A LOT of debates are found online on which thing to use down there. It may not be a welcoming topic for some but these items are vital to protect ourselves from leaks during red days.
I have gathered the opinions of different women from my Facebook page (Kangaroo's Pouch by Ara Casas-Tumuran) and here are their points of view.
Pads
Katrin Su: Pads are more comfy for me as I can see if it's almost full and that all the blood is fully coming out (ang saya boys noh?! Sana all! Hahahaha! JK). I don't like the thought of putting a stick up your hoo-haa, then that stick blossoming into a red flower inside, you pulling it out and then some of the blood might be squeezed out back in your mattress when you take it out!
Micay Deboma: Sa pads pa rin, like yung all-night ganern! Para hindi matagusan. I tried tampons nung nauso ng vlogger na pinapanood ko kasi ilalagay lang siya pero nakakailang siya at iba sa feeling. Di ma explain parang may ewan ba na kung ano sa down there. Of course sanayan lang yan at kung saan ka kumportable.
Michelle Nielo Eversince: I used sanitary pads....mas comfortable lang talaga siya gamitin than tampons. Kelangan lang talaga magpalit every two hours para iwas sa bacteria, pero ngayon may available na washable na sanitary pads. No worries at all dahil walang chemicals unlike sa disposable sanitary pads....at nakatulong ka pa sa mother earth dahil environment friendly, washable kasi!
Tampons
Jajan Santiago-Buenaventura: Tampon!! Para go-galaw! Hahaha. No worrying about rash, leaks and stains. Especially pag active ka with sports and outdoor activities. Pero super tagal ko na last gumamit ng pads/tampons since breastfeeding then got pregnant after two years.
Xhan Lim-Damasco: It feels more clean, I can't feel them when they're in properly and I don't have to worry about leaks especially if you have active lifestyles or when asleep. Pads tend to move or deform when you move a lot. Even if I have my period, I can still do a lot of things like swimming, running. I can pee with it still in and can wear sexy undies. It is also very small to carry around. But, if I have to recommend, use menstrual cups, just like tampons but way better.
Menstrual cup
Tricia Mae Lim: Thank God, someone brought this up! I am more environmentally conscious now ,that is why I switched to menstrual cups, so between them, I will choose tampons. To add, pads give me rash and every night I have leaks.
Faye Andrea Fernandez Gallarda: I'm using menstrual cup kasi nagkaka-allergy ako sa pads and tampons and mas matipid ito. I've been using it for more than two years na and sobrang laki ng tulong sa pagbubudget lalo na I have a month old baby. Yung budget ko sa tampons or pads pambili ko nalang ng diapers and other needs ni baby. You can use menstrual cups for 5-10 years, so malaki talaga matitipid mo and best for heavy flows din kasi di mabilis mapuno, unlike sa pads and tampons na you need to change every 2-4 hours na mas hassle if you're a busy person and mas magastos.
Joy Tuñacao: I've been using cups for 3yrs now. Wala sya sa choices but for me, mas ma recommend naku sya. Ang cups maskin pag 1-2day sa akong dugo three to four hours ko naga ilis. Wala Jud syay leak labi na pag gabie. Before going to bed, mag change ko pagka buntag mga around 5 a.m. no leak gyud sya. Maka amaze gyud. It's been three years pad free na gyud ko. Walay katol ug walay sagabal. At first, syempre ma bag-ohan pa man pero madugay na, okaaaayyyy na kaayoooooo.
No matter what thing we use, we always have to consider washing our hands and cleaning the area to avoid infection. At the end of the day, comfort and hygiene matter most.
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[The writer appreciates story suggestions. Follow her on Instagram @mommyaracasastumuran. Subscribe to her YouTube channel www.youtube.com/c/AraCasasTumuran.]