Periods and water-based camps

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
On OB trips they carry a "groover" which is the aforementioned box that everyone poops in (pack your trash and all that), basically a field toilet that they set up in some privacy. No cat-holes on rafting trips! I hope your daughter can get it sorted -- that sounds like so much fun!

This. I’d have serious questions about the company if they don’t have this. Plus your very common question should have been explicitly addressed in the faq. If they didn’t, it’s a badly run company and I would not use them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has to figure tampons out. Women go on long hikes and camp all the time, where bathroom and garbage access is limited. You take a bag and dispose of it in sealed bag and carry it with you until you can dispose of it. It isn’t a big deal- unless you make it one. In which case you shouldn’t go on trips where a standing bathroom isn’t available.

She literally doesn't. There are more ecological alternatives to tampons. It's funny the poster above is talking about taking all this trash and packing it out like it helps the environment.

Would your daughter use the cup? If not - would she use period swim bottoms?

1) cups are way more difficult to use than tampons
2) she won’t have access to running water to wash her hands
3) the cup needs to be emptied and reinserted- how would that go, with dirty hands, in the woods, with no water to rinse the cup, or your hands?
That sounds way worse

Cups are supposed to last 12 hours, they hold way more than a tampon
On the other hand, if it fails it will be an embarrassing disaster

As an adult woman, who’s had zero issues with tampons starting at 11, I could not get a cup to work. I’ve tried several times over the years. On the one occasion I did manage to get it in, the seal was so strong, I couldn’t get it out. I had to pull so hard that when the seal broke and it came out, blood flung all over the bathroom. It looked like a murder scene. That isn’t to say some women don’t have great success with cups, but there a much higher change for things to go wrong and it can be a big challenge to get the hang of them and get a comfortable fit

+1 My young teen tried a cup and also had trouble removing it. When it had been in for much longer than was suggested and DD could not remove it, I called her pediatrician, who referred me to a pediatric gynecologist, who said we could come in several days later or we could go to the emergency room. She got in a hot shower and was eventually able to remove it.

I would not recommend a cup for this situation unless DD is eager to try it, and uses it successfully multiple times before camp.

Good luck, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has to figure tampons out. Women go on long hikes and camp all the time, where bathroom and garbage access is limited. You take a bag and dispose of it in sealed bag and carry it with you until you can dispose of it. It isn’t a big deal- unless you make it one. In which case you shouldn’t go on trips where a standing bathroom isn’t available.

She literally doesn't. There are more ecological alternatives to tampons. It's funny the poster above is talking about taking all this trash and packing it out like it helps the environment.

Would your daughter use the cup? If not - would she use period swim bottoms?

1) cups are way more difficult to use than tampons
2) she won’t have access to running water to wash her hands
3) the cup needs to be emptied and reinserted- how would that go, with dirty hands, in the woods, with no water to rinse the cup, or your hands?
That sounds way worse

Cups are supposed to last 12 hours, they hold way more than a tampon
On the other hand, if it fails it will be an embarrassing disaster

As an adult woman, who’s had zero issues with tampons starting at 11, I could not get a cup to work. I’ve tried several times over the years. On the one occasion I did manage to get it in, the seal was so strong, I couldn’t get it out. I had to pull so hard that when the seal broke and it came out, blood flung all over the bathroom. It looked like a murder scene. That isn’t to say some women don’t have great success with cups, but there a much higher change for things to go wrong and it can be a big challenge to get the hang of them and get a comfortable fit

I don’t use a cup, and now I never will. Hahaha

[Anonymous]

my dd got her first period in May or June when she turned 12, she figured tampons out within a month or two so that she could wear a bathing suit at beach and feel comfortable. I'm sure your dd can do it if she has a little time to practice it's not very hard and you have some nice options to choose from that are easy to use

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has to figure tampons out. Women go on long hikes and camp all the time, where bathroom and garbage access is limited. You take a bag and dispose of it in sealed bag and carry it with you until you can dispose of it. It isn’t a big deal- unless you make it one. In which case you shouldn’t go on trips where a standing bathroom isn’t available.

She literally doesn't. There are more ecological alternatives to tampons. It's funny the poster above is talking about taking all this trash and packing it out like it helps the environment.

Would your daughter use the cup? If not - would she use period swim bottoms?

1) cups are way more difficult to use than tampons
2) she won’t have access to running water to wash her hands
3) the cup needs to be emptied and reinserted- how would that go, with dirty hands, in the woods, with no water to rinse the cup, or your hands?
That sounds way worse

Cups are supposed to last 12 hours, they hold way more than a tampon
On the other hand, if it fails it will be an embarrassing disaster

As an adult woman, who’s had zero issues with tampons starting at 11, I could not get a cup to work. I’ve tried several times over the years. On the one occasion I did manage to get it in, the seal was so strong, I couldn’t get it out. I had to pull so hard that when the seal broke and it came out, blood flung all over the bathroom. It looked like a murder scene. That isn’t to say some women don’t have great success with cups, but there a much higher change for things to go wrong and it can be a big challenge to get the hang of them and get a comfortable fit

When it fills up with blood the suction decreases and it is easier to take out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has to figure tampons out. Women go on long hikes and camp all the time, where bathroom and garbage access is limited. You take a bag and dispose of it in sealed bag and carry it with you until you can dispose of it. It isn’t a big deal- unless you make it one. In which case you shouldn’t go on trips where a standing bathroom isn’t available.

She literally doesn't. There are more ecological alternatives to tampons. It's funny the poster above is talking about taking all this trash and packing it out like it helps the environment.

Would your daughter use the cup? If not - would she use period swim bottoms?

1) cups are way more difficult to use than tampons
2) she won’t have access to running water to wash her hands
3) the cup needs to be emptied and reinserted- how would that go, with dirty hands, in the woods, with no water to rinse the cup, or your hands?
That sounds way worse

Cups are supposed to last 12 hours, they hold way more than a tampon
On the other hand, if it fails it will be an embarrassing disaster

It is safe to keep a cup in for 12 hours before taking it out and washing it. It doesn't mean it lasts for 12 hours. Teens typically use relatively small cups. It really depends on the flow how long it lasts.

My cup holds 40ml. The upper limit for the entire period is around 60ml. You're not supposed to need to empty it as frequently as you would change a tampon. On the other hand, heavy periods are relatively common, including among young girls who are still having anovulatory cycles. It might be unpleasant as a (presumable virgin teen) to take the cup in and out. I've had a vaginal birth and it hurts me a bit

[Anonymous]

Can she try the disposable soft discs? I think they are more comfortable and easier to insert than a cup and they can last all day. I would pair that with a period swim suit. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X29GY6?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-ontype-md-t3_k0_11_9&=&crid=X7D7EIWYBJWV&=&sprefix=soft+disc

[Anonymous]

My 12yo uses the Ruby love bikin bottoms under board shorts. They work . She wore them for 6 hours at the beach yesterday with no issues and on Tuesday at Hershey all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my dd got her first period in May or June when she turned 12, she figured tampons out within a month or two so that she could wear a bathing suit at beach and feel comfortable. I'm sure your dd can do it if she has a little time to practice it's not very hard and you have some nice options to choose from that are easy to use

not the OP but mine got hers at almost 10 2 years ago so is almost 12. She has no interest “ in putting something inside me” I’m ok with that. The swimwear works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a weeklong rafting camp - each day they go rafting all day, and then go home each night. So yeah, I guess we could forfeit the entire week. But as of now, she wants to go, so I’m trying to help figure out some ideas.

You don't know if she is going to get her period that week.

Can she wear shorts? Is she staying in the raft?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has to figure tampons out. Women go on long hikes and camp all the time, where bathroom and garbage access is limited. You take a bag and dispose of it in sealed bag and carry it with you until you can dispose of it. It isn’t a big deal- unless you make it one. In which case you shouldn’t go on trips where a standing bathroom isn’t available.

She literally doesn't. There are more ecological alternatives to tampons. It's funny the poster above is talking about taking all this trash and packing it out like it helps the environment.

Would your daughter use the cup? If not - would she use period swim bottoms?

1) cups are way more difficult to use than tampons
2) she won’t have access to running water to wash her hands
3) the cup needs to be emptied and reinserted- how would that go, with dirty hands, in the woods, with no water to rinse the cup, or your hands?
That sounds way worse

Cups are supposed to last 12 hours, they hold way more than a tampon
On the other hand, if it fails it will be an embarrassing disaster

It is safe to keep a cup in for 12 hours before taking it out and washing it. It doesn't mean it lasts for 12 hours. Teens typically use relatively small cups. It really depends on the flow how long it lasts.

My cup holds 40ml. The upper limit for the entire period is around 60ml. You're not supposed to need to empty it as frequently as you would change a tampon. On the other hand, heavy periods are relatively common, including among young girls who are still having anovulatory cycles. It might be unpleasant as a (presumable virgin teen) to take the cup in and out. I've had a vaginal birth and it hurts me a bit

I don't know what to tell you. My cup would start feeling uncomfortable and leaking after 4 hours on a heavy day. It really is very flow and anatomy dependent. And this is just not the time to introduce it. It takes several cycles to learn how to use it.

FWIW I eventually switched to a disc which works much better for me.

[Anonymous]

My girls wear Knix and they supposedly hold 3 tampons worth of blood. So far so good for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My girls wear Knix and they supposedly hold 3 tampons worth of blood. So far so good for us.

Do they wear the bikini bottom or the boy shorts? I just got a bikini bottom for DD (14yrs, very petite). She’s tried tampons but can’t figure it out yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has to figure tampons out. Women go on long hikes and camp all the time, where bathroom and garbage access is limited. You take a bag and dispose of it in sealed bag and carry it with you until you can dispose of it. It isn’t a big deal- unless you make it one. In which case you shouldn’t go on trips where a standing bathroom isn’t available.

She literally doesn't. There are more ecological alternatives to tampons. It's funny the poster above is talking about taking all this trash and packing it out like it helps the environment.

Would your daughter use the cup? If not - would she use period swim bottoms?

1) cups are way more difficult to use than tampons
2) she won’t have access to running water to wash her hands
3) the cup needs to be emptied and reinserted- how would that go, with dirty hands, in the woods, with no water to rinse the cup, or your hands?
That sounds way worse

Cups are supposed to last 12 hours, they hold way more than a tampon
On the other hand, if it fails it will be an embarrassing disaster

It is safe to keep a cup in for 12 hours before taking it out and washing it. It doesn't mean it lasts for 12 hours. Teens typically use relatively small cups. It really depends on the flow how long it lasts.

My cup holds 40ml. The upper limit for the entire period is around 60ml. You're not supposed to need to empty it as frequently as you would change a tampon. On the other hand, heavy periods are relatively common, including among young girls who are still having anovulatory cycles. It might be unpleasant as a (presumable virgin teen) to take the cup in and out. I've had a vaginal birth and it hurts me a bit

I don't know what to tell you. My cup would start feeling uncomfortable and leaking after 4 hours on a heavy day. It really is very flow and anatomy dependent. And this is just not the time to introduce it. It takes several cycles to learn how to use it.

FWIW I eventually switched to a disc which works much better for me.

It is anatomy dependent. The first brand I tried didn't work for me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A camp with no bathrooms wouldn’t even be considered in our household. Wtf are you thinking??? Abort.

LOL, this was my thought.

I mean, kudos to you guys who have raised girls who are okay with this though!