Stayfree Ultra Thin Light Pad Review

24 ct | 48 ct individually wrapped pads
4.49 | 6.99 | CAD at London Drugs and other drug stores

From Stayfree.ca:

An Anti-Leak Core and FOUR WALL PROTECTION^® lock fluid inside to help prevent leaks and the discomfort of wetness.

• Uniquely designed for light flow and ideal to provide better fit for small or petite women.
• STAYFREE^® Odour neutralizers provide remarkable freshness. 

Click read more for the full review!

The problem with some tampons

Okay if you follow me on twitter, you know that I tried to use a tampon without an applicator and upon opening it, the tampon fell apart in my hands.

Yes this was an old tampon but tampons and pads never expire as long as they are kept in a cool dry place. Yet this one still fell apart in my hands.

I tried to pull out the string and pieces of the tampon came out with it.

Sooo... maybe I just got a bad one? I emailed them and basically they just said sorry blah blah blah. No replacement offered. Okay whatever!

Then I tried a bunch more tampons, all sans applicator. When I tried to grab the string, often times I found that I would also accidentally grab a part of the tampon and that part of the tampon would just come apart.

Anyone else???

I seriously don't have this kind of time to be extra careful when pulling out the string especially when I'm on my period and have zero patience.

Okay so what's really the big deal?

If these tampons can fall apart so easily, these pieces can possibly fall off inside your vagina. Hmmm I know this sounds a bit far fetched... but then I read this story:

Girl has a ball of tampon threads in her uterus

Tampons that fall apart can be a huge problem but it's hard to prove that they're actually falling apart inside of you and causing problems until maybe when it is too late!

My only tip is to inspect your tampon before insertion or choose more healthy alternatives such as diva cups or pads.

Reader Submission: My First DivaCup Story

M writes:

I had read a lot of information online on the Diva Cup before purchasing it ($40 at London Drugs! But now the UBC Womyn's Centre sells it for $19). Most of people who reviewed it, loved it. Naturally, I assumed I would as well. 

I bought Model 1 which the product information states as for "women under 30 who have never delivered vaginally or by caesarean section". I had watched Youtube videos on the different ways that it can be inserted; the two main ways are the U fold and the Push-Down fold. The Push-Down fold is infinitely easier because of the scoop-like shape it creates; it's much easier to 'slide in'. Unlike a tampon, I couldn't insert it standing; I had to crouch down. As someone who's always used pads, I found that an awkward position to be in. I couldn't insert it with the U fold but the Push-Down method got it in on the second try. You have to not be squeamish about your blood because it will get on your fingers during insertion.

"The removal was a bit messy at first -- I still haven't gotten the hang of it. It's easy enough to pull out and again, your fingers will get bloody but the cup sort of 'pops' when you pull it; I ended up spilling some blood on the floor."

Click on Read More for the full story!

Kotex Maxi Unscented Wingless Pad Review

24 ct individually wrapped feminine pads
~4.99 CAD available at London Drugs and other drug stores

From Kotex.com:

On medium to heavy flow days, consider these your new best friend. They’re more absorbent than our Regular Ultra Thin Pads, and with touches like cotton, aloe and Vitamin E, you'll forget everything you thought you knew about Maxi pads.

 

REVIEW CONTINUES CLICK ON READ MORE!

The Period Blog Diaries Vol 5 2011

Reader Submission: WORST PERIOD STORY EVER

Hi everyone! Another reader has been so brave to share her period story with us and she has shared some really good advice too.

Anonymous writes:

It was a rainy Saturday night, I had started my period on the Thursday and was experiencing a lighter day than usual for Day 3. I had been invited to a fancy dress event by my "friend" (technically he's supposed to be my ex because he "broke up" with me a couple months ago... but its complicated) anyway... all costumed up (well my costume was uncomplicated-- it was a nice dress and boots) we went to our event, me believing I had enough supplies to cover me. Hours passed without incident further than my flow becoming quite a bit heavier- even more than expected. By the end I was on my last pad. My "friend" and I were standing in a queue to have photos taken before we left, when I felt the most disgusting thing ever (I'd had it before but on a smaller scale). I felt like jelly was oozing out...

"There was a backup of fluid behind a blocking clot which overfilled my pad and as I moved it squeezed out like a sponge."

Click on Read More for the full story.

Announcing our U By Kotex Give-A-Way Winner!

Congratulations to Blythe! She was our third entry in our give a way contest!

In this contest we asked readers to share with us their favourite pantiliner. Blythe answered:

"I most often use Kotex pantiliners! The U By Kotex are great. "

Thank you Blythe for your entry! Blythe has won a box of U By Kotex Barely There liners!

See how easy our give-a-ways are??? Don't worry if you missed this give a way. We are having a much bigger one very soon!

xoxo.

U By Kotex Barely There Liners Review + Give A Way!

18 ct | 60ct | 120 ct individually wrapped pantiliners
1.99 |  6.49 | 9.99 at London Drugs, Well.ca  and other drug stores

From Kotex.com:

It’s a liner so thin and flexible, you might forget you’re wearing it. Helps you stay clean and fresh everyday, or when your period is light, and spunky new designs are anything but ordinary. 

Click read more for the full review!

A Give-A-Way is at the very end of this post!!

The Daily Cramp: The Free PMS Newsletter Review

So a while ago, The Daily Cramp asked me to try out their free PMS newsletter service. It is very much like a period tracker except it emails newsletters to you or your boyfriend about your mood according to your period cycle!

The Daily Cramp sends you or your partner email newsletters to predict your mood depending on period cycle. Each newsletter comes with a hormone level chart to show you how far along you are on your cycle and a short prediction. The predictions are hilarious and kind of like a horoscope in that it can take some deciphering but the chart always helps if you don't understand it. The service is targetted for the young adult audience is sometimes NSFW.

This is a service I have never heard of before and their mascot is pretty cute too. I was really curious about how this idea came to fruition so I asked The Daily Cramp, how did this start?

"This is actually a fun story. The logo comes from one of our founders affectionately calling his girlfriend a Crazy Bear at certain times of the month. The change in her behavior was so noticeable that she actually helped him set up alerts in his calendar to give him a heads up each month! Guys are not educated at all about the female menstrual cycle. When they tell you about it in Sex Ed as a kid you cover your ears the second you hear the word blood! So recognizing how the lack of education and understanding(for both sexes) could actually adversely affect relationships we tried to figure out a fun way to deliver the message. "


To read about my experience with The Daily Cramp, click on read more!

Natracare Tampon Without Applicator Preview

20ct individually wrapped tampons without applicator
6.99 CAD available at London Drugs 

From Natracare.com:

Natracare tampons are all made from only certified organic 100% cotton and were the world's first fully certified organic cotton tampons. They are non-chlorine bleached and women can be reassured that they do not contain synthetic materials, such as rayon, or chemical additives such as binders or surfactants.

Certified organic cotton removes the risk of direct exposure to residues from chemical pesticides and fertilisers used on traditional cotton.

 

Click on Read More for the rest of the Pre-Review!