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Finding the right tampon can involve a little trial and error. There are seemingly limitless options on the market, and most come with a range of sizes, levels of absorbency, types of applicators and other factors.
The Forbes Health editorial team has taken some of the guesswork out of the process by analyzing nearly 40 different types of tampon. Here are our top picks based on metrics like price, availability, materials and more.
Note: Prices listed are accurate as of the publication date.
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For our best tampons ranking, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed 36 different tampons, with and without applicators. We evaluated tampons on:
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Tampons are plugs of cotton inserted into the vagina to absorb and soak up menstrual blood during a person’s monthly cycle. Some tampons have an applicator designed to make insertion of the cotton plug easier. Tampons also come with a string on the end to help with easy removal.
Tampons come in different levels of absorbency designed to prevent leaks during your menstrual period. It’s best to use the lightest absorbency needed to prevent leaks from happening, based on how much you are bleeding and for how long.
Tampons with applicators make insertion easier for most people, as it gives the user something to hold while inserting the cotton plug into the vagina. If you feel you can insert a tampon without an applicator, then you may consider a non-applicator tampon. When used properly, tampons do not hurt to use or keep inside of you.
As mentioned above, it’s not recommended to leave a tampon in for longer than eight hours. This increases the risk of developing toxic shock syndrome (TSS). TSS is a serious infection caused by either staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria. It is extremely rare, but very dangerous. A tampon left in the vagina for too long can cause this illness.
If you’re using a tampon and develop the following symptoms, remove the tampon immediately and call your doctor right away:
Ways to prevent TSS include using the lowest absorbency tampon possible for your flow and changing your tampon regularly, every four to eight hours (or as often as needed).
Information provided on Forbes Health is for educational purposes only. Your health and wellness is unique to you, and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment plans. For personal advice, please consult with a medical professional.
Forbes Health adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertisers.
Valerie is a seasoned writer and editor who has spent her career creating content in the parenting and women's wellness spaces. Before joining Forbes Health, Valerie was the trending news editor at Scary Mommy. When she's not helping women and families live their best and healthiest lives, she's spending time with her family, walking her dogs, reading or exercising.
Jessica is a writer and editor with over a decade of experience in both lifestyle and clinical health topics. Before Forbes Health, Jessica was an editor for Healthline Media, WW and PopSugar, as well as numerous health-related startups. When she isn't writing or editing, Jessica can be found at the gym, listening to a health or true prime podcast, or spending time outside. She also really enjoys bread (even though she's not supposed to eat it).