Pads vs Tampons: What to Choose for Your First Period

If you are wondering about pads vs tampons, here is the short answer: both are safe choices, and most girls find pads the easiest place to start because there is nothing to insert. Tampons can be used from your very first period if you feel ready, and there is no age limit. Cups and period underwear are two more options for later. You do not have to pick one for life: plenty of girls use a pad on some days and a tampon on others.

In brief:

• Pads are the simplest start: nothing to insert, and you can see your flow.
• Tampons are fine from a first period, if you feel ready and have practiced.
• Change pads every 3 to 4 hours; tampons every 4 to 6, at most 8.
• Use a pad overnight, and skip scented products: they are not needed.
• See a doctor for very heavy bleeding, strong pain or fever with a tampon.

In this article · 8 min read

1. Pads vs tampons: what each one does
2. Which one should you start with?
3. How often to change a pad, tampon or cup
4. A simple plan for your first periods
5. What to know about tampon safety
6. Where the book fits
7. When to ask a doctor
8. Frequently asked questions
9. Sources

Your body does not send a schedule, and your first periods can be light, heavy or surprisingly irregular. That is why the best product is the one you can use without stress, and why it helps to know your options before the day arrives. Below you will find what each one is, how often to change it, how to try a new one step by step, and when to ask for help.

Pads vs tampons: what each one does

A pad (also called a sanitary towel or napkin) sticks to the inside of your underwear and absorbs blood as it leaves your body. A tampon is a small plug of absorbent material that sits inside the vagina and absorbs blood before it leaves. Nemours KidsHealth also lists menstrual cups, which catch blood instead of absorbing it, and says that pads can be disposable or reusable (KidsHealth, reviewed 2019). Here is the whole picture in one table:

The cup and period underwear details come from a pediatrician interviewed by Banner Health, who also suggests starting with one pack of each kind of pad so you can test what feels best (Banner Health, June 2025).

Which one should you start with?

There is no single right answer, but these questions make the choice easier:

1. Do you want the simplest option? Choose pads. Banner Health's pediatrician describes them as simple to use, with nothing to insert, and as the easiest and most comfortable place to begin for most girls.
2. Do you swim, dance or play sports a lot? A tampon or a cup can feel more comfortable than a pad in those moments. The same pediatrician says there is no age limit for tampons and that you can use them from your first period if you feel ready.
3. Are you nervous about inserting something? That is completely normal. Start with pads and come back to tampons whenever you want. A tampon is not "more grown-up", it is just a different tool.
4. Is your flow light, medium or heavy? Light days suit a thin pad or a panty liner, and heavier days may need more absorbency. Your flow can change from day to day and from month to month.
5. Do you want something reusable? Cups and period underwear are good for this, but both take some learning and some cleaning.

If you are still unsure, mix. The Center for Young Women's Health at Boston Children's Hospital suggests alternating pads and tampons and using a pad overnight (Center for Young Women's Health, 2011).

How often to change a pad, tampon or cup

Different sources give slightly different ranges, so treat the numbers below as a guide and follow the leaflet in your box. Change sooner whenever a product feels full.

KidsHealth also reminds readers to never put in a tampon and leave it there all day or all night. Use a pad overnight instead, as the Center for Young Women's Health suggests.

A simple plan for your first periods

You can think of it as three small steps. There is no deadline, and you can stop at any step.

1. First periods: pads. Choose regular, unscented pads, plus a thin one and an overnight one. Practice sticking a pad into your underwear before you need it, and carry a spare in your bag. If you want to build a small pouch, our guide to a first period kit shows what to put in it.
2. When you feel ready: try a tampon at home. Pick a day when your flow is noticeable, and a calm moment with no rush. The Center for Young Women's Health advises starting with slender or regular absorbency. Banner Health adds that the risk of a rare infection is higher when a super-absorbent tampon is used on a light flow, so choose the smallest size that does the job. Read the leaflet in the box together with a parent or a trusted adult if you prefer, and tell them if one feels stuck.
3. If you are curious: try a cup or period underwear. Cups take practice and careful cleaning after each use. Read the instructions, and ask an adult or a doctor if you have questions.

Scented pads, scented wipes and sprays are not needed. KidsHealth says scented pads and tampons with deodorant can irritate the vagina or cause allergic reactions in some girls, and that changing a tampon regularly is what keeps odor under control.

What to know about tampon safety

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare infection that can happen with tampons and cups, and the NHS says to follow the instructions and not leave one in longer than needed or recommended (NHS, reviewed June 2023). It is not a reason to be scared of tampons, but it is a reason to follow a few habits:

• Wash your hands before and after you change a tampon.
• Use the lowest absorbency that works for your flow.
• Change it on time, and use a pad at night.

The NHS lists these warning signs: a high temperature or feeling hot, cold or shivery, muscle aches, a raised rash that feels like sandpaper, and flu-like symptoms. If you notice them while using a tampon or cup, remove it and get urgent medical help, and tell the doctor that you were using one. The NHS page talks about tampons and menstrual cups, not about pads.

Where the book fits

100 Mysteries of Puberty for Girls by Magda Pabst is written for you, in a friendly and matter-of-fact tone. In its first chapter, the question about the menstrual cycle explains the four phases (menstrual, follicular, ovulation and luteal), says a cycle lasts about 28 days on average with a range of 21 to 35, and that bleeding usually lasts 3 to 7 days. It then walks through pads, tampons (good for sport and swimming but they take practice) and menstrual cups (reusable and eco-friendly), and gives tips for PMS such as movement, water, sleep and tracking your cycle on a calendar or an app.

The book is not a medical guide. It does not cover period underwear or toxic shock syndrome, which is why the medical points in this article come from the health sources listed below. It also sends you to a doctor or gynecologist for severe pain, heavy bleeding or irregular cycles.

When to ask a doctor

Most periods are nothing to worry about, but talk to a parent or a doctor if:

• your bleeding is very heavy, soaks through products very quickly, or lasts longer than about 7 days;
• period pain is strong enough to keep you from school or normal activities;
• your cycles stay very irregular as time goes by;
• a tampon feels stuck, or you have pain, itching or irritation that does not go away;
• you have a high temperature, a rash or flu-like symptoms while using a tampon or cup. Take it out and get urgent medical help.

If you would like to read more about growing up, you can also explore our guide to your first bra, the other guides on the Books Go blog, and more books on the Books Go Publications home page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a tampon on my first period?

Yes. A pediatrician quoted by Banner Health says there is no age limit for tampons and that you can use them from your first period if you feel ready. Many girls prefer to start with pads, and that is just as good.

Are pads or tampons better?

Neither is better. Pads are simpler and need no insertion, while tampons can feel more comfortable for swimming and sports. Many girls use both, for example a pad at night and a tampon at the pool.

Which tampon size should I start with?

Start with slender or regular absorbency, as the Center for Young Women's Health advises, and choose the smallest size that does the job. Banner Health says the risk of a rare infection is higher when a super-absorbent tampon is used on a light flow.

How long can a menstrual cup stay in?

Banner Health says a cup can be worn up to 12 hours, and KidsHealth says to empty it several times a day. Check the instructions of your own cup, because they can differ.

How many tampons or pads will I need?

It depends on your flow, and it changes from day to day. Start with one pack of regular pads and a thin pack, then adjust after your first few periods. If you need to change your product very often, mention it to a doctor.

Is it normal to find tampons hard to use at first?

Yes, they take practice, and the same is true for cups. Stay relaxed, read the leaflet, and try again another day. There is no rush at all.

Sources

• Tampons, Pads, and Other Period Supplies (for Teens), Nemours KidsHealth (reviewed October 2019)
• What Products Does Every Girl Need for Her First Period?, Banner Health (June 2025)
• At what age can girls use tampons instead of pads for their period?, Center for Young Women's Health (2011)
• Toxic shock syndrome, NHS (reviewed June 2023)