"tampons" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to absorbent material that is inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual flow. For example, "My mom bought me a box of tampons for my first period."
And in the US, though breast pumps, vasectomies and artificial teeth are sales tax-exempt and tax-deductible medical care, tampons are not even exempted from sales tax in some states (including California and New York, two of the most populous states).
Women in the UK are fighting to axe the 5% tax on tampons (it used to be taxed at 17.5%!), which are considered "luxuries" while men's razors, for some baffling reason, are not.
Like insurance companies and tampons, unions have got into a daft habit of acquiring meaningless names.
Speaking to reporters, Cabinet chief Jorge Capitanich said there were no special restrictions on importing tampons, which he called "sensitive products", and blamed the shortage on a commercial "strategy" by importers.
Well, it is for my generation, which never dared mention periods, tampons, sanitary towels, tummy aches and spare knickers to anyone (except the swimming teacher).
Within the security of such luxury, it's easy to laugh at Menstrual Hygiene Day But the films are still powerful, not least because they make me think about things nearer to home, where I do have a toilet, and always have had, and have always been able to buy sanitary pads or tampons – though they are, ridiculously, taxed, while disposable razors are not.
But one new brand, Thinx, would like to think it has found the solution in the form of three different types of knicker – a thong for light days, a brief for middling days and shorts for heavy days – designed to be worn instead of tampons, towels or Mooncups.
We also liked how they featured Patricia's own words to tell the story of the indignities a lack of sanitary towels and tampons creates.
Their mission statement on The Homeless Period website reads: "This initiative believes that tampons and towels should be made available through homeless shelters, the same way the government provides condoms".
Many grown women still feel embarrassed about buying tampons.
In Uganda, for example, an initiative has created affordable, locally produced sanitary towels to allow girls who can't afford expensive imported tampons to attend school all month.
