Pads, tampons and cups: how to choose

There are several products for periods, and they are all safe when used properly. Many girls start with pads, but the choice is yours.

A pad sticks to your underwear and soaks up blood. They come in different sizes, from thin ones for daytime to long ones for night.

• Change every 3 to 4 hours, depending on how much you are bleeding.
• Wrap a used pad and put it in the bin, not the toilet.

A tampon is a small cotton plug that goes inside the vagina. It is handy for swimming and sport.

• Choose the lowest absorbency that works for you.
• Change every 4 to 8 hours, and never leave one in longer than 8 hours.
• Wash your hands before and after.
• When it is in the right place you can't feel it, and it can't get lost inside your body.

A cup is a small, soft cup made of medical silicone. It goes inside the vagina, collects blood, and then you empty it. You reuse it, so there is less waste.

• Follow the instructions in the box.
• Rinse it each time and clean it in boiling water between periods.

• If you are just starting, pads are easiest.
• There is no rush with tampons or cups. Talk to your mum or a doctor when you feel ready.

Tampons and cups don't harm your body. They are harder to insert when bleeding is light, so try on a medium day. Avoid scented products, which can irritate skin.