I need to talk about some girl stuff for this post, so if you’re a guy, you may want to put your fingers in your ears and go “la la la la la” until I post something else tomorrow, because I want to talk about tampons. There may even be pictures.
Are they gone?
Okay girls, here’s the thing. For the last few years while I’ve been having my environmental awakening, I’ve been an avid fan of OB. Ever since I learned the magic that can happen from being intimate with my own body, (Sorry, Mom, I should have told you to join the boys!) I’ve really never needed an applicator for my tampon. That’s great, because applicators are really wasteful, and it’s hard to keep those big guys discreetly in your pocket. Also, OB’s do absorb as well in real life as they do in the commercials. Especially recently, when they started making them with some super-awesome wicking materials.
The only thing that makes me wonder to the point of blogging about it is why in the world OB has renamed this new improved tampon “ProComfort.” Here’s the aforementioned picture:
I get that my camera may be called “pro” because it means the pictures will look professional, and I even get that my pens can be called “pro” because the people who use them, they mean business. But who in holy hell is a “professional menstruator?” I mean, I’ve gotten my period for much longer than I’ve held any job, and while makes me no novice bleeder, I don’t think that makes me a professional. So who exactly are ProComfort tampons supposed to be for? Does it possibly mean that the good people are “pro” comfort as opposed to “con” comfort? I’m sort of baffled.
Oh, and while it’s just us girls, let me ask: have you heard about the pill that prevents you from getting your period completely? Are you Pro or Con? I’m thinking I’m kind of pro. That would be sweet, especially for a girl with no washing machine in her home. I’m no doctor, but I’m betting it’s as safe, if not more, than the diet pill that makes you shit your pants.
Posted by nancypearlwannabe on August 2, 2007 at 1:18 am
I have nothing to comment on being a pro at having my period, although I probably could consider myself one since I did get mine first out of all the 5th graders in my class. Thank you, thank you.
On a completely unrelated note, I totally tried your lime butter recipe tonight, but with green beans instead of corn, and OHMYGOD! So good.
Posted by stefanie on August 2, 2007 at 2:41 am
I wish I could remember who else posted about this not too long ago. All I know is you’re not the only one baffled by the new “Professional” status.
Maybe I should give the OBs a try. I was always scared of them when I was younger, but you’re right; I probably don’t need the cardboard plunger anymore. (At least I do use the cardboard ones… the environmentalist in me cries about all that unnecessary plastic being used, too!)
Posted by rdl on August 2, 2007 at 3:06 am
maybe they mean pro as in for? The one good thing about menopause i might add cause hot flashes are hell.
Posted by BOSSY on August 2, 2007 at 3:38 am
A pill prevents you from getting your period? Bossy was born two decades too late.
Posted by 3carnations on August 2, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Stefanie, I think it was BrightYellowWorld that posted about them recently.
I’ve been using them since pretty much the “beginning”. I found the applicator ones unnecessarily complicated. I think I mentioned this on the other person’s post, but people who aren’t used to that brand find them really strange. A friend with whom I took a trip needed one unexpectedly, so I gave her one of mine. She looked at me like I was crazy when I handed it to her. She looked at me like I was even crazier when I explained how it’s used.
Am I a pro? Maybe. I have been using them for over 20 years. That’s long enough to retire in some fields.
Posted by lizgwiz on August 2, 2007 at 2:04 pm
I think the “no period pill” sounds great. Apparently, the only reason they designed them with that weeklong break in the first place was that it made women nervous not to have a visible sign that they weren’t pregnant. There was no medical reason–all psychological.
Of course, when I was on the pill my periods only lasted a few hours, anyway.
Posted by stilettoheights on August 2, 2007 at 6:17 pm
I am pro anything that stops me from getting my period, except pregnancy….I am so CON that…
though sadly I am not supposed to take anything with estrogen as I may “die” so I am stuck on some crazy pill that makes me get my period too much…
ug I know.
also…I have no clue on what a “pro” would imply
Posted by Kelli on August 2, 2007 at 6:37 pm
I am actually against the pill that takes away the ol’period for good.
For me? I kind of like that monthly reassurance that whew! yep! okay the pill IS working every month for me and no surprise babies are on the way.
I do enjoy the girl talk posts!
Posted by Noelle on August 2, 2007 at 6:48 pm
NPW – I remember getting mine right around the normal time. It was very exciting, and I was never so excited to get my period again until… let’s just say this one morning a few months ago. Glad you loved the butter! I must try it on beans, yum!
stefanie – Oh dear, I hate not being the first person to have ideas. I guess I’ll have to live, and you should really give them a try, you’ll never go back!
rdl – I’m thinking that they are for comfort, it would be silly to be against it. So sorry about the hot flashes!
bossy – yeah, but you had much funkier hairstyles in your time.
3carn – I would love to achieve professional status and retire from the period game. And yes, one time I was forced to use the applicator type in an emergency, and it gave me so much trouble!
liz – that’s so true, the one you get on the pill is artificial, designed for psychological reasons. Most months there’s no chance I got pregnant, anyway, so why the period, even if it is only a few hours? (lukcy ducky!)
stiletto – I am quite “CON” that as well. I’m sorry to hear you have trouble with estrogen. I guess it’s a good thing you’re straight…
kelli – For so long, there was no chance of me getting pregnant, so my period was just another reminder of the sex I wasn’t having. I guess that got ingrained in me or something, because I’ve never been happy to see it and will happily bit it farewell. And yes, we should do girl talk again soon!
Posted by HRH Courtney, Queen of Everything on August 2, 2007 at 10:05 pm
See, the pill that makes you stop your period scares me slightly. Chemically and dramatically altering natural life processes will come back to bite you in the snatch at some point.
Posted by Kirsten on August 3, 2007 at 2:14 am
i need the applicator… OB is for the pros.
Posted by FandK on August 5, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Ok, I have just so many things that I would like to say…starting with: I laughed so much during this post that I literally cried and then my husband INSTISTED that he get to read it too. Mostly it was the Ally hotlink that did it, but still the train of thought that took me there was well worth it.
I love OB and have been using them forever…I am constantly trying to convert people, but I feel like a Jehovah Witness when I start telling other chicas to use them too.
Also, the pill that allows you to not get your period–um, totally against it. Just want to point out that the 1 week a month when you get your period while on the pill is more than psychological: if you haven’t been taking your pill correctly and you do get pregnant there are serious birth-effects. So, the sooner you stop taking the pill while pregnant the less likely the side-effects are.(I’m going to point out here that on average the pill is only 85% effective BECAUSE most women do not take it exactly as instructed. So, pregnancy while on the pill does happen.)
Posted by 3carnations on October 1, 2007 at 8:53 am
I had to seek out this old post because I got into my first box of the “Pro Comfort” ones recently, and oh my gosh – They are better! I thought it was just a name change, but this is the first time I’ve ever thought “Wow, this is great!” about THAT product. Of course then I had to tell hubby about the whole “Pro Comfort” thing and he looked at me like I was crazy, and said “Not professional, ‘FOR comfort’”. Then he went and washed his ears out because I made him listen to all this information about my feminine hygiene product.
Back to the pro and con thing. I recommend that no one buy the “Con Comfort” type.