My First Time Using a Tampon

I was in tenth grade when I used my first tampon. I explained in this post why it was at this point I wanted to go from wearing pads to using tampons. I mulled it over for a while before I decided to use them, weighing whether or not it was worth the risk of TSS to have comfort and to feel clean. If you follow the link above, I talk about all the pros and cons there. I finally decided...Yup! Tampons.

Tampons are my friends! So cute. I want one...

I was at Walmart with my parents when I bought them. I remember saying, "I need some feminine products." Back then I was so shy about periods and thought that was less weird-sounding than, "I need some tampons."

My dad said, "What do you mean? Like makeup?"

I was mortified. And then, to make it worse, my mom said, "No, I think she means pads." 

"No," I said, "I want to try tampons this time." I also wanted to die from embarrassment because I had to say the word out loud. (Boohoo, right?)

But wait, there's more! My mom got all weird, and was like, "Do you know how to...you have to..."

"Ahh! Stop talking about it!" I said. "I'll figure it out."

And I did because the box of tampons I bought--Tampax Pearl--came with instructions (as does every box in every brand, so far as I know).


Thing is...I didn't put my first tampon in all the way. So when I stood up afterward and walked around, I could feel it. That's not supposed to happen.

And it freaked me out so much I passed out in the kitchen.

That's not even the worst part.

My boyfriend was over that day. Yup. Which, I mean, wouldn't even be a bad thing if it weren't for the following few minutes.

My mom found me on the kitchen floor, seconds after I passed out, and asked me what happened. Because I didn't wan to give her the secret real answer, I mumbled something about my period.  

She walked me into the living room and told me to lie down. My boyfriend sat down next to me and asked if I was okay just at the same moment his mom knocked on my door. I don't remember why. But she came in and saw that I looked awful and asked what was wrong. Then my mom chimed in with, "Oh, it's just woman stuff. We won't mention it in front of Gary." Gary being my boyfriend. And I know she was trying to be discreet for my sake, but I'd rather she just said it outright because the obvious secrecy was so...embarrassing. Like..duh! He knows what you mean by that. And then she said, "Maybe Gary should go home since Jessie's not feeling well."

And he left.

I'm over it now. Obviously, or I wouldn't be sharing. 

If you're unsure how to insert a tampon, like I was, here's an instructional video by U by Kotex:





Was your first time using a tampon easy or does your story sound like mine? Leave a comment below or email Period Fairy at jessie(dot)mullins5(at)gmail(dot)com!

Lots of love,
Jessie
@Je55ieMullin5

I Heard it in the Library

While sitting in the library, I heard the most delightful sentence float through the air from afar. You'll never guess what it was. Or maybe you will since you are reading this post on a blog called Period Fairy.

"We were talking about vaginal bleeding."

That was the sentence. My sister is sitting next to me. We froze. I looked at her and asked if she heard what I heard. She nodded. No shame, loud and clear--vaginal bleeding.

Rock on, whoever said that across the library. Rock on.

This guy heard it, too. Shock Face.

Do you have a fun/tragic/embarrassing/hilarious/helpful story about period or vaginal health? Email me at jessie(dot)mullins5(at)gmail(dot)com. It could be featured in Period Fairy!

VAGINA!

I get tickled with joy whenever I hear that word (vagina!) in movies. We can say that now!! Vagina. So, every time I hear it, I will post the clip for you to enjoy as well.

Period Fairy hopes you all had a wonderful Christmas (or whatever you celebrate) and wishes you a fantastic new year full of health, humor, love, and other good stuff.

We should all get shirts like this! And if you don't have a vagina...well? Wear it anyway??