O.B. Tampons VS. Tampax Tampons

With the joys of being a woman come the unfortunate added monthly expense of purchasing feminine care products. Since there are so many choices on the market today, it becomes mind-boggling knowing which one is the perfect product for the inconvenient times in our lives. This often becomes an intimidating and unenjoyable task if one is unfamiliar with what gets the job done with the least amount of hassle. I have used numerous feminine products throughout the years and have ultimately decided that O.B. ranks as the far more superior brand over Tampax. O.B. is by far the best for two reasons: comfort and convenience.

Both brands of tampons are made with cotton and rayon fiber. However, O.B. contains polyester as well. Tampax boasts it's 3-way leak protection abilities. It has an anti-slip grip for secure placement, a built in backup skirt that absorbs fluid quickly, and a newly redesigned width-expansion to fit the natural shape of a woman. Tampax offers five different absorbency levels: super plus, super, regular, slender regular, and lites. In addition, Tampax now offers a new cardboard applicator. O.B. Tampons, on the other hand, boast fluid grooves for locked-in protection. This brand offers four different levels for absorbency, which include ultra, super plus, super, and regular. Ultra is recommended for your heaviest flow days, but for some reason is difficult to find in retail stores.

Although O.B. Tampons cost $6.49 per 40-count box at Meijer stores compared to Tampax's 40-count box at $5.59, it is a small price to pay for a world of comfort. O.B. Tampons do not come with a cardboard or plastic applicator, unlike Tampax Tampons. They are simply wrapped up in secure plastic wrap. Thus, you are paying more money if you choose to buy tampons with the applicator than without. Some women feel more comfortable using a plastic applicator for insertion, but this is just an extra inconvenient hassle for me, especially when I'm in a hurry. The applicators also cause unnecessary disposable waste, especially in an environmentally conscious world. O.B. Tampons are small and discreet enough to fit easily into your pocket, so you don't have to cart your purse to the public restroom when dining out with friends. O.B. Tampons have always expanded width-wise in order to fit the natural shape of a woman, thus providing more comfort. At times it's easy to forget the tampon is even there. For the physically active woman especially, O.B. Tampons provide not only superior protection and comfort, but tend to stay in place much better than Tampax. Whether you're bending, stretching, stooping, lifting, or running, O.B. understands that even though women have menstrual cycles, they still carry on with their busy active lives as well. Even though Tampax has improved it's durability, I've still found O.B. Tampons to be the most comfortable tampon to date.

Incidentally, both of these brands of tampons can be purchased online at Drugstore.com (http://www.drugstore.com). The ultra absorbency O.B. tampons, along with the other absorbency levels, can be purchased for $6.28 for a 40-count box, $.21 cheaper than at Meijer. Ironically, Tampax tampons are more expensive at this same site than at Meijer, $6.29 for a 40-count. This is another mystery which has me scratching my head. Of course with ordering anything online there are always shipping cost issues involved.

As with any tampon, there is always the slight risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, or TSS. This is a rare but serious disease associated with the use of tampons, especially for women under the age of 30. For this reason, it's recommended that you don't wear tampons to bed, and you should never wear a single tampon for more than eight hours at a time. In addition, you should always use the lowest absorbency tampon whenever possible. For example, if you are on the last two days of your menstrual cycle, you should use a regular absorbency tampon versus a super absorbency tampon. O.B. recommends the ultra absorbency tampon for 15-18 grams of flow, super plus for 12-15 grams, super for 9-12 grams, and regular for 6-9 grams.

Whether you choose to use pads or tampons during your monthly cycle, O.B. Tampons provide the most comfort, protection, and convenience so you can get on with your busy life. They are extremely easy to insert, and thus since they don't come with an applicator they take up much less room in your trash. They may be a bit more costly in retail stores, but in this case you definitely get what you pay for.