oh god another period question .
is it ok to use a tampon when youre not on your period?

i know that sounds stupid, but let me explain... i understand the whole irregular thing and all, but see ive had my period for about 2 years now... and it was fine until about 4 months ago. like each month it would be a couple days late or whatever. but then last month it was a whole week late it kinda freaked me out but i got over it. now this month i was suppose start friday... well here it is monday and i havent (thats what... 3 days?) im not going "omg why not" or anything, i have a different problem with it.

see my family, we have a boat that we like to go out in it all the time and i also like to swim. well im afraid to go swim because it could start anytime you know. so i was thinking, well i could wear a tampon when i swim just incase... but i thought i read somewhere that its bad to.. but i dont know, so is it? btw i wear one all the time when im on it so theres no problem in me knowing how or anything. what should i do ?

I don't have any knowledge on tampons, BUTTT there isn't any kind of germs on it so I don't think an infection will start. o.o Just wear one if you're worried.

I think it should be ok. It might hurt to put in, but if you're that worried then do it.

Maybe...try wearing it only while swimming? You probably won't be swimming for more that a couple of hours anyway... so it shouldn't be that bad.

errr..
actually that might not be a good idea..
the inside of your vagina will be drier than during your period so the tampon might be hard to get in/get out (ie. the tampon gets stuck and you kinda have to rip it off your inside )

and TSS... since you're not actually on your period you might forget to take it out..

finally, i don't think it'll come while you're swimming
it'll be a few hours after you get out of the water, i think.
your body has a mechanism that kinda "locks" your period while you're in the water... especially for the first few days.

that's why even if you have a heavy flow not a lot of it comes out in shower..

well that's what my doctor said maybe i'm wrong altogether..

yeah... but TSS can only happen when your on your period, its something about it that has to do with it. and i wont forget, i'll take it out when im done... which wont be too long, a couple hours maybe. and its recommend you change it every 6-8 hours so that part should be ok.. right? i just want to make sure theres nothing bad (like some infection or something) that could happen from doing it. thanks for the replies though

it could get stuck so i wouldn't use a tampon

uh..I remembered something from 5th grade..the person told us that we CAN'T put a tampon on when we're NOT on our period. if you do then you can sick or something. I forgot..

Well, it will be a little bit harder to take out, but as long as you dont' leave it in too long, it's perfectly fine.

It will be hard to put in, take out, since, your -erm- dry and all but there's nothing wrong with it..My friend uses tampons for discharge when she's not on her period..

Usually when Im not on it but Im afraid it'll start, I just wear a light pad for erm...light days...yeah. It stays on and stuff and since I usually have a light flow when I start, it doesnt get all over.

going by what you 2 say im going to go with that. thanks.
yeah i know, but i cant do that when i swim ... that was my point lol.

anyway thanks to everyone who replied... im alright with the answers enough to say this can be closed if the mods like.

i know your question is answered but i have to say this...

THE U.S. NO LONGER SELL TAMPONS THAT CAN CAUSE TSS

this is off-topic but whats TSS?

Yeah.. That's what my health teacher said, too.

no no no, never where a tampon when u r not on your period, the inside of your vigina is to dry and stuff and b/c that when u take out the tampon it will cause alot of pain b/c the tampon is bry. that happend to me b/c i always start on the same day of the month, i have never been on a differnt fday, i went to the hot tub and put in a tampon and when i took it out it caused alot of pain b/c it was dry and i didnt start until the next day at night!!!!!!! so dont use one

watch out for sharks if you don't use it and you get your period. don't ask why i know.

You can but it's not the best. If your afraid that your not sure when your going to get your period, wear a small pad.

The funny thing that happened to me was that my friends and I went to a camp on Catalina Island- none of us brought pads or tampons because we assumed we were not going to get our periods. Well. the three of us got our periods! weird timing eh? We had to get pads from the office lol. Swimming with a small pad is perfectly fine as long as you aren't wearing some g-string bathing suit. If you feel unsure about it, wear your bathing suit with some board shorts. A lot of girls do this, especially if they're not sure when they'll get their period.

If you use a tampon while not on your period, wear the smallest one and leave it in for at least several hours. Do not put it in then immediately try to take it out- that happened to another friend of mine and she ended up going on an embarrassing trip to the doctors to have it taken out. A tampon soaks up any moisture so remember that! I strongly recommend wearing a small pad if your not on your period and you want to play it safe while swimming!

oh my gosh.. okay. tss-toxic shock syndrome is where the fluids or something in your body build up in your vagina because it can't get out, causing it to be toxic or something. then it makes you sick or whatever. in the tampon package there's this piece of paper that says DO NOT use tampons for non-menstral discharge or between periods, because more fluids build up causeing a greater risk.
that's not healthy to be using tampons when you "think" you might be getting your period... my doctor says that teenage girls usually get their periods from 28-35 days after their last one, so you may not have it anyways.

Definately not ok. Tampon absorbancy is directly linked to TSS, and without menstrual flow, tampons are not a good idea. Your period stops when you're in the water, so you should be able to swim fine, just make sure to wrap a towel around yourself when you come out.

its OK to do it but you shouldnt. you getting TSS while wearing a tampon without your period will be a higher chance.

Ahem. Wrong. You can't take TSS out of Tampons. No matter what you do, you can still get it - even if it is in the U.S.

I don't think you should, as others said, the tampons will suck up all the moisture.. It'd def. be harder to take out, and besides, when you're in the water, your flow will be "locked" I know that for sure..lol

i wouldnt reccomend it. it always says not to use it if you dont have your period. i would if its late and it could be anytime soon, then i guess go for it. otherwise, im not sure....?

umm...TSS isn't something you have to have in order to produce tampons you know...the fibers or materials that make up a tampon can cause it.

the U.S. doesn't use those materials anymore.

DEFINITELY, do NOT put in a tampon when you're not on your period! it's extremely dangerous and you can get TSS. even if you have discharge, still do not use a tampon! you can put in a pantyliner if you feel like you might be getting your period. but no no no tampon.

^i agree..

it says on the box to not wear it unless your on your period.

if your gonna go swimming, the water will keep the water from coming out so it'll be okay. just make sure after your done swimming to check right away if your bleeding or not cuz the bloods gonna start coming when you get out of teh water.

im not sure.. but to be on the safe side ask a doctor or just dont swim

I agree.