A Girl's Guide to Pads and Tampons:

Important Things to Know About Tampons

Using tampons won't take away your virginity. So you are still a virgin even if you use tampons.

The applicator is not supposed to be left inside your vagina. Pull it out after you get the tampon inserted correctly. The tamponis in right if you can't feel it.

A tampon can't swim around inside you and get lost. It stays in your vagina. Don't leave a tampon in for more than 4 to 6 hours. Try to change it every time you go to the bathroom.

How do tampons work?

Tampons are small sticks of absorbent material that you put inside your vagina. Tampons collect the blood from your period before it can get outside your body. As the tampon gets wet, it expands to fill your vagina and blocks off any leaks. Many girls like tampons because you can't feel them when you're wearing them, and you can practically forget that you're having your period, which is never a bad thing!

Are there different kinds of tampons?

All tampons are the same basic size and shape. Super and super–plus tampons are designed for your days of heaviest flow. They tend to be thicker because they're made with more absorbent material. All tampons have a string attached. The string hangs outside your vagina. You take out the tampon by pulling on the string.

Many women use different tampons on different days. Some tampons come in packages with ones for light days and ones for heavy days.

How do I put in a tampon?

Most tampons come with applicators. The tampon sits inside a cardboard or plastic tube that's about twice as long as the tampon itself. The tampon is at the top end of the applicator, and the string falls through the bottom end. The applicator is made of two pieces. When you push the bottom piece up, the tampon comes out the top. Tampons are individually wrapped in paper.