Summarize the following:
A lot of women are intimidated by tampons before they first try them, but they’re actually very comfortable, easy to wear, and convenient. Practice before you go to the beach (but while you are on your period—trying to wear a tampon when you don’t have your period can be painful and dangerous) so you’re feeling confident by the time you hit the water.  Remember: tampons cannot get lost in your body. If something happens and the string comes off, it’s very easy to get the tampon out. Just make sure you don’t wear your tampon longer than 8 hours and you will be totally fine. Some women do have difficulty inserting tampons because their hymen is too tight or the vaginal opening is too small. If you are not able to insert a tampon after several tries, see your physician. If you don’t plan on swimming, you may be able to get away with a thin pad in your suit. Make sure it doesn’t have wings, and check in the mirror to make sure it’s not too bulky or visible through your suit. Wear a cute pair of shorts or a sarong around your waist, just in case your pad shows through your bathing suit. It’s tricky, and you may end up bleeding in the water anyway, but if you can’t wear a tampon and you’re dying to get into the water, give this a try. When you’re ready to swim, go to the bathroom to remove your pad. Slip on a pair of shorts and hustle back to the water.  Slip out of your shorts and leave them on the sand, then quickly get into the water. It’s not foolproof, but the water may stop your period while you are swimming, or make the flow so light no one will notice. When you get out, immediately slip your shorts back on, grab a fresh pad, and go to the bathroom to put it in your suit. The pad may have trouble adhering to the wet material, so you may just want to change into panties and keep your shorts on.
Consider getting comfortable with tampons. Wear a pad and spend your day reading and sunbathing. Try swimming without a pad.