QVC sex talk 😬

[Jojo1]

Ok, so I’m an 80’s baby and the TV commercials in Australia educated me all about pads and tampons:

The Libra brand also has trivia on the wrappers called “odd spot”. We see the funny side.

 

[Jojo1]

I did write the other month I expected them to go with sexual health, which will include the buzzing little devices.

I remember a song might be in the 90s, I Touch Myself by the Vinyls.

Ah the Divinyls with the late a great Chrissy Amphlett. Aussie band. Give it another listen, it’s so much better than the music these days.

 

[C-Lion]

I remember when the first Tampax ads on TV. An older friend said it was disgusting.

My mum would not let me wear them, so I never learnt to swim as I always had a period when the class went to the swimmers.
Now women walk into Boots etc and just buy without thought sanitary products as a teen it was put in a brown paper bag and all very hush, hush.

I have said before, my granny would not let me wash my hair when I had my period. Also, I was told not to have a bath!

My Mum was a Nurse. They had a number cases where ladies who had used tampons were in ICU from Toxic Shock Syndrome from using tampons. Two of them died. Their life support was switched off. One lady her little boy was only two years old.

My Mum wouldn’t allow me to use them. I never did and neither did my close friend either. I think it still has TSS warnings on the dudes of the tampon box.

I just think these ads for Tampax etc are still embarrassing - and now the piddle pads have come in on the act . Frankly it’s Wful bring a woman at times

 

[Toril]

Mum was a ward sister and dad was a consultant physician so I got told it all when mum sat me down at the age of nine and gave me the “talk.” Dad filled in other facts when I was older (things like STIs) but they both answered fully whenever I asked them questions. I also taught sex education at school and, considering some of the questions I was asked, many of the children’s parents had told them diddly squat.

My son got the “talk” from me when he was ten as I knew that his sex education lessons were imminent. The ex steered clear that day and played golf.

 

[donna255]

My Mum was a Nurse. They had a number cases where ladies who had used tampons were in ICU from Toxic Shock Syndrome from using tampons. Two of them died. Their life support was switched off. One lady her little boy was only two years old.

My Mum wouldn’t allow me to use them. I never did and neither did my close friend either. I think it still has TSS warnings on the dudes of the tampon box.

I just think these ads for Tampax etc are still embarrassing - and now the piddle pads have come in on the act . Frankly it’s Wful bring a woman at times

I like watching medical documentaries and recently in a US one a woman brought in to A&E. Turned out her Tampax was forgotten about it, and she nearly died. So it can still happen today

 

[Battiola73]

At 16 we got our sex education talk. One of the girls was pregnant at the time. Up until then the only “sex education” was about frogs. P

Fortunately my mum had educated me when I was about 10.

 

[stratobuddy]

In junior school, we sometimes have people in to give special talks, and when I was a student teacher we had one in my class (year 6) for sex education.

Normally, the class teacher takes a back seat and lets the specialist get on with it, as they are usually experienced.

So that's what I did, but the class rapidly became rowdy, and I assumed the guest would know how to handle them, but she didn't.

Being just a student on teaching practice, I wasn't sure what to do, but I stepped in and quietened them down.

She then continued, but they soon became rowdy again, and said she couldn't carry on and left.

I then told the class off about their behaviour, calmed them down, and got them working in complete silence.

A few minutes later, the Head stormed in, and was obviously surprised by the silence and everyone working.

She then gave them a good telling off as well.

I had been given no guidance in advance about how to handle the guest visit. I assumed that, as she gave the same talk at various schools, she would know how to handle a class of 30 11-year olds.

Apparently this was not the case and I should have controlled discipline from the outset, but no-one had told me this, and as I said, the teacher usually takes a back seat and doesn't interfere.

 

[historymystery]

In junior school, we sometimes have people in to give special talks, and when I was a student teacher we had one in my class (year 6) for sex education.

Normally, the class teacher takes a back seat and lets the specialist get on with it, as they are usually experienced.

So that's what I did, but the class rapidly became rowdy, and I assumed the guest would know how to handle them, but she didn't.

Being just a student on teaching practice, I wasn't sure what to do, but I stepped in and quietened them down.

She then continued, but they soon became rowdy again, and said she couldn't carry on and left.

I then told the class off about their behaviour, calmed them down, and got them working in complete silence.

A few minutes later, the Head stormed in, and was obviously surprised by the silence and everyone working.

She then gave them a good telling off as well.

I had been given no guidance in advance about how to handle the guest visit. I assumed that, as she gave the same talk at various schools, she would know how to handle a class of 30 11-year olds.

Apparently this was not the case and I should have controlled discipline from the outset, but no-one had told me this, and as I said, the teacher usually takes a back seat and doesn't interfere.

This brought back memories for me! On our teacher training course we were specifically told by the lecturer that if we had a specialist in our class at any time, we should allow the specialist free rein to run the session, while we just sat in - I can remember the 'they are experienced and will know what they're doing' comment. I very quickly discovered when I had my first specialist in my class that this was a somewhat sweeping statement - and kids have an excellent radar for being able to pick up on someone who's not confident or really doesn't want to be there. The difference between theory and practice!

 

[alter ego]

I like watching medical documentaries and recently in a US one a woman brought in to A&E. Turned out her Tampax was forgotten about it, and she nearly died. So it can still happen today

My SIL forgot a tampon once. She went to the GP when she got concerned about a nasty smell coming from her nethers. She nearly ended up divorcing my brother as she was convinced he'd been cheating on her.

The GP had a fish around and pulled out a mouldering tampon she'd forgotten to remove nearly 3 weeks earlier. The GP said it was fairly common. I freak out if I get close to the 8 hour limit as I've been aware of TSS since I had my first box.

Tampons gave me such a sense of freedom as I'd been using pads for heavy periods for several years. I was back swimming whenever I wanted, I was riding my horse and my bike - all the things the Tampax ad promised. I was terrified of developing TSS. Not because it could kill me but because I wouldn't be able to use tampons again and my life may as well be over (said in true overly dramatic teen angst fashion in my head).

 

[Jojo1]

My SIL forgot a tampon once. She went to the GP when she got concerned about a nasty smell coming from her nethers. She nearly ended up divorcing my brother as she was convinced he'd been cheating on her.

The GP had a fish around and pulled out a mouldering tampon she'd forgotten to remove nearly 3 weeks earlier. The GP said it was fairly common. I freak out if I get close to the 8 hour limit as I've been aware of TSS since I had my first box.

Tampons gave me such a sense of freedom as I'd been using pads for heavy periods for several years. I was back swimming whenever I wanted, I was riding my horse and my bike - all the things the Tampax ad promised. I was terrified of developing TSS. Not because it could kill me but because I wouldn't be able to use tampons again and my life may as well be over (said in true overly dramatic teen angst fashion in my head).

It’s very rare and requires a bacteria called staphylococcus to be present. Unless someone is severely immunocompromised, has a pelvic infection to begin with or doesn’t remove them frequently (2-3hrs) then they will be fine. Also make sure the tampons are individually sealed, made in a reputable country and not loose and picking up dust and bacteria.

We now have these period cups available on the market which are made of silicone. They work like a tampon cup and you have to rinse them for reuse. Disgusting invention!

 

[Muttley]

It’s very rare and requires a bacteria called staphylococcus to be present. Unless someone is severely immunocompromised, has a pelvic infection to begin with or doesn’t remove them frequently (2-3hrs) then they will be fine. Also make sure the tampons are individually sealed, made in a reputable country and not loose and picking up dust and bacteria.

We now have these period cups available on the market which are made of silicone. They work like a tampon cup and you have to rinse them for reuse. Disgusting invention!

I saw washable, re-usable sanitary towels for sale at a trendy market a few years ago in Dorset. Better for the environment but I didn't fancy trying them.

 

[donna255]

My class was mixed, so sex ed was a nightmare as all the boys sniggering. We had a projector showing a baby growing in the womb as I remember. Nothing about not getting pregnant.

I did use tampons but as my periods so heavy when I went for a pee it just used to shoot out. When day 3 when my period lightened I just used a pad.

 

[Jojo1]

I saw washable, re-usable sanitary towels for sale at a trendy market a few years ago in Dorset. Better for the environment but I didn't fancy trying them.

Oh like washable nappies? Yuck, no thanks. Might as well use folded toilet paper!

 

[mina]

Not just heavy, but very painful periods for two days, sometimes having a day off work. So with my first child I wondered when the actual birth pains were going to start, they were no worse than period pains. In those days, you had aspirin - or nothing. In a way, it's helped me because I have a very high pain threshold so after major operations, I survive on a low dose of paracetamol because I'm allergic to most other painkillers, including aspirin which now affects my breathing.

 

[Muttley]

My class was mixed, so sex ed was a nightmare as all the boys sniggering. We had a projector showing a baby growing in the womb as I remember. Nothing about not getting pregnant.

I did use tampons but as my periods so heavy when I went for a pee it just used to shoot out. When day 3 when my period lightened I just used a pad.

We were lucky in my school that girls snd boys were separated for the sex ed talk so we didn't have sniggering boys. And we had a separate talk for periods. Both totally inadequate from my memory.

As for periods, my mum told me that when she worked in M&S in late 1950s a manager (male of course) gathered a load of the women together to complain about the length of time they sometimes took in the toilet. One of the ladies boldly said that at certain times of the month we need more time, and started to explain why rather graphically! She didn't get too far in her explanation before he walked off with a horrified look on his face! It was never mentioned again...

 

[Muttley]

To update on above, my mum was very prudish so she was horrified about the graphic details being said in public, but glad that the manager was embarrassed!

 

[stratobuddy]

My ex (we were married for about 30 years and are still on good terms) NEVER mentioned her periods. So I only knew when she became very irritable each month, often causing arguments.

If she had told me in advance we would have avoided many arguments, as I would have been especially careful not to upset her.

 

[Battiola73]

Remember when I was in the second year of secondary school (sorry don’t understand the Americanised year numbers). One of the girls had a really bad headache and asked by the teacher if it was the usual and did she have anything for it. She said no so the teacher gave her a sanitary pad. Girl went to the loo and came back with a dampened pad on her head with the loops over her ears. Girl had a headache and no idea about periods. Those of us that knew were good and didn’t laugh.

 

[Patsy]

Remember when I was in the second year of secondary school (sorry don’t understand the Americanised year numbers). One of the girls had a really bad headache and asked by the teacher if it was the usual and did she have anything for it. She said no so the teacher gave her a sanitary pad. Girl went to the loo and came back with a dampened pad on her head with the loops over her ears. Girl had a headache and no idea about periods. Those of us that knew were good and didn’t laugh.

I used to suffer with Tonsillitis on a regular basis up until about 14. My brother is 7 years younger and when he was about 5 or so mum was saying about getting something for my throat. He came back K in with a pad looped round each ear covering his throat asking if that would do. Little sod must have been rummaging through my drawers.

 

[alter ego]

Not just heavy, but very painful periods for two days, sometimes having a day off work. So with my first child I wondered when the actual birth pains were going to start, they were no worse than period pains. In those days, you had aspirin - or nothing. In a way, it's helped me because I have a very high pain threshold so after major operations, I survive on a low dose of paracetamol because I'm allergic to most other painkillers, including aspirin which now affects my breathing.

I have NEVER heard any woman mention this before but it was my experience, too. Years of periods so breathtakingly painful must have made me immune to the pain. Like you, I have a high pain threshold. I walked on broken ankles (both at the same time) for a fortnight before I thought I should see the GP as the 'sprains' a nurse at A&E had diagnosed were still bothering me. But I'd been led to believe labour is so painful I've considered myself somehow less of a woman since.

Nurofen came out at a time when I was still having excruciating periods so I shovelled them down like Smarties. No regard to the damage I was doing to my stomach. All I cared about was making the pain go away. Aspirin was the next best thing but again I was damaging my stomach. Now, as effective as they are for some types of pain, I can't take them.

Paracetamol is so underrated. It has fewer side effects than other painkillers yet it has always been more effective for me than stronger painkillers. It also helps me sleep. Admittedly I take quite a few drugs but even when I was taking tramadol or other opioids they wouldn't work unless I took paracetamol with it.

Thank you for posting that. I've never admitted it before and you've made me feel normal.