I'm going to a water park tomorrow and I'm on my period... But I don't know how to use tampons!?

Read the instructions in the box and try them. Get a small size tampon if you are young. Talk to another girl about it.

well, as for the blood on your panties, change your pad more often... i know it's a pain in the behind but, unless you want to ruin a lot of panties. so tampons, there is a disease cause toxic shock syndrome which you can get if you leave the tampon in too long so as i said you had better get used to changing it... there are instructions inside the box but here are the basics.

make sure that the string is securely attached to the tampon, otherwise you will have trouble getting the tampon out

either sit on the toilet with your legs spread or stand with one foot propped on the toilet or the tub.

with your middle finger and your thumb around the ridged end or end with the grip insert the tampon so your fingers touch your body.

then with your index finger push the plunger (the plastic piece that pushed the tampon in) all the way in.

then gently pull on the string until it's comfortable

if you feel the tampon or if it's uncomfortable take it out and try again

you really shouldn't feel anything

you should try playtex things, they're skinnier and thinner so if it's your first time, it will be more comfortable

also try regular even if your flow is heavier because the smaller the better for your first time

and make sure you wash your hands before and after

hygiene is very important

A very similar situation forced me to stop using pads and start using tampons. (However, I have NEVER gone back to pads since!) I suggest practicing a few times first before you actually go to the waterpark to avoid any embarassing accidents.

I suggest getting tampax pearl or playtex, with plastic applicators, so it is easier to put in when you first start using tampons.

Reading the instructions are helpful, but here are a few tips I wish I'd had my first time. I suggest sitting on a toilet or crouching on an invisible chair to get the right angle and ensure comfort. (If you put a tampon in at the wrong angle it might be uncomfortable, but DO NOT try to take it out immediately. Wait until it has had time to soak up enough blood or else it will be dry and extremely painful to take out.) Grip the base of the applicator, (there are two parts...grip the bottom of the upper part, which will probably have finger grips.)

When you are inserting it aim for your tailbone to get the right angle. Wait until your fingers (still at the base) are touching your body, then carefully push the lower part of the applicator into the upper. This will push the tampon far enough in that you won't feel it, (or, at least, won't feel it very much,) and prevent it from sliding out. Change it every couple of hours (more or less depending on how heavy or light your flow is) and you're set!

Good luck! Don't get frustrated if you don't get it the first couple of tries.

Oh, and I'd recommend bringing the whole box (if possible) just to ensure you don't run out. Can't be too careful.

The directions in the box should tell you everything you need to know. Since you've never used them before, the light or regular kind would be best for you to start with. However, if your periods are heavy you might have to change them every few hours. You could try using super tampons so you wouldn't have to change them that often. Tampons should be changed every 6-8 hours, if not sooner, to prevent toxic shock syndrome. So for 3 days (and if you use them at night), I would say you would maybe use around 12, depending on how heavy your period is and what kind of tampons you're using.

You just take a tampon and put one leg up on like the toilet seat and put the applicator inside of you, it is plastic so it will go in with ease. it's like a push up pop...one the applicator is inside ofyou far enough back (push it back until the whole applicator is inside of you) and push the tampon out into you. You will fill it and a string will be left hanging down. that string is for you to pull it out. Just buy a whole box and do not leave it in for more than 8hrs.

there are a lot of varities so read thebox on which ones suits your menstral flow, since you are heavy go with a super. Tampax Pearl is a good one and easy use....even if you are a virgin you can use them. they should not hurt you but may feel a bit uncomfy at first but nothing you can't get use to.

Well, judge if you are heavy or not then buy the tampon box that has the variety. regular, light, or heavy. you just unwrap it, with the string hanging downwards and insert. adjust to your comfort, but its very easy! just make sure you change regularly because you said you have heavy periods and tampons tend to leak too. P.S. tuck the string in since you are going swimming to avoid embarrassing moments!

I no u are going but if u can try not to go coz u cud leak and then u may get embarassed i neva go swimming wen im on

xx Good Luck

use cloth in panties

don't get the super absorbent it will suck up a lot of pool water and you feel uncomfortable and chlorine will get in your uterus.

Have you considered using something other than tampons? Tampons are the most common option but they are unhealthy and unhygienic so many women don't like using them, these can also leak and they have strings you have to hide under your swimsuit, but they are internal so discreet. You can use commercial tampons like Tampax, organic tampons like Cottons, soft tampons like Gynotex, cloth tampons or the best option may be sponges like Jade & Pearl http://www.jadeandpearl.com/ which don't have strings so more discreet than some other tampons, these are also slightly safer than commercial tampons. Pads can be used for swimming, but commercial pads like Always or organic pads like Cottons will go soggy in the water and come unstuck so use cloth pads or something similar, you can only use pads with light flow as when wet they can't hold as much, and just hide under a pair of shorts. Cloth pads like Lunapads http://www.lunapads.com/ won't come unstuck as they are held in place with poppers rather than glued in. You can use period belts like Reddy's http://www.reddyspads.com/ which are extra-long pads that fasten around your waste so more secure and easier to hide, better still are period panties like Lunapanties from Lunapads, these are underwear with pads built-in so better protection, easier to hide and more comfortable. Menstrual cups like Divacup http://www.divacup.com/ are the best option, these are internal bell-shaped cups, which are much healthier and more hygienic than tampons, as well as more comfortable, easier to use, convenient, and reliable. You can leave cups for up to 12 hours even before your period or during heavy days, so no having to change all the time and cups don't leak so no risk of embarrassment. There's nothing showing outside of your body so they are more discreet. You can use a diaphragm as a menstrual cup, or use softcups like Instead http://www.softcups.com/ which are diaphragm-shaped so sit further up in your vagina, they work on the same idea as menstrual cups so have similar benefits, but they aren't as easy to use as menstrual cups.

To use, you’ll need to change every 4-6 hours, but remember that you can’t use tampons at night or during light periods, you’ll also need to take different absorbencies, so if you are going to use tampons just grab a box of light tampons and change more often if you need to. Look at instructions in the pack and make sure you know where to insert (check out Scarleteen http://www.scarleteen.com/ if unsure) Use organic tampons like Cottons which are softer so more comfortable to insert, also non-applicator tampons are simpler, plus it's one less thing to bin. To insert first wash hands, also do this after. Wait until a heavy day and use the lowest absorbency, get into a comfortable position, unwrap the tampon and pull the string so it hangs freely. Hold the tampon in one hand and with the other hand hold your labia open out of the way of your vaginal opening, then insert the tampon as far as it will go, aim towards the small of your back. Don't be scared to put your fingers into your vagina, it's yours, it's clean and menstrual blood is clean, if you're tense your vagina will tense so relax. If you have problems try masturbating as when aroused your vagina doubles in size, becomes relaxed and lubricated, or use lubrication such as KY jelly or olive oil to make insertion easier. If you feel pain as you move after insertion it's not in far enough so remove and try again with a fresh tampon later. To remove get comfortable, relax and pull strings gently but firmly, if you can't find the strings or are using cloth, sponge or soft tampons just grab the tampon itself to remove. A tampon can never get lost inside you, but if you can't remove them you need to ask someone for help or go to hospital. Tampons aren't flushable so wrap up and bin. You need to change every 4-6 hours, always use the lowest absorbency making sure to change as your flow changes, never use when your flow is light, before your period or when you go to bed. You should alternate between tampons and pads, pads are also needed as back-up, try Lunapads which are far more comfortable than pads you may be used to. Tampons have many health risks as they encourage bacteria, damage vaginal walls and some brands contain harmful chemicals, as a result tampons have many health risks associated with them such as vaginal infections or the rare but life-threatening illness Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). This is why there are precautions to follow when using tampons, note the younger you are the higher the risk. Symptoms of TSS are headache, vomiting, rash, high fever and diarrhea, if you suspect you have TSS remove the tampon immediately and go straight to hospital. See http://www.spotsite.org/ and http://www.toxicshock.com/