There are so many great period products available today, and tampons are one of them. Although they have been there for generations, they are still not that widely used In India as compared to pads. So if you are new to them you may be confused about which size of tampons to choose, regular ones or super tampons. There are many factors that you need to consider before picking the right tampon for yourself. But don’t worry. We are here to help you in taking this important decision.

Different Sizes of Tampons
Tampons come in many different sizes viz. light, regular, super and ultra tampons. However, you must understand that when you talk about tampon size, it is not the actual size but the absorption capacity of the tampon that’s being referred to. So, if you have a regular and a super tampon which are both of the same size, about 2 inches long, they will still not be able to absorb the same amount of fluid. In general, there are two sizes of tampons namely, regular which will always absorb less menstrual blood than super one.

How to Pick the Right Tampon Size
It can be overwhelming to select the best tampons for yourself if you are only beginning with it. The fear of staining due to the use of a wrong-sized tampon is indeed threatening. But don’t worry. Selecting the perfect size is easier than you may believe.

Check the Flow
To begin with, ask yourself the following questions:

How many days does your period last?Do you get the feeling of ‘blood gushing’ or flooding?Are your period blood clots bigger than a five rupees coin?How many pads for period do you use in a day?Do you often ruin your clothes and bed sheet due to heavy flow?If you answer most of these questions in ‘many’, ‘much’ or ‘yes’ form, then you probably have a heavy flow and require a larger size tampon.

Medically speaking if you lose more than 80 ml of blood during your period or if it lasts for more than seven days then you have a heavy flow.
But normally, it is about what you think your flow corresponds to. If it is light in your opinion then choose a light tampon or else, to begin with, stick to a regular tampon only.

Test Out
Test the tampon that you have chosen by using it for 4 to 6 hours. If it doesn’t leak in that period then it is likely right for you. If after using it for 6 hours too there are some white spaces left in it then you can go down a size.

Keep These In Mind

Small is Best for Beginners
If you are starting out with tampons then it is better if you choose the lightest absorbency tampon available in the market, like those designed for teenagers. This is because they are much thinner and hence easier to insert.
Go with the Flow
At the beginning of your menstrual cycle, the flow is the heaviest which decreases towards the end. So, it is a good idea to use a super tampon in the first two days and then switch to regular ones.

Take this Action if Active
Although regular tampons work fine too, consider using special ‘active tampons’ if you exercise, play a sport or stay more active. It is because such tampons are designed to prevent leaks despite excessive movement.

Be Wary
You must never try to use a heavy flow tampon just as a precaution against staining. It is best if you use the lightest possible tampon that may work for you. It is because a higher absorbency tampon can potentially cause toxic shock syndrome or TSS. Though extremely rare, it can be quite dangerous. So if you have been using a tampon and suddenly developed a fever, your blood pressure has dropped, are confused and vomiting, etc. then you must immediately seek medical attention.

Everyone is different and so are their bodies. This is why you need to take the knowledge from this guide but also do some hits and trials to get that perfect tampon. One thing is for sure though, once you have found your right fit and gotten used to a tampon you are never going back to even the best period pads that you may have used before.