For many years the period has been a taboo subject for many women. And although today we can say that we are making progress, there is still a lot to be done on this issue. Little by little, something as natural as menstruation has been given visibility and a lot of information has been provided about what can and cannot happen to us when we get low. We no longer have to keep what happens to us at home, we have realized that many women can experience the same situation that we are experiencing and we do not have to feel like we are weirdos. One of the pathologies that has been worked on for years is endometriosis, a disease unknown until now that, luckily, is more visible than before. However, we still have a long way to go to work in little-recognized areas, for example, allergies to personal hygiene products during those days. More women than we think suffer this type of reaction and it is difficult, firstly, knowing how to recognize what happens to us and, secondly, knowing how to react and find solutions to this type of problem. In this article we tell you how you can tell if you are allergic to tampons, pads or a menstrual cup and, above all, what you can do to remedy it as soon as possible. The first? Go to your doctor or gynecologist to tell him everything that can happen to you. Let's see it!

How can I know if I have an allergy to compresses?

Symptoms of allergy to pads

  • Allergies are reactions of our body's immune system to, for example, some type of material. It is important to know how to detect them and take tests to see if our body really reacts to that material. In the case of intimate hygiene products, it is very important to find a solution that allows us to be comfortable with ourselves (and even more so on period days) without putting our health at risk.
  • Years ago, compresses were the only solution available to pass menstruation. Little by little, the market has evolved to offer varied and different products, as well as more types of pads: with wings, without wings, that absorb odors, scented... The development of all these types of products made the materials employees will also multiply and, therefore, the chances of allergy to certain products included, too.
  • It is possible that you may develop certain allergies to the pads, the plastics they are made from, or even the deodorizers they contain to keep odor away. To recognize if you have an allergy to this type of product, you must first observe if it only happens on the days when you have your period. That is to say, if as soon as you start using this product you discover that you have itching and the vaginal area stings a lot but when you stop using them, those itches disappear.

What solution exists to the allergy to the compresses? 

  1. If you have the aforementioned symptoms, the first thing you should do is discuss it with your doctor so that he can do allergy tests. On the other hand, you can test if it only happens to you with a specific brand or type of pads, and test if cloth pads work for you, for example.
  2. If there is no way to put on a pad because they all cause allergies, you can try putting on tampons or a menstrual cup, two very valid options for intimate hygiene during menstruation. The important thing is that you do not complain because there are thousands of solutions, and keep in mind that it is better to try before complaining about everything.

How do I know if I have an allergy to tampons?

Symptoms of a tampon allergy

  • In the case of allergies to tampons, you will feel an itching or burning sensation shortly after inserting the tampon, just where the cotton has rubbed against you. In this sense, it is important that you pay attention to whether the burning coincides with the days of your period and with the days in which you wear tampons. Careful! If you think you may have an allergy to tampons, it is important that you observe how your body reacts and that you do not last many hours with it on (of course, do not sleep with it either).
  • It can happen that for years you do not have any type of reaction to these products and, suddenly, a certain reaction to them begins to appear. On many occasions it is given by the abuse and misuse of the products (wearing them for more hours than recommended or not taking breaks between them). That is why it is important that we use them rationally and always following their recommendation instructions.

What solution is there to allergies to tampons?

  1. It is very likely that if you have an allergy to tampons, you also have it to pads since the components they contain are very similar. So our recommendation is that you try the menstrual cup that has become so fashionable in recent times.
  2. You must bear in mind that if you launch yourself to try it you will need a little patience. The first few days it can be a bit difficult to place and remove it correctly, but it is a matter of time before you get the hang of it. If you are allergic to pads and tampons, this would be the healthiest option since the composition of the menstrual cup is 100% hypoallergenic medical silicone. 
  3. What you must take into account to buy the menstrual cup and start using it is the amount of vaginal discharge you have, if you have had vaginal deliveries or the lifestyle you lead, as that will make you choose the model that best suits you.

How do I know if I have a menstrual cup allergy?

Do I have an allergy to the menstrual cup?

  • We can find different menstrual cups made of different materials. In most cases and precisely to prevent allergies, practically all of them are manufactured. Today, medical silicone protects us from other types of allergies that can arise with other materials.
  • It is difficult to develop an allergy of this type and in many cases what we find is a reaction to another material that has been in contact with the glass, that is, gels, lubricants, soaps, etc. To find out if you are allergic before putting on a drink, there is a general recommendation that is, first of all, hold it to your skin for several hours to see if your skin reacts in contact with it. Having passed that phase, the second recommendation is to put it on for only a few hours. It is a way of getting used to it, putting it on and taking it off and at the same time checking in short periods of time if there is a problem. Always paying attention to your body and how it responds.

What solution is there if I have an allergy to the menstrual cup?

It is strange that a menstrual cup made of hypoallergenic silicone reacts, but when the case has been proven, you could resort to cloth compresses to pass the period, as we told you in the first section. The most important thing if you think you may find yourself in a situation of allergy to intimate hygiene products is to observe what happens to you and consult your doctor or gynecologist. They will know your history and will tell you how to proceed in each case.