For me I almost always wear a pad to bed. I tend to sleep more then 8 hours on my cycle so I don’t like that risk. However if I stay up too late and know I have to work in the morning I’ll put the tampon in.
Ever since being on the pill my periods don’t “happen” at night if that makes sense, pad is for ease of mind. Only ever occurs at night with the tampon. I swear those things give worse cramps but make the period move faster.
I sleep naked except in the very depths of the icy winter, so I don’t have anything to affix a pad to. On my heaviest nights, I don’t think twice about wearing a tampon. I think I’ve heard or read somewhere that TSS was a much more serious risk back in the 80s or 90s, but maybe now tampons are less absorbent or less otherwise dangerous in terms of TSS? In any case, on work nights I get maybe 6 hours of sleep so I don’t feel super at risk.
However (and I realize this sounds gross af), most of the nights that I’m bleeding, I don’t really have to wear anything. My flow tends to be super light these last few years. That, combined with the fact that I don’t move around much when I’m sleeping, leads to…sheets that are still clean in the morning. If I’m really worried about it, I’ll use a wad of TP just in case, but usually it’s fine.
Neither. Try an adult diaper and an incontinence pad for the bed (“puppy pad”).
Heavy bleeder. Nothing works and can’t get up repeatedly to refresh a pad/tampon. I’ll leak anyway and the wee pad protects the bed. I’ll even lay a few in a radius. (They’re soft on the paper side)
Bonus, in morning, head to bathroom, wrap everything in the wee pad, put them in a plastic bag to take outside to trash when I leave, hop in shower.
Don’t know how this will work if you’re in bed with someone else.
Pad. I inserted a tampon on top of a tampon like 15 years ago and didn’t know it until the lodged tampon started to smell like a dead animal inside of me. The trauma plus embarrassment of my gyno having to fish it out of me was enough for me to stop wearing tampons at night.
I use flex discs and can never go back to tampons or pads. I like them better than cups because they sit at the base of your cervix. Nearly mess free period sex, and have only had it leak when I forget to swap it out, they are good for 12 hours and I legitimately forget I’m on my period. 10/10 recommend 👌🏽
I’ve definitely slept in tampons before with no problem, but manufacturers generally don’t advise it. These days I do period undies, so I don’t have to worry if I end up sleeping in a little late.
Neither. I wear menstrual cups. No leaks and can’t feel it if properly placed unless it’s full. You can wear them for a full 24 hours if they don’t get full and not worry about TSS. I’ve heard stories of women even forgetting they’d been wearing them and left them in for a week or more and be totally fine.
They also have an added benefit of lessening cramps.
Though I’m mostly on the pill all month, I prefer pads over tampons. Though I wouldn’t mind getting proper menstruation underwear, probably the cheapest option in combination with the pill in the long run
I never used to be too worried about tampons overnight but then got the heebies about it realising on a good night’s sleep I’d be pushing 8+ hours with it in. So pads now but I don’t love them.
Tampons. I hate the feel of pads and I’m a very sensitive sleeper. If I’m uncomfortable I will be rolling around all night trying to get comfortable.
Since I’m fairly restless, I also always found pads shift around and end up leaking (not from the amount, just from being in the wrong positioning)
you won’t die of TSS if you leave a tampon for 8,5-9h a couple of time a month. The warning on the box is for the women that think ” hey i will wear the super-plus so i can keep it for 24 hours, saving efforts and money”
that said, i started wearing tampon at night and it was life changing because the pads prevented me to sleep in the position i like (or it would leak) and that was annoying.
Now if you’re blood is like flood, you can wear both pad and tampons, or you can use a mooncup (that can contain more than a tampon and you have less risk of TSS)
Tampons. No worries about TSS. Less mess. Once I stopped w/ pads and went to tampons, I refuse to go back. I haven’t had any scares down there. Don’t hate me, but recently I “heard” TSS studies are outdated.
I wear a pair of older loose underwear at night and that’s it. It might have something to do with my anatomy, coupled with a lighter flow, but I’ve never experienced an issue with leaking. Most nights nothing even gets on the underwear.
When I was getting my period (IUD mostly stops it now) I would always use a tampon at night. Occasionally this meant leaving them in for a bit over 8 hours.
Contrary to popular belief, TSS doesn’t immediately set in after 8 hours. Weighing the risk for myself, I decided I was comfortable with it.
Period underwear. I used to wear pads, but they just don’t provide enough coverage if you move around in your sleep at all. I’d often wake up to most of the pad dry but one infuriating trickle that just rolled all the way down the pad and stained part of my underwear. I got period underwear that has a wide absorbent strip basically all the way up the back, and it’s amazing.
I discovered the period diapers in September, the disposable ones, and haven’t looked back since. I am an acrobat in my sleep and on heavy flow days into matter what something happens. These have been a game changer.
I understand washable ones and will definitely invest soon, but I only wind up using like 2 for the heavy days each month (only 2 days of heavy flow) and so I feel like the $20 every six months is worth it. I can do my sleep acrobatics of 900000 sleep positions all night and wake up leak free and it’s amazing.
On regular or light flow nights I usually just use a super or overnight pad. Something about my sleepy brain trying to change a tampon halfway through the night or first thing in the morning does me in lol. I definitely have accidentally forgotten I had a tampon in and tried to put one in as soon as I woke up. That was a painful realization LMAO.
I use both and have done this for years. No issues. Much easier and far less nighttime accidents vs wearing pads only. Plus pads, make me break out in a rash if I only wear them.
Women also need to realize much of the items we currently use for feminine hygiene products have changed for the better in the last 20 or so years vs those products our mothers or grandmothers had to use.
I don’t worry about TSS. I tried to put the tampon is right before bed (10ish pm) then I’m up at 6:30am. So it’s not in there that much longer than the recommended time.
Tampon. I will usually just stretch how long I wear it to like 8 hours or if I need to just wake up to change. I haven’t worn a legit pad since high school and I’m never going back. Or sometimes I just sort of free bleed and hope when I’m horizontal it doesn’t come out much haha
I used to be an heavy bleeder and had to have both at night, tampons and pads. Plus changing in the middle of the night, because I usually wake up right when it’s starts to leak. Never worried about TSS.
I use super ridiculously large washable pads with boyshort panties for heavy nights and period panties for the last few days. Could never get disposables to work for me and would be too anxious to sleep with a tampon!
I wear a panty liner or pad at night. I feel like I don’t bleed at all really. Like 1 pad could last my entire period and not get full. But I get intense horrible, fall to your knees crying cramps.
Menstrual cup at night, and a reusable panty liner if you’re worried about leaks. And also during the day.
Trust me, this is life changing and I can never go back to stick raw cotton up my vagina or dealing with the way the plastic on disposable pads rubs against my skin.
And yeah even before discovered menstrual cups, I never used tampons at night because I was freaked out by potential TSS
I use Ultra tampons and the biggest overnight pad you can find. I flood through both in about 2-3 hours tops. I have to change them constantly for the first 3 nights.
Comments
For me I almost always wear a pad to bed. I tend to sleep more then 8 hours on my cycle so I don’t like that risk. However if I stay up too late and know I have to work in the morning I’ll put the tampon in.
Ever since being on the pill my periods don’t “happen” at night if that makes sense, pad is for ease of mind. Only ever occurs at night with the tampon. I swear those things give worse cramps but make the period move faster.
I sleep naked except in the very depths of the icy winter, so I don’t have anything to affix a pad to. On my heaviest nights, I don’t think twice about wearing a tampon. I think I’ve heard or read somewhere that TSS was a much more serious risk back in the 80s or 90s, but maybe now tampons are less absorbent or less otherwise dangerous in terms of TSS? In any case, on work nights I get maybe 6 hours of sleep so I don’t feel super at risk.
However (and I realize this sounds gross af), most of the nights that I’m bleeding, I don’t really have to wear anything. My flow tends to be super light these last few years. That, combined with the fact that I don’t move around much when I’m sleeping, leads to…sheets that are still clean in the morning. If I’m really worried about it, I’ll use a wad of TP just in case, but usually it’s fine.
Neither. Try an adult diaper and an incontinence pad for the bed (“puppy pad”).
Heavy bleeder. Nothing works and can’t get up repeatedly to refresh a pad/tampon. I’ll leak anyway and the wee pad protects the bed. I’ll even lay a few in a radius. (They’re soft on the paper side)
Bonus, in morning, head to bathroom, wrap everything in the wee pad, put them in a plastic bag to take outside to trash when I leave, hop in shower.
Don’t know how this will work if you’re in bed with someone else.
Diva cup and period undies if I am unsure at all.
Pad. I inserted a tampon on top of a tampon like 15 years ago and didn’t know it until the lodged tampon started to smell like a dead animal inside of me. The trauma plus embarrassment of my gyno having to fish it out of me was enough for me to stop wearing tampons at night.
Cup all the way
I use a cup. Pads have never worked for me when I’m lying down. There’s always some mess and I hate the feel of it.
Cup. Only the cup. I can’t do tampons or pads anymore I just feel gross.
Pad plus yoga shorts. The shorts keeps the pad from moving around much.
I use flex discs and can never go back to tampons or pads. I like them better than cups because they sit at the base of your cervix. Nearly mess free period sex, and have only had it leak when I forget to swap it out, they are good for 12 hours and I legitimately forget I’m on my period. 10/10 recommend 👌🏽
Once I got the hang of a menstrual cup I was disappointed for not starting earlier. Game changer and best thing out there for me.
Pads at night tampons during the day
I wear tampons . Prefer less mess.
I’ve definitely slept in tampons before with no problem, but manufacturers generally don’t advise it. These days I do period undies, so I don’t have to worry if I end up sleeping in a little late.
Def not tampons, wtf? Pads for me. Tampons are uncomfortable.
Neither. I wear menstrual cups. No leaks and can’t feel it if properly placed unless it’s full. You can wear them for a full 24 hours if they don’t get full and not worry about TSS. I’ve heard stories of women even forgetting they’d been wearing them and left them in for a week or more and be totally fine.
They also have an added benefit of lessening cramps.
I got heavy flow, I normally do pad and bed pad.
Pads over night, because when I’m laying down, I usually don’t bleed out too much for a pad to handle. And it’s more comfy.
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Though I’m mostly on the pill all month, I prefer pads over tampons. Though I wouldn’t mind getting proper menstruation underwear, probably the cheapest option in combination with the pill in the long run
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Tampons. Wait am I doing something wrong? Never had a problem with them, I don’t even feel them
I never used to be too worried about tampons overnight but then got the heebies about it realising on a good night’s sleep I’d be pushing 8+ hours with it in. So pads now but I don’t love them.
Both! Heavy bleeder, so I generally need backup protection because I like my sheets lol
Tampons. I hate the feel of pads and I’m a very sensitive sleeper. If I’m uncomfortable I will be rolling around all night trying to get comfortable.
Since I’m fairly restless, I also always found pads shift around and end up leaking (not from the amount, just from being in the wrong positioning)
Period underwear! It’ll change your life!
you won’t die of TSS if you leave a tampon for 8,5-9h a couple of time a month. The warning on the box is for the women that think ” hey i will wear the super-plus so i can keep it for 24 hours, saving efforts and money”
that said, i started wearing tampon at night and it was life changing because the pads prevented me to sleep in the position i like (or it would leak) and that was annoying.
Now if you’re blood is like flood, you can wear both pad and tampons, or you can use a mooncup (that can contain more than a tampon and you have less risk of TSS)
Discs all the way. Once you find the right one it’s life changing.
Menstrual discs for sure.
Tampons. No worries about TSS. Less mess. Once I stopped w/ pads and went to tampons, I refuse to go back. I haven’t had any scares down there. Don’t hate me, but recently I “heard” TSS studies are outdated.
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Pad/period undies for bed and tampons and liners during the day
I wear a pair of older loose underwear at night and that’s it. It might have something to do with my anatomy, coupled with a lighter flow, but I’ve never experienced an issue with leaking. Most nights nothing even gets on the underwear.
When I was getting my period (IUD mostly stops it now) I would always use a tampon at night. Occasionally this meant leaving them in for a bit over 8 hours.
Contrary to popular belief, TSS doesn’t immediately set in after 8 hours. Weighing the risk for myself, I decided I was comfortable with it.
Tampons day and period undies at night, it feels so much more comfortable, and I dont worry about leaks so I find i sleep better
Period underwear. I used to wear pads, but they just don’t provide enough coverage if you move around in your sleep at all. I’d often wake up to most of the pad dry but one infuriating trickle that just rolled all the way down the pad and stained part of my underwear. I got period underwear that has a wide absorbent strip basically all the way up the back, and it’s amazing.
T for me. Pads give me that feeling of freebleed – hell no
Haven’t had periods for a while, but when I did I used tampons, because I cannot handle sleeping with underwear
Period pants, a game changer for me.
As a health care student, ALWAYS WEAR A PAD. it you use a tampon for too long you can get toxic shock syndrome.
tampons; I hate the feeling of pads. I used to use a cup or disc but tbh I just prefer tampons without an applicator over anything else
Tampons always. Nothing else has been comfortable for me
I discovered the period diapers in September, the disposable ones, and haven’t looked back since. I am an acrobat in my sleep and on heavy flow days into matter what something happens. These have been a game changer.
I understand washable ones and will definitely invest soon, but I only wind up using like 2 for the heavy days each month (only 2 days of heavy flow) and so I feel like the $20 every six months is worth it. I can do my sleep acrobatics of 900000 sleep positions all night and wake up leak free and it’s amazing.
On regular or light flow nights I usually just use a super or overnight pad. Something about my sleepy brain trying to change a tampon halfway through the night or first thing in the morning does me in lol. I definitely have accidentally forgotten I had a tampon in and tried to put one in as soon as I woke up. That was a painful realization LMAO.
It depends on how heavy my period is. But for heavy days its usually a pad for me
I use both and have done this for years. No issues. Much easier and far less nighttime accidents vs wearing pads only. Plus pads, make me break out in a rash if I only wear them.
Women also need to realize much of the items we currently use for feminine hygiene products have changed for the better in the last 20 or so years vs those products our mothers or grandmothers had to use.
Pads or I’ll just free bleed with some period panties on my lighter days
I haven’t worn pads since high school
Both! Or a tampon and Knix underwear.
I don’t worry about TSS. I tried to put the tampon is right before bed (10ish pm) then I’m up at 6:30am. So it’s not in there that much longer than the recommended time.
Tampon. I will usually just stretch how long I wear it to like 8 hours or if I need to just wake up to change. I haven’t worn a legit pad since high school and I’m never going back. Or sometimes I just sort of free bleed and hope when I’m horizontal it doesn’t come out much haha
tampon so it doesn’t make a mess.
I just really like cups? Less worry, but I do bolster that with a panty liner for safety.
I used to be an heavy bleeder and had to have both at night, tampons and pads. Plus changing in the middle of the night, because I usually wake up right when it’s starts to leak. Never worried about TSS.
Those big bulkly overnight diaper tampons. If you are a back sleeper you’ll appreciate them.
I use super ridiculously large washable pads with boyshort panties for heavy nights and period panties for the last few days. Could never get disposables to work for me and would be too anxious to sleep with a tampon!
Always pads.
Neither. Tampons hurt and pads are uncomfortable and itchy. I wear period underwear
Depends underwear.
Comfortable, full coverage, keeps you dry
I wear a panty liner or pad at night. I feel like I don’t bleed at all really. Like 1 pad could last my entire period and not get full. But I get intense horrible, fall to your knees crying cramps.
Menstrual discs, except on day 1 I use a maxi overnight pad cos heavy flow, with a very specific snug but not tight panties so it won’t shift.
Pads always. I hate the feel of tampons.
Pad.
Neither and I sleep on a towel. But mine is also super light and I don’t usually leak at night.
Menstrual cup at night, and a reusable panty liner if you’re worried about leaks. And also during the day.
Trust me, this is life changing and I can never go back to stick raw cotton up my vagina or dealing with the way the plastic on disposable pads rubs against my skin.
And yeah even before discovered menstrual cups, I never used tampons at night because I was freaked out by potential TSS
I have an alarm set on my phone for a tampon change. I’ve been using tampons for the last 10 years and won’t ever go back to pads.
I use Ultra tampons and the biggest overnight pad you can find. I flood through both in about 2-3 hours tops. I have to change them constantly for the first 3 nights.