Riley Product Instructions
Heads-up, super important information below
Toxic-Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a rare but very serious (possibly fatal) illness that can occur on men, women, non-binary and children. It's caused by a toxin (a kind of biological poison) that's produced by a type of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) that's frequently present in humans like you and me.- You're not menstruating
- You have an irregular menstrual cycle
- You're bleeding very weakly
- You've damaged mucous membranes
- You recently gave birth
- You recently had an abortion
- You've had gynaecological treatment recently
- You've had any vaginal inflammation
- You're hypersensitive to any component of a tampon
- You use vaginal tablets and / or vaginal medicines
- You've noticed any flaws on the product or the tampon or the tampon packaging is damaged
Consult your medical doctor before beginning to use tampons again if TSS warning signs have occurred in the past, or if you have any questions about TSS or tampon use.
Which tampon absorbency should I use?
Some periods are heavy and other light, young girls differ from women after childbirth, and a woman’s choice of contraception can affect menstruation. This is why tampons were designed in a range of absorbencies:
Regular absorbency, between 6 and 9 grams, is suitable for light to medium flow.
Super absorbency, between 9 and 12 grams, is suitable for medium to heavy flow.
Super+ absorbency, between 12 and 15 grams, is suitable for heavy flow to extra heavy flow.
See our full range of tampon absorbencies here.
Inserting a tampon
How to insert an Applicator Tampon
Always wash your hands thoroughly before inserting a tampon.
1. After you've removed the tampon from the wrapper, gently tug the tampon string once to ensure that it's securely attached and not damaged.
2. Place the tip of the applicator into your vaginal opening and gently push the applicator into the vagina.
3. Keep hold of the applicator using your thumb and middle finger and with your index finger gently push the smaller tube all the way into the bigger tube.
4. Once the rings or both tubes come close to one another, the tampon has been inserted.
5. Gently remove the applicator. If you have followed these instructions correctly one tube should now be inside the other. Once the tampon has been inserted, the removal string should be protruding from the vaginal opening. When you're finished, wash your hands.
How to insert a Naked Tampon
Always wash your hands thoroughly before inserting a tampon.
1. Unroll the wrapper from the middle strip. Then, pull off the lower section of the wrapper.
2. Unroll the string of the tampon fully from where it is coiled and ensure the ends of the strings are connected or tied. Push the index finger into the recess at the end of the tampon as you will be holding it when inserting.
3. Using other hand, remove the remaining upper section of wrapper from the tampon.
4. Insert the tampon into the vagina. The easiest way to do that is when your body posture is relaxed. Push the tampon into the vagina with the upper rounded top, at an angle pointing towards your tailbone. It is correctly inserted when you cannot feel it anymore. If the tampon does not fill well, pull it out and insert a new one according to the instructions above.
When should I change my tampon?
By lightly tugging on the removal string you will be able to tell if it's time to change your tampon. If it doesn't move, it's not saturated and there's no need to change. Though your needs will depend on your individual flow, you should change your tampon 3-6 times a day.
You should never leave a tampon in for more than 8 hours (but we recommend changing your tampon every 4 hours). We recommend that on each day of your period you use the lowest absorbency tampon needed to suit that day’s flow.
Removing my tampon
1. Relax and gently pull the removal string so that the tampon slides out. It's easiest to remove a tampon when it's fully saturated. If you've problems removing the tampon, it could be because the tampon isn't fully saturated yet.
2. If for some reason you cannot find the removal cord, it can usually be reached from a squatting position using your fingers. Remember to remove the current tampon before inserting another and always remember to remove the last tampon at the end of your period.
Disposing of my tampon
Wrap up the used tampon securely and dispose of it in a trash bin. We recommend you use an alternative means of disposal other than the sewage system.
A tampon should be changed every 4 - 8 hours. If you need to change it more often than that, try a tampon with a higher absorbency rating. If changing your tampon is uncomfortable and the tampon still shows white after the recommended time, try a tampon with a lower absorbency rating.
Select the absorbency rating that suits your menstrual flow and always choose the smallest size to lower your risk of developing TSS. Never use bigger tampons to extend the time a single tampon may be used.
Never exceed 8 hours of use with a single tampon and do not use overnight.