One for the ladies

[loobie]

I seem to be having a probelem with sanitary towels. This is the second month on the trot that I am in agony. As soon as I come on I put a towel in and within an hour or so it is starting to irritate. By day two it feels swollen and sore. I have gone back to wearing tampons during the day but as I do not have heavy periods they shouldn't be worn all the time and I don't like wearing them at night.

I have bought some cream called Vagisil which does calm it down and eventually it gets better. But surely this shouldn't be happening. I am 23 so have been having periods for 11 years and it has only just started. But two months on the trot means something must be up.

Any advice would be really great as it is really painful. I obviously can't go to the doctors while I am on!!

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Emma-J]

Why not? The doctor will not necessarily do an examination of you, if you just explain the problem they may be able to give you something or advise you on what to do, and if your embarrased, see a lady doctor

Don't suffer in silence, you could be making it worse by not going to the doctor.

[Andy Boz]

Forgive a bloke answering, but I agree with Emma. You have a problem, doctors are there to help. Whilst it may be embarrassing for you, and possibly a little unpleasant for the quack, it's surely better to get it sorted than suffer.

Perhaps a different make of towel, you may be suffering a reaction to that one make.

Andy

[loobie]

Thanks very much, I think I will go to the doctors as I haven't changed the make of towel I use since I started. And Andy, blokes are more than welcome to answer and I thank you for your advice.

[CheekyChops]

It still could be worth trying changing your towel, perhaps the manufacturers have introduced new materials into them, or changed the way they are made slightly.

[happy_face]

I have an ovarian cyst and my GP wanted to do an examination and I said I was on my period and I'd rather not. Sha said she wasn't bothered but I insisted on not having the examination as you don't feel very clean at that time of the month. But I think you should definitely go when you're on as that's when you're using the sanitary towel so your gp can see what the problem is. What you could do is before going to the doctors insert a tampon and have a wash, then it won't be as embarrassing and he/she will see where the problem is.

Am very interested in hearing what the cause might be so please let us know how you get on. Take Care

[mimififi]

If it is just a skin irritation caused by towels, and you don't want to use tampons, why not try a menstrual cup. I have had one for a couple of months now, and they have revolutionised my life. No TSS risk what so ever, all the convenience of tampons, none of the hideousness of towels and no risk at all.

try www.mooncup.co.uk I well recommend them. There are lots of threads here on AB too talking about using them. You could read through them too.

Good luck with the whole thing

[Englishbird]

As cheekychops says, i'd try a different towel, you can become sensative to something you weren't before. I believe you can also get ones without bleach. It certainly sounds like you're reacting to them. On most packets is a helpline number, you could try that and find out if they've changed something in them in the last few months.

[happy_face]

how are you getting on loobie? Did you go to your GP?