Period products, safe use and getting help with cost

Pads and period pants absorb blood after it leaves the vagina. Tampons absorb it inside, while cups and discs collect it. Your choice can depend on what feels comfortable, what you can afford and the facilities available to you.

Choosing a product

Pads attach to underwear and come in different sizes and absorbencies. Disposable pads go in the bin, while reusable pads are washed. Period pants have absorbent material built in and can also be washed and reused. Think about where you could change and store used products during the day.

Tampons sit inside the vagina and have a string for removal. Some have applicators; others are inserted with a finger. Use the lowest absorbency needed for your flow. The FDA advises using tampons only during a period and throwing them away after use.

Cups and discs are internal collection products. Read the instructions for the particular model, including removal and cleaning. Reusable cups can be washed and used again, as NHS inform explains. Other internal products may be single-use.

Changing and cleaning safely

Wash your hands before and after handling products. For tampons, NHS inform suggests changing around every 4 to 6 hours depending on flow; the US FDA says every 4 to 8 hours, with an absolute maximum of 8 hours for a single tampon. The advice differs in its suggested interval. Follow the pack instructions and change earlier if needed.

Empty and clean cups according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Wash reusable pads and pants as directed. NHS inform notes that period pants need access to washing facilities and enough pairs to use while others are being washed. Before buying, think about how you would manage the washing as well as the cost.

Getting products when money is tight

In England, eligible state-maintained schools and Department for Education-funded colleges can provide free products. The scheme covers needing products unexpectedly or forgetting them as well as being unable to afford them. Ask the school office or a trusted member of staff how to get them.

England’s scheme includes pupils and students who are non-binary or transgender and have periods. It is an education scheme with eligibility limits: it does not cover students on higher education qualifications, apprentices or staff. If the scheme does not cover you, ask about a separate local scheme.

In Scotland, councils and education providers must make free products available to people who need them. Contact your council or use PickupMyPeriod to find a collection point. Elsewhere in the UK, ask your school, college or council what is available locally.

In the US, the Alliance for Period Supplies suggests calling 2-1-1 and asking about period supplies or basic needs. It also suggests trying local food pantries or faith-based organisations if a resource cannot be found. Availability varies, so these services may not always have products in stock.

WHO places products alongside access to water, toilets, disposal facilities and information. Reusable options can reduce the need to throw products away, but choose something you can afford and clean. You can put your immediate needs first when choosing a product.

Symptoms that need prompt action

Call 999 now in the UK, 911 in the US, or your local emergency number, for difficulty breathing, confusion or slurred speech, or a rash that does not fade under a glass. These are emergency signs on NHS toxic shock guidance. Remove a tampon or cup if you are using one and tell the emergency team.

Contact NHS 111 now (UK), or seek urgent medical care immediately (US and elsewhere), for sudden fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, feeling faint or a new rash during or soon after your period, particularly if you have used a tampon or cup. If a product is still in place, remove it and tell the clinician about its use. Follow the emergency advice above for emergency symptoms. Toxic shock syndrome is rare, but it can develop quickly and needs urgent treatment.