Using Tampons in Australia
If you are squeamish about the subject of menstruation, you should stop reading now. And possibly seek therapy.
I’ve written before about some of the little differences and a couple of the big differences between America and Australia. Here’s another one that for some may be small, but for me is huge. Australia has a shocking lack of selection in tampons.
Fortunately, I’d heard about this before I traveled to Australia and I took a stash with me, but when I ran out, I was forced to see for myself. I went to both major supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, as well as several drugstores. The first thing I noticed is that while supermarkets and drugstores in the U.S., not to mention giant retailers such as Target, have as much as an aisle dedicated to feminine hygiene products, Australian retailers have a maybe a foot-wide section on a two or three bottom shelves. The second thing I noticed is that I didn’t know what I was looking at. The packaging of tampons, even familiar brands such a Carefree, Kotex, and Tampax, is not very descriptive. I couldn’t tell if they were scented (I prefer unscented) or get a good sense of the absorbency levels. The third thing I noticed is that only one of them, Tampax, said “Applicator Tampons.” So, the rumor was true; Australian women use tampons without applicators. Suddenly Australia seemed just a little bit less civilized.
As I picked up the box of Tampax Applicator Tampons with sad resignation, another devastating realization set in. This is the only option for applicator tampons. And they’re cardboard. Similarly, I found it impossible to find suitable pads.
I expect that I won’t always be able to find my favorite brands in Australia and I can live with that for the most part, but this is unacceptable. The tampons and pads that I use aren’t just a matter of comfort and convenience, but of necessity. I have a heavy and prolonged menstrual period and these Mickey Mouse tampons and pads in Australia just don’t do the job for me. I need my Tampax Pearl Ultra tampons and Always Maxi Overnight pads to get me through the night. The whole affair is messy enough and there’s just no way I’m going to resort to these mini-tampons that are better suited for Halloween decorations. The Australian version of the overnight pad, which I think is either a misunderstanding or an example of Aussie humor, works fine for my light days, but light absorbency tampons even with cardboard applicators are seemingly impossible to find.
I’m truly baffled as to why there is such a poor selection of tampons in Australia. There’s only one benefit to the tampon without applicator: it produces less waste. I’m happy to make up for my plastic waste of Tampax Pearl by recycling and buying recycled products, using re-usable shopping bags, composting, and not owning a car. The ease, comfort, and cleanliness of applicator tampons that you slip right in can’t be beat. But it isn’t just the applicator issue, it’s also absorbency. Regular and super is all I seemed to find and super wasn’t all that super. It seems like the shops down under cater to the middle part of the spectrum and women on the lighter or heavier ends are just out of luck.
This week I shipped a six-month supply of my favorite pads and tampons to Australia. That was the best $70 I’ve spent this month.
About the featured image: Aiming Low
Let me know if you have any trouble on the receiving end with shipping that stuff… I’m curious.
As for pads… I don’t have heavy periods, so the overnight pads have never been an issue for me. I wonder if you could find something that is designed for post-pregnancy that would work for you? I’m not sure where you’d get them since I’ve never looked, but perhaps an online pharmacy sells them.
Also, for super absorbency tampons with plastic applicators, I’ve discovered that some of the Libras do come with plastic applicators, but they are compact, so when you look at the box, you think that because it is so small, it must not come with applicators. But they do! It’s this box: http://shop.discountdrugstores.com.au/product/156718
Thanks for the tip about Libras! I’ll let you know how my box arrives.
Woot! My package arrived safe and sound!
This is hilarious! I have the exact opposite problem in Canada!
The little sanitary things
“I do understand her pain though, because PMS coupled with not getting what you want = purchasing rage!” Hahahaha! So true.
This is hilarious as I too noticed the lack of decent applicators! I recently spent some time in Canada, and returned to WA with about 200 really good tampons! The Aussie method of using your hands is awful.
Haha! Yes, we have to stock up! Great blog, by the way. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Hi,
I am Swedish, lived in the UK for many years and am now settled in Melbourne with my Australian husband. I personally don’t like applicator tampons but I can understand your frustration. What I have a problem with though is the absorbancy. In Australia I have only managed to find the average (usually in a pink box) tampon and no “super plus” or similar for the day of the heaviest flow. In Europe there is at least two higher absorbancy versions. I really wonder what Aussie women do? Being European from the start I would presume that their periods are much like European women’s. I ship tampons from the UK (Lil-Lets) which is frustrating…I haven’t managed to find the reason for this? Is there an “absorbancy law” that stops Australia from selling the high absorbancy tampons? Have you got any idea why?
Hi Therese. I hear what you’re saying. I need heavier absorbency too and can’t find them. I have no idea why. It puzzles me too.
**Warning, TMI: I am amazed that an entire country full of women is completely ok with the whole non-applicator tampon experience. What to do with your bloody finger afterwards? How do you pull up your pants? Sorry, I just don’t get it. Yuk. I too came with a massive supply and always stock up when visiting the States.
And you know what’s extra weird about this? That so many Aussie homes have the toilet in one room and the sink and bath in another so you can’t even wash your hands immediately. I really don’t understand how Aussie women carry on.
I’m an Aussie and have never used an applicator. I’m still civilised. In the US I buy o.b brand without and applicator. Here mostly Cottons.
In my experience it isn’t that messy. How much blood ends up on your applicator? I’ve never had any trouble with absorbancy so my cycle sounds quite different to yours. (Almost no flow overnight)
You can always wipe your finger with some toilet paper until you walk the 10 steps or less to the bathroom sink.
It sounds like you may have a light cycle. When it’s heavy, it can be very messy. The expression ‘bleeding like a stuck pig’ comes to mind. Thanks for your comment, Kacee!
Therese: Yes, that’s correct!! When the Australian health regulations for tampons were written, the committee was concerned about the risk of toxic shock. Thus, the rules mandate a maximum absorbency for tampons sold in Australia.This is why you cannot get anything bigger than “Super” tampons!! The rules also stated that it must say in the packet you shouldn’t wear a tampon for more than 4-6 hours, and should use a pad rather than a tampon at night!
JanieB, thank you for this explanation!
I do think that your description of our sanitary need selections in Australia is just a bit exaggerated because I sometimes find myself confused at the 3 metre shelf-high stock of tampons and pads at the supermarket here. Anyway, I stumbled onto this article since I find that I have a lot of trouble with Tampons. I’m a teenage girl, and I’ve been using pads since I started, and the worst part is, I used to train with a swimming squad. There have been so many embarrassing calls by my mother to the coach saying that I didn’t know how to use a tampon! I went to the U.S with my friend’s family, and she bought a pack of U by Kotex tampons which were exactly the same as ours here in Australia, but with a handy dandy plastic applicator. But by the time she showed me, we were already at the airport ready to head back to Australia. I’ve thought about this for so many cycles, and just recently my friend from school told me that we DO HAVE PLASTIC applicator tampons! I haven’t tried them yet, but LIBRA makes them, and they’re called the LIBRA GIRL APPLICATOR TAMPONS. Here is a link: http://www.lovelibra.com.au/products/the-libra-collection/libra-applicator-tampon-regular-pack-16/ They’re marketed towards teenagers, but that doesn’t mean not everyone can use them! I can’t wait to go get some and hopefully know how to use them. I hope that was helpful.
Hi Jessie! We definitely shop at different supermarkets, haha! I can see how the current selection could be confusing to someone who is new to tampons. It does take a bit to find exactly what’s right for you. I’m sorry you’ve had such a hard time on your swimming squad. I’m sure you’ll get the hang on tampons. There’s really nothing to them; just remember to breathe and relax.
Thanks for the tip about Libra. I see they also have Super with applicator. I do think the tampon situation in Oz is changing. Recently, ALDI has started carrying Tampax Super with applicators. That’s a good sign.
Thanks for your comments!
Hi Cosette, I totally agree with you! I am actually online at the moment emailing all of the Australian tampon companies to find out whether they would consider bringing out a Super-Plus size tampon (which is the size I use in South Africa) as I can’t make it longer than 2 hours using the Australian Super size. It is even worse at night as would have to get up atleast twice to change my tampon and pad to prevent leakage. I recently went on holiday to South Africa to visit family and brought a stash of Super-Plus tampons back with me but only have 2 boxes left!
Hi Cosette,
I have had a very helpful reply from one of the leading brands which reads as follows:-
“Thank you for taking the time to contact us at xxx.
These are not allowed to be made or sold in Australia or NZ due to the strict guidelines and regulations. These standards are the highest in the World and are not able to make a Tampon that absorbs more than 14g. I believe this has to do with Toxic Shock Syndrome.
I have had a look at the Super plus tampons and they absorb between 12-15gm.
I have passed your feedback on to the Marketing team for future reference and sorry that we are unable to help with your request. ”
What a pity….but a very helpful answer
Hi Tanya. Thanks for taking the time to write to the tampon companies and post the reply here. Therese and JanieB mentioned before that Australia’s strict regulations may be the reason why we’re not seeing high-absorbency tampons and it’s good to see some confirmation of that. I guess I’ll keep bringing them over from the U.S.
ugh I am having a similar problem, lived in New Zealand my whole life (similar to Aussie, limited range of applicator tampons.) I didn’t get my period for a number of years while on the depo injection, but now I am off it, my period is very different to how it used to be. Plus I now have OCD and can’t cope with using my fingers. I find Tampax useless as I tend to leak around the sides, so even a super tampon can be only partially full but still leaking. Libra have a girls tampon, but at age 30 I am doubtful they will work. I am currently looking at ordering different products online from the US or UK to find a brand that suits better, but the postage is a killer!
Housewife Down Under discovered that Fishpond is now stocking Tampax Pearl even in Super Plus. They’re pricey though. I’m still getting them in the U.S.
good to know, didn’t know they did tampons! but at around $1 per tampon, sometimes more…!!!! I’m going to look into other options!
Haha, I have the opposite problem. I assumed non-applicator tampons were normal but here in Spain they don’t exist. I bought some (applicator ones) from the pharmacy the other day and was with an American friend…only then did I realise that non-applicator ones didn’t exist there either.
But I agree with Kacee….we’re not uncivilised! (I’ve noticed that sooooo many Spanish women don’t wash their hands at all after using the toilet and this is obviously far worse.) You just need to wipe your finger afterwards and then wash your hands. There are mini tampons for people with lighter flow…I suppose we just don’t cater for those with really heavy flows.
Australia seems to be a lot stricter than other countries on a lot of things…Toxic Shock Syndrome, SunSmart for skin cancer protection, wearing helmets when riding bikes, not drinking and driving (there are Booze Buses everywhere) but they’re all concerned with safety (and I’m proud of that!)….
I have no words about the hand-washing issue; just ew. There does seem to be a lot of officialness in Australia. I think some of that is good, but some also seems excessive. I think much of it is concerned with safety, but there’s also some profiteering going on. Thanks for your comments, Kate!
I think there’s something conspiratorial about maintaining low-absorbency tampons. More are used = profit. I wonder where the figures regarding toxic shock syndrome come from.
I think there may be something to that. Thanks for your comments!
Wow, I’m amazed to find this blog!!! I thought it was just me being very fussy! I’m from the UK and live in Western Australia, and must admit when I first experienced issues for finding UK equivalent products I naively thought that my old favourites will eventually make their way across the shores along with Bisto Gravy and Double Decker chocolate bars
. However, I’ve been here for 13 years now and still to this day always stock up on tampons and sanitary towels on every visit back to the UK or get family to bring supplies. It’s only just dawned on me after reading your blog how absurd this is to be still be doing this fourteen years later. In that time period there is still no product (that I’ve seen anyway, and I still have to buy products here in emergencies) available here that can rival the Tampax Pearl Applicator tampon or the Always Ultra Thin Pads (with wings and lockaway cotton feel absorbency layer). The pads in particular just do not compare to Always, they might have wings but they either lack absorbency, or they are very thick, or the lockaway absorbency layer feels like plastic. With regards to tampons, I haven’t tried the Libra ones yet, but will do, however I have to confess I find Libras statement hilarious and slightly condescending at the same time, as they are described as ‘Training’ tampons. Maybe I’ve got the wrong end of the stick, but I see the applicator as a matter of personal ‘Choice’, not inexperience! In anycase, I’m amazed to see that this issue affects a number of women here from many different backgrounds, so surely its time for Australia to revisit their absorbency regulations and join the rest of the world, toxic absorbency risks and female hygiene technology is not the same as it was 10-15 years ago! Thank you for writing this blog 
I continue to be amazed at how this subject resonates with so many women. It’s my most popular blog entry. Tampons of all things.
Susan, I agree with you on so many points especially that using applicators is a matter of choice not (in)experience. For a product that is designed specifically for women, there is a lot of oversight of our unique needs. Tampons and pads are not a one-size-fits-most kind of product. I do wish Australia would revisit the laws. As you said, the technology has changed and the reality is the number of TSS cases is quite small.
Thanks for your comments!
I’m wondering if perhaps Australian women are less tolerant of super-heavy flow and prefer to get the issue corrected medically if possible? I know quite a few women who use contraceptive pills and the Mirena to help, or who have had surgery for fibroids, etc that is causing the heavy flow. Personally I’ve never had an issue finding a suitable product to use here, even post-partum. I do however much prefer applicator tampons and which that more brands would consider manufacturing them.
I can only speak to my case. My period is very heavy and it always has been. I’ve had three OB-GYNs in my life. One of them ordered a number of tests for me just in case, but all was normal. I just happen to fall at the heavier side of the spectrum, but still within the normal range. There’s nothing to correct. It’s true that some forms of contraception can help, but the pill hasn’t in my case. I’m not sure if I’m a good candidate for Mirena. Interestingly, my mother also had a heavy period (and she used the IUD). My sister’s is very light. She has two girls, one with a light period, the other much heavier. Go figure. Thanks for your comments, Melissa!
Hey Cosette, I have always used non-applicator tampons (Libra tapered). I have never had any concerns using such products, however I do agree it so essential to be diligent in changing these items regularly and to be careful with hand washing when using these items! In my opinion our view is formed based upon what we grow up with; I only recently tried applicator tampons for the first time (Tampax) and perhaps due to my own inexperience with such products I was quick to judge them as inadequate in absorbency and tricky to insert -after reading this post I may continue to explore other brands from overseas with an open mind.
Thank you for sharing your perspective, this an issue that concerns all women so I also agree that brands should consider to offer more choice for Australian consumers, after all we all have different bodies and different needs.
In addition to our perspective being formed partially by what we grow up with, I’ve found that many women develop a fierce loyalty to certain brands of tampons or pads. When you finally find what works for you, that’s what you want to keep using. When you move to abroad, you have to give up certain brands for others; that’s just inevitable. I’m certainly willing to try other brands if they offer the absorbency I need. Sadly, they don’t due to Australia’s strict safety standards. I really just don’t understand what Aussie women with heavy periods do. Thanks for your comments, G!
I have only just moved to Australia from the UK and didn’t realise that I should have brought a year’s supply of super plus plus plus tampons with me! I am having the worst period experience since I was about 14! There is a warning on UK tampon boxes never to use more than 1 tampon at a time which I always thought was ridiculous but it actually makes sense here! Need to order some extra fat absorbent foreign tampons from abroad me thinks!
Oh Megan, how I sympathize. I’m back in the U.S. for a visit and I plan to stock up while I’m here.
Hi everyone, I just thought I’d let everyone know that my coles (geelong area) have just starting stocking the real tampax pearl tampons, from my memory they have regular, super and something else, and they’re plastic applicator. They’re a bit more then $8 a box.
Although I tried out the libra applicator tampons and from my really heavy flow the regulars worked better then the tampax ones! The doctor suggested I go on the pill but I decided is try tampons first, as I was using just pads! 
Hope I helped!
Thanks for the tip, Monica! I’ll be checking my locals Coles.
My periods suddenly became heavy after living in Australia for 3 years. For the last decade, I have been unaware that higher absorbency tampons were available in Europe (Germany) and the USA. My doctor has been treating me as someone with unusually heavy periods and has been wondering what we are going to do about it. I am not anemic and the only problem is that I cannot participate in sports for the first three days of my period, I have to duck out of meetings suddenly, unable to explain to important people why I have to dash out of the room and I think twice about going places where I may not have immediate access to a lavatory. All this because we do not have higher absorbency tampons available in Australia.
When I started to inquire about why we don’t have higher absorbency tampons here, one pharmacist told me that he gets many women asking for higher absorbency tampons and he advises them to use two! Has it been proven that women in Australia have higher rates of TSS than the rest of the world? We cannot have access to the right tampons, but we are allowed to get into a car and drive! I find it insulting that a few individuals can have such an impact on so many. I think we should campaign for change. For anyone interested, I bought Super Plus OB tampons in Germany which have been marvelous. Super Plus OB tampons in the USA though are only the equivalent of Super in Australia. I’ve ordered a pack of Ultra OB tampons from the USA to see how they compare to the Super Plus German ones.
Charlie, I sympathize. Your period sounds even heavier than mine. I’m usually just out of it for one day. I think wearing two tampons sounds dangerous and uncomfortable. I haven’t done any research and I think your question about whether Aussie women are more prone to TSS is valid. I do wonder what led to the government deciding that higher absorbency products should be kept out of the country. I think women know when they need to change their tampons and can be responsible for their bodies. You may be right; it might just be time to campaign for change on this. I’m going to look into it.
Sorry, it’s making pretty upset the more I think about this today. We are allowed to drink to our heart’s content, smoke, what else? But we cannot make an informed decision to use the right absorbency level of tampon??? This is so incredibly insulting. How many people are dying from unhealthy life style choices? How about we take sugar off the market?
I wonder if there’s more to it. It doesn’t make sense for Australian government to ban the import of high absorbency tampons on the basis that it could cause TSS. While it’s true that high absorbency tampons increase the risk, lower absorbency tampons can cause TSS also if you leave them in long enough.
I am a 20-year-old Aussie whose had her period since she was 10. Before I speak, I must say that calling Australian women uncivilised for using non-applicator tampons is a bit dramatic and unnecessary. I’ve always had a heavy period and I never had a problem using super non-applicator tampons. And im an absolute clean freak. Of course I had to change them often and make sure hands were washed thoroughly but even with a heavy flow you never get a massive mess all over you or anything because as the tampon slides up it sorta of wipes the sides of the vagina and your finger doesn’t get anything on it. If my flow was extemely heavy and I needed more protection I would just wear a pad with the tampon as well. After a few years of this I decided I was sick of it all and went on a contraceptive pill to reduce the amount I had and to stop my terrible period pain. Since then, all I use is Super U by Kotex non-applicator tampons and that’s it. It’s convenient, simple, better for the environment, and just as clean as anything else if you’re a hygienic person so I won’t be judged on that.
Hi Nic. Thank you for your comments. I’m sorry you may have felt judge by this entry. I was being cheeky; I don’t actually think Australia is uncivilized for lack of tampons. I also hope you understand though that your experience is just that, your experience, and other women’s are different. So please be careful with those if-then and prescriptive statements and your own judgement of others.
Your version of heavy is different from mine. Super absorbency tampons are not enough for me during the heaviest day of my flow. I need Ultra absorbency, which I need to change every hour and I wear it with an overnight pad (sometimes two), and it is very messy, but I can’t purchase Ultra absorbency in Australia because the law here has decided I’m not responsible enough to use it properly. As I mentioned before, I too am on the pill, but that hasn’t altered the flow of my period, and according to the three doctors I’ve seen, I’m at the heavier end of the period spectrum, but still within normal range.
I’m glad the matter is convenient and simple of you; it isn’t for me nor for many other women.
On this ever emotive topic…I’ve been looking into why the Australian tampon industry is geared towards lower absorbancy, non-applicator varieties and it is definitely based on current recommendations for reducing the risks of Toxic Shock Syndrome:
1) Using lower absorbancy tampons will mean you have to change your tampon more often – thereby reducing the risk of leaving the tampon in for too long.
2) There are concerns that using applicator tampons means you are at greater risk of scraping the vaginal walls, which could cause tiny abrasions where bacteria can grow.
It’s interesting that other countries don’t think these potential risk factors for TSS are worth placing restrictions on tampon types. However, I’ve yet to find statistics on whether Australian women have lower incidences of TSS than other countries due to their tighter regulations.
On a separate note – I’ve just bought a menstrual cup to try out in the hope that I can avoid using tampons ever again!
I haven’t seen any stats either, but I don’t get the sense it’s a big problem. Every package of tampons in the U.S. comes with a warning about TSS. I would like to see more variety in Australia. I think women can decide for themselves and be responsible for their needs.
Let me know how it goes with the cup. I’ve heard good things about it.
We have libra aplacator tampons as well they re sold in most stores !
I have seen those in lower absorbency. I think I’m going to give them a try for my lighter days. Thanks for your comment, Lilly (one of my favorite names!).
Haha (awkward laughter) I can relate very well to what you’re saying and wish I’d read this blog before moving Australia from the UK a few months ago… Australian feminine product producers seem to be very good at marketing, with nice colours, cute little facts on the wrappers and funky websites and facebook pages. But the products, I suppose, are just several years behind development compared to Europe and the USA. Still, when I compare even Australian pads with the pillow-like things I somehow put up with when I first started having periods in the mid-1980s (I recently came across a long-forgotten stash in my childhood home) one cannot really complain too much!!
Tampons and pads have certainly come a long way. I recently saw the Radiant series from Tampax and was like, whu? I feel anything but radiant during my period lol.
Great post
I just wanted to let you know that Tampax Pearl in Australia now! And also U by Kotex has made applicator ones as well! So now we have, Libra, Tampax, Tampax Pearl and U by Kotex. 
Hooray! Thank you for your comments, Megan!
I am so glad I found your blog! I am moving from Seattle to Melbourne in 3 weeks (for work) and will be there 6-12 months. I’ve been reading through your posts for the last hour and am so happy to have stumbled across this particular post! Like you, I have a terribly heavy period and after reading this, I know to bring a stockpile of supplies with me. There is nothing worse than a heavy period without the right supplies. This article was a lifesaver. Thank you!
Glad it could be useful, Emily! I’m seeing more Tampax with cardboard applicators, but plastic and high absorbency products are still nowhere to be found.
I’ve noticed some Tampax Pearl around recently, and also saw some Super Plus at Coles!
I’ve just spoken to the ACCC and they tell me that the lack of tampons with an absorbency between 15g – 18g in Australia is purely a marketing choice by tampon suppliers. It seems that women in Australia will need be be made aware that these products do exist outside of Australia and that it is up to suppliers in Australia to stock them. I spoke with Johnson & Johnson Australia who tell me that they used to have a product of this absorbency on the shelves but they found that there were women leaving the product in longer than they should have (they should be using lower absorbency tampons and changing more often). They also said that there was not enough demand for this product. I have tried to find a contact number for Cottons, but you have to send them a query online. Please could everyone spread the work where they can that we need to make suppliers aware that there is a demand and that many women don’t even know that such products exist. I have found that Coles are very responsive these days to customer feedback that they receive online. They may make queries with suppliers if they feel that they can sell a product. Meanwhile I purchased Johnson & Johnson’s O.B Ultra tampons online from Amazon.com. These are the similar absorbency to the German J&J O.B Super Plus.
Thank you, Charlie. It sounds like we need to mobilize if this is something we want to see in Australia.
Coles feedback form
https://www.coles.com.au/Coles/Coles-Feedback.aspx
Cottons feedback form
http://au.cottonsshop.com/info/contact.php
Good luck!
Ask them to keep the price in line with other popular tampon brands so that they don’t try to charge us more.
I am a 21 year old Australian and believe we have more than enough selection available, I even sometimes find it overwhelming with too much choice – I’d hate to image what it is like in America if you feel we have very little in comparison.
I have never used an applicator to insert tampons, I do not see this as being uncivilised, I believe it makes Australian women more advanced as they are capable of inserting a tampons without using an unnecessary tool.
I have no problem with anyone’s opinion but it seems that only foreigners have any problems with Australia’s female hygiene selection. Maybe you should look at it from another perspective – that you have been over indulged in your country. Australians are laid back and easy going, we don’t care for scented tampons or applicators. It doesn’t make us uncivilised or simple, it just means we like only whats necessary and we make the best of what we have.
As I’ve mentioned before, comments about Oz being uncivilized due to its tampon selection are meant to be tongue-in-cheek and not taken seriously. But I stick by everything else. As far as I’m concerned, what’s necessary for me is not available here and, until it is, I’ll continue to get it overseas.