Yeah guys are really on the lookout for a buddy who can leave used sanitary products around. 

EVERY GUY IN THERE CAN SMELL YOU AND KNOWS YOU'RE ON THE RAG.

Cargo pants.  Not only will they hold fresh supplies, but also if for some reason you can't toss the used stuff (or you're too embarrassed to toss it) you can haul it out to toss someplace else.

All used stuff (pads and tampons) should be wrapped thoroughly in toilet paper (ie lots).  And please wipe the seat.  I don't advocate leaving anything in the stall.  Eeewwwww.

You also could carry a few snack sized plastic baggies for used stuff (again, wrapped) if you're worried about leakage before you can toss it out.

Jay

I'm with sneakersjay on this one, I've got a few pairs of solid black cargo pants and shorts for those days just in case.

to be honest the best way to deal with it is: DO NOT GO OUT DURRING THAT TIME OF THE MONTH. mine is just 2-3days. So i usually stay at home and rott -_- until its light/almost gone.

Quote from: tekla on November 18, 2010, 04:33:44 PM
Yeah guys are really on the lookout for a buddy who can leave used sanitary products around. 

Have to agree with the sarcasm here. It's f'd up to even think about leaving used sanitary products somewhere where someone else is going to have to deal with them.

Quote
EVERY GUY IN THERE CAN SMELL YOU AND KNOWS YOU'RE ON THE RAG.

This, on the other hand...not (always) true. My own husband, whom I live and share a bathroom with, has no idea I'm bleeding until he wants to have sex and I tell him. Never been with a guy who could tell, actually. There might be a minority of guys who can tell, or there might be a minority of female people who smell so strong as to be obvious to most guys, but it's not generally true that all guys can tell when all female people are bleeding.

Quote...EVERY GUY CAN SMELL YOU...

Some women do smell; I noticed that in college in the women's dorm.  I always wondered if they just didn't change their stuff often enough.


Jay

Quote from: tekla on November 18, 2010, 04:33:44 PM
EVERY GUY IN THERE CAN SMELL YOU AND KNOWS YOU'RE ON THE RAG.

In addition to what Rob said about being able to only have to deal with it when you're at home, one of the most attractive selling points of menstrual cups is that there's no odor:

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Q. Is there odor with The DivaCup?
A. No, there is no odor when using The DivaCup. Menstrual flow only begins to develop an odor when it begins to oxidize and break down from being exposed to air. Menstrual fluid on pads is exposed to air, so it does create an after odor. Tampons are not as bad since they are worn internally, but they can still create odor. With The DivaCup, odor is not created because the flow is not exposed at all. No more worrying about embarrassing odor or leakage!

i forgot that in the US everyone uses applicator tampons. in europe most tampons are sold without the applicator bit, so that's a lot less trash to worry about. I saw O.B. tampons at riteaid in the U.S., which don't come with an applicator.

Ah, yes, but without the applicator you have to stick your finger in there. While it's bleeding. If that's uncomfortable for you, then it can be hard to position it deep enough, and if it's not deep enough, you end up feeling the tampon all day.

Wow I never knew you could flush tampons.

I remember back in high school I always thought it was obvious because of the way I smelled.  I could smell other girl's blood in the bathroom too.  I don't know if that was bad hygiene on my part or what, because I haven't had a period in a couple of years.

I think that women might be able to identify the smell better because they have more experience with it?

It may not be hygiene - it may just be individual variation.

John, let it go. I wasn't the one to suggest leaving it behind and it is never something I would have thought of doing if other people didn't seem to think it was okay. I think it's disgusting, too. Last resort, okay?

Sneakersjay, thanks for the suggestion on cargo pants. I don't currently have a pair since they make me look kind of gnomelike, but probably a good thing to have for situations like this.

Cargos are a guys best friend ... specially if you have a lot of stuff to carry/hide... (I often use it to sneak home the hormones I am taking while making unexpected trips to the chemist) and while dressed as a guy one can't be seen carrying a handbag & backpacks are not always possible to carry everywhere/every-time... while I have no experience with tampons ... you can try carrying a very strong deodorant to cover/mask the smell in one of the cargo pockets, preferably one that smells like either cigars/musk/chocolate as they tend to be used mostly by guys and have a stronger/more recognizable scent.

Check to make sure before buying the pant has pockets that are deep enough...  try to have at least 1 pair preferably 2 just in case ...

Honestly? If the septic is bad. I'll fricken just wrap it all up... pull out clean toilet paper and pretend I'm blowing my nose and throwing away the tissue.

Guys mostly don't pay attention to other guys in the bathroom. The whole social phobia of being gay prevents that and actually can be useful at times.

Just take some deep breaths and relax. If you act funny, then you'll be noticed. If anything just grab some paper towels when you got in to wrap it. If a guy looks and sees you throwing it away, he'll not even think, and if he does? Most likely will be all "ah that wasn't a flushable paper. Yup"

Quote from: tekla on November 18, 2010, 04:33:44 PM
Yeah guys are really on the lookout for a buddy who can leave used sanitary products around. 

EVERY GUY IN THERE CAN SMELL YOU AND KNOWS YOU'RE ON THE RAG.

So true. That odor is distinct and in a mens room would give you away right quick.

I feel like there is a lot of over-thinking going on here, which is understandable, but it's taking on a negative tone. 

The cargo pants/lots of tissue sounds like a good remedy. Or, like someone said on a past page, you could avpoid going out to public areas that would involve you using your preferred restroom during your period. This, however, can be difficult unless you are lucky enough to have a short period. I know I don't, and I know my bathroom life would be a lot easier if I did. 

Just do what makes you comfortable, y'know? Go into the mens stall when it's kinda late or no one is there, feel it out, figure out a plan of action before you end up having to do that AND not give yourself away.

And one last thing. Not all women give off an odor. I've lived with women all my life, and most of my friends are women, and I can't honestly say I've "smelled" them. Perhaps a stranger in women's bathroom yes, like ONCE OR TWICE in my entire life, but I doubt it is something to fret over as long as you do your best to stay fresh, which most tampons and pads are getting better at doing.

My periods last around 8 days, plus I continue to leak for up to a week after. Which is why this was a big concern of mine - hard to plan for such long occurrences. I've been mostly been making sure to change things right before leaving the house so unless it's really heavy I won't run into a problem... A few days ago I did have a problem I didn't anticipate, when the toilet wasn't flushing right, leaving visible bloody water. I just hauled ass out of there, but it certainly didn't help my paranoia. I have rotten luck in public.

To me, it has a distinct odor. I can smell when most women are menstruating, even out in public with other smells around. My nose is horribly oversensitive. But the bio-guys I know aren't capable of distinguishing it. For example, when my dad takes out the trash and there are old pads in it, he'll sometimes sniff and ask what smells of death - I've told him a few times and he still doesn't recognise it.