... Girls only please x ?

You don't have to use tampons at all, you have other options.

You should NEVER use tampons when not on your period.

Tampons are drying which means they dry-out the vaginal walls causing splitting and ulceration, this is a major factor in TSS and why women always have to use the lowest absorbency, not use tampons overnight, during very light flow, or before periods - as well as significantly increasing risk of TSS it would be more uncomfortable and painful to use tampons when not menstruating.

As I say you have other options, such as softcups or menstrual cups, these are both far safer than tampons and collect rather than absorb flow meaning that they don't damage vaginal walls and there is no risk of TSS or vaginal discomfort. Menstrual cups are a better option also because you can wear them safely for 12 hours (tampons have to be changed every 4-6 hours), you can wear with any flow or before your period, there is nothing showing outside your body, they don't absorb water and they don't leak like tampons.

Your other option is to go without using anything - bear in mind that you'd have to go to the bathroom every few hours with a tampon in anyway, they also have to give you bathroom breaks every few hours, and it is unlikely that your period will suddenly start so heavy as to be noticed, particularly in the water where what little flow would come out would be diluted. Just take tampons with you.

yes it will be fine. i am on birth control so usually i know the exact day i'm going to start. i put a tampon in in the morning and usually by lunch i'll go to check it and i'll have started. as long as you're not leaving the tampon in for more than 8 hours you should be okay but i would check it around 4 hours after. i'm sure they'll give you some sort of break.

if you have a tampon on then it doesnt matter where you start , just make sure its big enough to stop the leak.

- kayla (: