I used to use Pads all the time

Pads- I tried to insert a tampon in but I had that mental block of sticking stuff up there. 

pads in briefs 100% of the time
part of it is because of the massive dysphoria sticking anything up there
the other part is I'm actually too small for anything but the teeny tiny ones, and even then, they're super painful and I can feel them the whole time they're there. Pads I can ignore, but not tampons.

its probably a bad thing if they're painful... but... I've had no other reason to get down there checked out so I just haven't.

I used to only use pads when I was younger but my flow is ridiculous and it would always leak and be gross and I cold feel it squishing and just blaaah. It took me a few tries to get used to tampons and I had to find the right brand, because some are easier to insert/smoother/whatevs. I couldn't go back now. It's so easy just to stick something up there and forget about it till I realize oh crap I have a tampon in. I just always hated seeing the blood in the pad every time I had to use the restroom and tampons were just the better solution for me.

I voted "other". I've said it before, cups are friggin' awesome. Best period related invention ever.

For the first couple years of puberty I refused to use anything, occasionally toilet paper. I'd refuse to go to school and take care of it by going to the bathroom frequently. Many pairs of ruined boxers because of that. I didn't want to believe I was going through female puberty.
Once a friend of mine found out and thoroughly humiliated me, i started using pads. Since that didn't work with boxers  and i couldnt stand female underwear i soon switched to tampons. used those until my periods stopped.

I voted pads. Because the nice, thick, old-fashioned pads can give you a reassuring bulge in your jeans! 

Quote from: mangoslayer on September 05, 2013, 03:46:02 AM
For the first couple years of puberty I refused to use anything, occasionally toilet paper. I'd refuse to go to school and take care of it by going to the bathroom frequently. Many pairs of ruined boxers because of that.

Ditto!

My monthlies started when I was in primary school (age 12)... and because the school catered to children aged 6-13, they didn't make any provision for sanitary disposal units in the girls' toilets because it hadn't occurred to them that kids of that age would need them. There weren't any dustbins in the toilet area either.

So if I had to change my protection at school, I had to walk out of the toilet area with it in my hand and either sneak it into my school bag to throw it away at home, or face the humiliation of throwing it away in the classroom dustbin or one of the dustbins in the playground. I was mortified by the thought of it. It wasn't too bad in winter because it could stuff it up the sleeve of my school jumper, but in summer we had to wear short-sleeved dresses so there was nowhere to hide it.

One day I stuffed it up my sleeve and discreetly transferred it to my schoolbag so that I could throw it away at home, and my English teacher called me out for not having completed some homework. I lied and said I thought I'd put it in my schoolbag, so she made me bring the bag to the front of the class and she emptied it on the floor in front of my classmates. The used sanitary towel landed on top of the pile of books... and unfurled in all its crimson glory. 

From that moment on, I simply rolled up some toilet paper & stuffed it in my underwear. Because at least I could change that without facing public humiliation. And using nothing wasn't an option: our school dresses were light-coloured and the only thing worse than having a sanitary towel unfurl in front of my classmates was having a blood stain on the back of the skirt.

Oh, and that English teacher? She later apologised for humiliating me, and we're now friends on Facebook.

Omg, FTMDiaries, that's horrifying! (though I am glad you're friends with your old teacher now)

Quote from: LearnedHand on September 05, 2013, 09:36:59 AM
Omg, FTMDiaries, that's horrifying! (though I am glad you're friends with your old teacher now)

Yeah, it was one of the most humiliating experiences of my school career... and that's saying something!

What a horrible experience FTMDiaries.  I am a tampon person all the way, don't ever want to see or feel a pad between my legs again.  They don't leak for me and I just forget I am even bleeding, until I need to change it, which is easier I think than dealing with a big bulky messy pad.  It was hard in the beginning getting them one but with the plastic tube type I got the hang of it.  Oh, I day when I can get those parts out of me.

I had hormonal problems in my teens , a IUD, then a hysto so I haven't had a cycle in a lot of years. When I did have one I only used tampons. I couldn't take the smell, sight, or mess of using pads. Before having intercourse I used the tiny teen ones without problems but afterwards I could use the regular sized ones without an issue. I will say anyone unfamiliar to them to steer clear of the cardboard applicators. I always found them painful to use. The plastic ones were always a lot more comfortable to insert.

Quote from: FTMDiaries on September 05, 2013, 09:34:34 AM
My monthlies started when I was in primary school (age 12)... and because the school catered to children aged 6-13, they didn't make any provision for sanitary disposal units in the girls' toilets because it hadn't occurred to them that kids of that age would need them. There weren't any dustbins in the toilet area either.

I go to an all girls school right now, high school girls, and it didn't occur to them until this year to put bins in the bathroom stalls. Before you had to carry them out of the stalls and drop them in the paper towel bins, no fun if others are around. I don't know how it took them so long to put them there. So it's not just elementary schools.

I agree with Si; the plastic tubes are much easier for me to use, much less pulling and sticking when you are pushing them in.  CursedFireDean, I am using the men's on campus this year so no bins.  I wrap the old one up in tissue and then quickly try to get it into the trash bin with the paper towels.  I am lucky that I only need to change at about 1 day a month and use a smaller restroom 2 urinals and 2 stalls and try to time my going to when there is no one else in there. So far no one has seen what I am doing. Si you must be older to have gotten a hysto.

Quote from: mm on September 05, 2013, 06:22:29 PM
Si you must be older to have gotten a hysto.

I'm 31 so I guess that's older depending on your own age, lol.

Tampons, because it's a few seconds of being really uncomfortable, then I can forget about it for a few hours. With pads, I keep feeling them and I hate it.

I guess meaning older than I am at 23.  I sure want to have my hysto by 30, but need to get the money and find a surgeon first.

Quote from: mm on September 05, 2013, 06:22:29 PM
Si you must be older to have gotten a hysto.

You don't necessarily have to be old to have a hysto, i had mine at 17.

Quote from: mangoslayer on September 05, 2013, 03:46:02 AM
For the first couple years of puberty I refused to use anything, occasionally toilet paper. I'd refuse to go to school and take care of it by going to the bathroom frequently. Many pairs of ruined boxers because of that. I didn't want to believe I was going through female puberty.

I was exactly the same. I hated it. I cried at night and refused to believe it could happen to me. I felt like my own body had turned against me.
  Hence, I will never be able to use anything but a pad until the day it stops. So much dysphoria - I don't want to have to think about my anatomy down there, let alone have to interact with it. I will be so glad the day I never have to deal with it again.

I would love to be able to wear tampons (well, I'd love to not have to use anything, but over pads yeah), but I don't because I've got a fear of it swinging back and touching me when I remove it, and I can sort of feel that there's something dry and rough up there.  Maybe I'm inserting them wrong, but I've tried twice and turned back before I managed to make it out of the bathroom.  I'm scared that I'll put it out of my mind too much and forget to change it, or that I'll not be able to bring myself to changing it as well.

Quote from: AlexanderC on September 06, 2013, 05:37:28 PM
I would love to be able to wear tampons (well, I'd love to not have to use anything, but over pads yeah), but I don't because I've got a fear of it swinging back and touching me when I remove it, and I can sort of feel that there's something dry and rough up there.  Maybe I'm inserting them wrong, but I've tried twice and turned back before I managed to make it out of the bathroom.  I'm scared that I'll put it out of my mind too much and forget to change it, or that I'll not be able to bring myself to changing it as well.

Maybe you should try using a smaller one for lighter flow, you won't feel it as much. (though I know what you mean, and that's one of the reasons why I've made the upgrade to silicone). To avoid it swinging and touching you, get some toilet paper and pull it out slowly by the string and then grab the main part with the paper before it fully comes out and then toss it. And, you'll remember you have one in you when you either start leaking or start feeling really strange and funny (start of TSS).