Tampons allow you to enjoy the freedom of doing and wearing what you want while you’re on your period. But you may be wondering if tampons leak. Tampons can leak if left in for too long, so it’s worthwhile to pay attention to how long your tampon has been in for. After all, bleeding through your tampon is no fun, and nobody wants to stain their underwear. Because you can’t see how full your tampon is without pulling it out, it can take a while to nail down a good tampon routine that avoids leaking through your tampon, but as a rule, if you are using the right size and changing your tampon regularly, then it shouldn’t leak.
Typically, a leaky tampon means you’ve left your tampon in for too long, or you’re using the wrong absorbency. Be sure to change your tampon every 4-6 hours. If you find that you are leaking through your tampon after just four hours, it’s time to start using the next absorbency up. Of course, your flow changes throughout your period. So, on the first day of your period your flow will be heavier than the last day of your period. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep a few different absorbencies in your cupboard so you’ll always have the right absorbency to match your flow.
There are a few things you can do to troubleshoot tampon leaks for a confident, leak-free period.
Here are some anti-tampon leak tips:
You should always use the lightest – or lowest absorbency – tampon for your menstrual flow. Because your flow changes from day to day, you’ll probably need to keep a number of different absorbencies to hand. Use a heavier absorbency tampon on the first few days of your period when your flow is heaviest. If you’re bleeding through your tampon, go up an absorbency level. If you change your tampon after six hours and there’s still a lot of white on it, this means you should go down an absorbency level.
Maybe you’re experiencing tampon leaks because you’re leaving your tampon in for too long. Knowing how often you should change your tampon is key for avoiding bleeding through your tampon. In general, you should change your tampon every 4-6 hours. But you can safely leave a tampon in for up to six hours.
It’s really important to make sure your tampon is inserted all the way. Otherwise, you may be bleeding around the tampon and onto your underwear, so that your tampon is leaking even though it’s not full. Read more about how to insert your tampon properly here.
Accidents happen. For extra assurance, try wearing a pantyliner like Always Dailies to protect your underwear from any tampon leaks that might happen. They’re super flexible and comfortable for tampon leak assurance you’ll barely know you have on.
For first-time tampon users, we recommend Tampax Pearl Compak. They have a rounded tip and grip marks on the applicator, making them super easy to insert.
Check out Tampax’s new step-by-step guide to tampons and watch super helpful videos from a partnership with Tyla: