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| |    Teaching Your Teen about Feminine Hygiene Products by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. reviewed and revised by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. While different families have differing beliefs about the use of tampons vs. pads, there is no medical reason why most teenagers shouldn't use tampons. Some young teens find the idea of tampons horrifying, but those who are willing to try them generally learn to be comfortable with insertion. An added plus of tampon protection is that it frees up girls to more comfortably participate in sports, go swimming, etc. A few decades ago, there was a lot of publicity about toxic shock syndrome; however, the tampon brand that was the greatest offender is no longer on the market. Currently available tampons, if changed every eight hours or sooner, do not pose undue risk. Of course, girls who decide to use tampons must be willing and able to take this responsibility. Comfort issues Tampons do not break the hymen and can be used by young women who have not yet had sexual intercourse. Most teens do best starting with slender tampons that come with a smooth plastic applicator. It may help to coat the tampon tip with a water-soluble lubricant, such as KY Jelly, at first. Young teens often find wearing a tampon to be uncomfortable because they don't insert it far enough into the vagina. If a girl has difficulty inserting the tampon, she may benefit from instruction from her doctor and an examination to see if she has a variation of the hymen that prevents insertion. In my practice, I find that girls who use tampons are more comfortable with their bodies and seem less anxious when they need a gynecological examination. I don't know if tampon use leads to this level of self-assurance or if girls who simply are more mature are more likely to seek the benefits of tampons. Other concerns It is useful to note that when blood is exposed to air, it gets a characteristic odor that may make girls feel conspicuous during menstruation. Some find that deodorant pads help to mask odor, but changing pads frequently is probably the best approach. Not surprisingly, tampons generally do not lead to the odor associated with pads, perhaps because air exposure is pretty much a nonissue. Baths or showers should be adequate to cleanse the vaginal area during and after the menstrual period. Keep in mind that medical experts do not recommend douching, since the vagina has natural barriers to infection that can be washed out with this process. Most girls and women should be able to manage by changing pads or tampons every two or three hours during the day, even on the heaviest day of flow. If the bleeding is unmanageable, talk to your daughter's doctor about the possibility that her flow is excessive.
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