Compass & Quill

WARNING: The following blog post is in answer to the Daily Post’s prompt from yesterday, “Island of Misfit Posts.” It concerns a topic that I normally wouldn’t talk about on my blog (or even in public, for that matter). It’s about feminine hygiene products, which everyone here should be mature enough to handle. Also, it contains neither images of bodily functions nor gratuitous descriptions thereof. It’s actually not even close to offensive, in my book. However, just in case you’re squeamish and unable to hear words like “tampon” or “menstruation” without doing something childish, please do not read on. Thanks.

I couldn’t bring myself to write a blog post yesterday. I was just too upset. It appears that Tampax has discontinued the product that I use during that time of the month. For many people, this probably wouldn’t be a problem, but since hitting puberty, I’ve tried many different types of tampons, and only one in 17 years did what it promised.

Over the last couple of years, I’d noticed that it was getting harder and harder to find the familiar pink and blue box. At first the big box retailers stopped selling it, and gradually it disappeared from the shelves at all of the drugstores, until just CVS had it. The only CVS in my area is about a 15 minute drive away, so I’d time my monthly trip to coincide with check cashing at the bank across the street, or maybe heading to a movie at the cute little theater just another 5 minutes’ drive from the CVS shopping center.

This month, I put it off a little longer – there was no other reason to head in that direction. But eventually I had to go, and so I stopped in yesterday after a trip to the gym. Just try to look inconspicuous in sweaty workout gear on the feminine hygiene aisle; it’s pretty much impossible. Now imagine standing there for about 20 minutes, desperately scanning each and every product just in case you somehow managed to overlook the product you so desperately need.

As if going to pick up “sanitary supplies” isn’t punishment enough.

I finally gave up, and went home to scour online sources. One website was selling a box of 40 for $38. Amazon had them for $20, but I just can’t bring myself to pay that much for a bunch of cotton and some cardboard tubes. It’s just maddening. I’m generally mad at the world right now.

So I’m moving on. I’ve decided to try the Diva Cup. It’s silicone, reusable, and people seem to love it. And with a little luck, I might never have to buy another period-related product for the rest of my life. Now wouldn’t that just be grand?