up after one go), so I’m also nervous to pony up money to try a bunch of other brands. Sigh.

[ECB]

Jun 15, 2022 7:39:54 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

Jun 15, 2022 4:06:54 GMT -5 ECB said:

Yup. I noticed a couple months ago and my brand and “weight” have been totally missing.

I tried the Diva cup a few years ago - didn’t work for me. Used it for 6 months, tried, retried, and so on and so forth and it simply never worked. Unfortunately.

I have tried so many different cups. They just don’t work with my anatomy. And they are so expensive to keep trying.

Yup!

YEARS ago, one doctor told me that my uterus is tilted in a way that I basically have a lefty handed uterus in a right handed world!  I've wondered if that may be a part of the issue and why I could never get the cup to fit correctly!

[RitzyHeifer]

Jun 14, 2022 20:38:46 GMT -5 winecat said:

I have to use ultra tampons (and a pad and period undies; it's as fun as it sounds) for a few days. This is a disaster for those of us with heavy flow.

This was my life for years. I did get by with a diva cup after I mastered changing it in a public restroom, I could make it through a 2-hour meeting at work with the cup and double maxi padding it. Just to add to the chorus of reusable cup lovers in the thread.

I’m past needing period products but I feel so much for every one trying to deal with this now too. Once again it will be low income people getting hit the hardest/having the fewest options.

[wawa]

Jun 15, 2022 8:30:13 GMT -5 ECB said:

Jun 15, 2022 7:39:54 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

I have tried so many different cups. They just don’t work with my anatomy. And they are so expensive to keep trying.

Yup!

YEARS ago, one doctor told me that my uterus is tilted in a way that I basically have a lefty handed uterus in a right handed world!  I've wondered if that may be a part of the issue and why I could never get the cup to fit correctly!

I am also in this boat. Tilty ute and all. I tried three different cups and they just never quite worked for me despite a LOT of tries, and fails, some catastrophic.

Period panties on the other hand, I'm a huge fan of.  I still need tampons on heavy days, but it cuts WAY down on my useage since I can skip them for med/light days.

[icedcoffee]

I switched to a cup probably a year ago. It took a few months to get it right (I had a whole thread here about my journey LOL), but now it's comfortable. I wear off brand period underwear as a backup and they smell funny but make me feel less nervous.

I still use tampons if I know I will need to change it in a public bathroom because no...I need access to running water to rinse it and I'm not dealing with that in a stall. Unless it's my first day it's usually not an issue though.

Anyway--yeah this is bad and they need to fix it. I haven't noticed because I have 2 huge costco size boxes of tampons and on average am only using 1 or 2 a month at this point if that.

Menstrual products are already way too expensive. 

[Patsy Baloney]

I’ve done the disc and prefer a cup to it, just because I felt like the disc was a bit of a dinner plate compared to the malleability and comfort of my cup circumference. But both definitely did the job, and I am almost always able to make it to my home bathroom before needing to empty, but don’t find it too terribly difficult if I need to do so in a public restroom.

I also use cloth pads. Honestly, I feel like I finally got my period under control when I went to reusable materials. They just seem to do a better job with absorbency and leaks.

ETA - I’m definitely in the tipped crew, but haven’t had seal issues. Some of you must have some laid back bits takin’ it easy in there!

[mysteriouswife]

Jun 15, 2022 8:30:13 GMT -5 ECB said:

Jun 15, 2022 7:39:54 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

I have tried so many different cups. They just don’t work with my anatomy. And they are so expensive to keep trying.

Yup!

YEARS ago, one doctor told me that my uterus is tilted in a way that I basically have a lefty handed uterus in a right handed world!  I've wondered if that may be a part of the issue and why I could never get the cup to fit correctly!

Same issue here. I asked my OB about it. She mentioned it might be difficult to get a good seat with cups due to the tilt of my uterus and cervix. I’ve spent $$$ trying

[penguingrrl]

Jun 15, 2022 7:39:54 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

Jun 15, 2022 4:06:54 GMT -5 ECB said:

Yup. I noticed a couple months ago and my brand and “weight” have been totally missing.

I tried the Diva cup a few years ago - didn’t work for me. Used it for 6 months, tried, retried, and so on and so forth and it simply never worked. Unfortunately.

I have tried so many different cups. They just don’t work with my anatomy. And they are so expensive to keep trying.

Me too. I’ve spent hundreds trying to find one.

[sofamonkey]

Jun 14, 2022 20:38:46 GMT -5 winecat said:

I have to use ultra tampons (and a pad and period undies; it's as fun as it sounds) for a few days. This is a disaster for those of us with heavy flow.

Same. I ended up getting a hysterectomy. Turns out the cyst I had was almost half the size of my uterus, so a little larger than they thought.

I’ve got a ton of super plus tampons to donate, so I should probably get on that.

[jamaicam]

There are no tampons available anywhere here. My friends and I have been searching. I love my period panties but I still use tampons on heavy days. So now trying to figure out what to do.

But as its a woman's issue, this isnt urgent. I am sure we can just use pads (eye roll; I HATE pads. And what about swimming?)

[Poeticxpassion]

Jun 15, 2022 12:43:52 GMT -5 jamaicam said:

There are no tampons available anywhere here. My friends and I have been searching. I love my period panties but I still use tampons on heavy days. So now trying to figure out what to do.

But as its a woman's issue, this isnt urgent. I am sure we can just use pads (eye roll; I HATE pads. And what about swimming?)

I'd be happy to look for you and mail them down.

[jamaicam]

Jun 15, 2022 12:46:19 GMT -5 Poeticxpassion said:

Jun 15, 2022 12:43:52 GMT -5 jamaicam said:

There are no tampons available anywhere here. My friends and I have been searching. I love my period panties but I still use tampons on heavy days. So now trying to figure out what to do.

But as its a woman's issue, this isnt urgent. I am sure we can just use pads (eye roll; I HATE pads. And what about swimming?)

I'd be happy to look for you and mail them down.

Thanks, but I will figure it out! I can access amazon but even amazon is in short supply at the moment. I have heard of somewhere locally that sells cups so I think this may be the push I need to move to them

SIDE NOTE - does anyone have an IUD and use a cup? I remember hearing not to use a cup with an IUD but am also seeing stuff that says that isn't true... wanderingback, do you know what the latest rules about this are? 

[kiminky]

So, again we are talking about a shortage of a primarily female needed product. One that a shortage of will affect poor women the most. We are about to hit the trifecta-formula, tampons and most devastatingly abortion. The lack of value placed on women is astounding. Show me the chat board threads where men are struggling to get products for their daily needs.