Tampons are little plugs made of cotton that fit inside your vagina and soak up menstrual blood. Some tampons come with an applicator that helps you put in the tampon. Tampons have a string attached to the end, so you can easily pull them out. ... You wear the cup inside your vagina, and it collects menstrual blood.

Do tampons hurt the first time you use them?

A tampon may hurt the first time you try to insert it, but it shouldn't be bad. You shouldn't feel it once it's in, so if there still is pain or discomfort, you may not have inserted it correctly. ... A good rule of thumb: If your tampon feels at all uncomfortable, take it out!

Are tampons better than pads?

Tampons are cylindrical inserts that go inside your vagina, whereas pads are absorbent linings designed to stick to your underwear. Tampons are a good option because they are small, nearly invisible, and swim-safe — but they can be hard to insert and may carry the risk of vaginal irritation or toxic shock syndrome.