What should I use?

Both methods are good and you just need to find out which suits you best and which you feel happiest with.

Sanitary towels – have a sticky strip which helps the towel stick to the inside of your pants to stop your period blood going all over the place. It catches your blood as it leaves your vagina.

Tampons - fit inside your vagina and soak up your period blood before it leaves your vagina. Tampons come in different sizes and it is a good idea to use ‘mini’ tampons when you start as these are easier to insert, until you get used to them. Some tampons come with special inserters (applicators) and they all have a string attached to them, to make it easier to pull them out. You are still a ‘virgin’ if you use tampons.

How do I use tampons?

• Tampons are inserted into the vagina either with a cardboard or plastic applicator (applicator tampons) or using a clean finger (non-applicator tampons). They are removed by gently pulling the removal string, which is woven through the fibres.

• All tampons come with instructions and diagrams showing how to use them, study these carefully first.

• The muscles of your vagina will hold the tampon firmly in place and, if it’s inserted properly, you shouldn’t be able to feel it.

• You can do what you like while you’re wearing a tampon - even go swimming.

How often do they need changing?

You will normally need to change a tampon or sanitary towel several times a day, every 4-6 hours at least. If you wear a tampon at night then change it as soon as you get up in the morning.

Both tampons and sanitary towels come with detailed instructions as to how to use them as there are several different types of each.

Which is best for me?

Why not try writing to companies and explaining your problem? They'll send you a handful of free samples, and you can make a decision about what is best for you. Some girls even have different types or makes depending on what day of their period they're on, and some chop and change. They come in a range of prices, thicknesses and vary in how discrete they are. Some have wings to keep them in place in you knickers, and some just sit inside them. It's a completely personal decision!