Pads and tampons are two of the most popular ways to deal with period blood — if not the most popular ways - and for good reason: They work, and they work really well. Easy…right? Sort of. Deciding which one you should use can be complicated, because the right choice is different for everyone, varies according to the protection you need, and depends on what makes you feel most comfortable. Your choice is definitely not one-size-fits-all here. Going to the beach? Grab a tampon. Just had a baby? Maybe use a pad. Here, we lay out all the different factors that should go into your decision of choosing between tampons vs pads.