It might seem like there are a million products to choose from, but don't worry, it will all become clear. There are 3 main types of products you can use; Pads, Tampons or Liners. The choice can be pretty confusing! So to help you get your head around it all, we've put to together a bit of info about each product. Once you've had a look through, you'll be an expert and will be able to work out which products you need.

Pads

Pads (also called napkins, towels, ultra thins or ‘surfboards’) are now much better designed than they used to be. A sticky strip attaches the pad to your undies and many pads have wings that wrap around your undies to hold them in place. Most women prefer wings, but you can also find pads without wings. If you are worried about people being able to see wings (like if you are wearing a short skirt playing sport), then you might want to wear a pair of gym pants over the top.

Pads come in many shapes and sizes; thicker ones are great if you want to feel that the pad is there and ultra thins are perfect for when you’re wearing tighter clothing or if you don’t want to feel like you’re wearing anything at all! Your mum, a female relative or trusted friend will be able to help you find the right ones to buy. You can also call the Johnson & Johnson Consumer Service Centre on 1800 029 979.

Try several different types to see which feel comfortable for you.

As most of your flow will happen within the first few days of your period, you should try to change your pad every few hours during the day.,

For more information on STAYFREE® pads click here.

Tampons

Tampons work by fitting snugly inside the vagina, up near the cervix, and expand within the vaginal walls to soak up the menstrual flow. They are made of cotton / or rayon pressed into a small cylinder. There is a small string on one end of the tampon to make it easier to take out. Once you have inserted a tampon properly, you should not be able to feel it. A tampon cannot get lost inside your body, as the opening to the cervix is too small to allow a tampon to pass through.

Tampons come in different sizes for light and heavy flows and you can buy combination packs of different sizes to cover the different flows during your period. It is very important that you insert your tampon with clean hands and change them regularly during the day. Watch the clock. You should not leave a tampon in for more than 8 hours. In fact on a heavy day, you'll probably need to change every 2-3 hours, and about every 3-6 hours on lighter days.

You should dispose of your pad or tampon in an environmentally friendly way. There are usually special bins in your school and in public toilet areas. Do not flush pads or tampons down the toilet as blockages may occur and we don’t want to pollute our beautiful beaches or rivers.

For more information on CAREFREE® tampons click here.

Liners

Liners are meant to be used in between periods to absorb discharge. Remember discharge is normal, and the amount changes during the month - there's more around ovulation. Liners are a bit like a spare pair of undies. Just swap them over anytime during the day and you have instant clean undies! And you're fresh-as-a-daisy, ready to tackle the rest of the day.

They can also be used just in case...

• When you're expecting your period to start
• The days at the end of your period when you're not really sure if it's finished yet
• When you first start using tampons, you can wear them as a back up until you feel confident using a tampon on its own

For more information on CAREFREE® liners click here.

How to choose the right absorbency

Pads and tampons have different absorbencies to match how heavy or light your period is. For daytime you can get light/mini, regular and super. The products are made more absorbent by making them a bit bigger. For example, a super pad is a bit longer than a regular pad, and a light/mini tampon is a bit thinner than a regular tampon.

When it comes to tampons, size matters. Use the lowset absorbency needed for your flow. That might mean trying different absorbencies on different days - don't worry, you'll work it out!

The first time you get your period, you might want to try a regular pad. Remembering that you should change your pad every two to three hours on heavy days, you'll then know what sort of pad you need. If your regular pad looks like it's filling up too quickly, then try super. If after a few hours, it looks like there's not much blood there, then you'll be able to use light (which is good because it's a bit smaller).

Sometimes girls use two different absorbencies - one for their heavy days and a lighter absorbency for their lighter days. There are also pads made especially for night time. These pads are longer, and wider at the back so that they are more absorbent and can cope with all the moving around you do while you're asleep! Talk to your Mum if you are unsure - remember, she's been there!