Jammy Dodgers (Always Ultra)

Member Name: Joanna Hudson

Product:	Always Ultra
Date:	28/08/01 (1401 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Thin, absorbant, dry top sheet

Disadvantages: none for me

Like a lot of girls, my mother bought my first few packets of sanitary pads when I first started having periods at age twelve. The brand she chose for me was one of the first thin pads on the market, Vespre Silhouettes (anybody remember those great adverts starring Claire Raynor?). I thought they were brilliant because they were so thin and I thought they were the best on the market.

When we reached 13 my best friend told me she never used anything other than Always Ultra. She said they were better than Vespre. I didn’t believe her, and being the competitive type, so decided to have a little competition to see which one of us was 'right'!

We took a Vespre Silhouette, and a Always Ultra pad, then measured out two half cups of water (unfortunately we didn’t have any of the blue liquid they always use on the adverts) and poured them onto each pad to see which one absorbed most. My beloved Vespre came out to be the loser. Whilst the Always pad soaked up the liquid in an instant, Vespre took ages for all the liquid to soak into it. Also, even after the water had absorbed into the Vespre Silhouette, the surface stayed wet and soggy (not very pleasant) whereas the Always famed top coat stayed true to it’s claim and remained dry as a bone.

So, I was proved wrong, and I decided to change over to Always Ultra, and for the most of my teenage years stuck with this brand through thick and thin.

I have tried other brands, but never found any other pads that stay as dry and make me feel as comfortable as Always Ultra. The ‘dry weave top sheet’ really does work and all the moisture soaks into the pad within a few seconds, leaving you feeling dry and comfortable.


Always are available with or without wings, in four absorbencies. These are: Normal, for light to moderate flow; Ultra long plus, these pads are longer and absorb more, so are suitable for moderate to heavy flow; Always Ultra Night,
which have a high absorbency and so can be used for very heavy flow or at night. I prefer these pads with wings as it means the pad doesn't move about as much and you don't get any nasy leakage around the edges of the pads

Always Ultra now do a special ‘multi pack’, which contains 6 normal (without wings), 11 normal plus (with wings) and 5 night. I think this is a great idea because it saves you from having to buy several different packets of different absorbencies. These packs are designed to get you through all the different flows you have during the course of your period.

As with most women, when I first started my period flow was very light (no PMT or period pains either, those were the days!) and I didn’t need very high absorbency. However, after a couple of years I soon discovered what periods are really like, which is pain and heavy blood flow. I find that Always can cope with anything though. The super absorbency pads are great for the first couple of days and at nights, and the normal ones are good for the last few days when the flow is not so heavy.

At school there was a lot of peer pressure amongst the girls to wear tampons, as if this meant you were a ‘real woman’, and sanitary towels were just for little girls. So, in an attempt to fit in I did try inserting a tampon several times. I had many, many difficulties though, the main problem being I couldn’t find the hole to insert it! When I eventually did discover where my vagina was (after many attempts) and inserted the tampon correctly I felt very proud. I felt like telling my friends ‘I’ve got a tampon in’!!

However, this joy didn’t last long, because after four hours of having the tampon in, I needed to pull it out. This was not a pleasant experience. To me, it felt as if I was pulling my insides out, which really didn’t feel very nice at all!

So, back onto my beloved Always I went
, and decided I would stick with them as I felt that I would never be able to use tampons without feeling sick! I have tried different brands of sanitary towels, but I have never found any that I feel as comfortable and confident in as Always. Although they are a little more expensive than other pads I definitely think they are worth the few extra pennies.

I must admit I no longer use Always throughout my entire period. After, erm, losing my cherry a couple of years ago I decided to try using tampons again because I’d heard they are easier to insert once your hymen has been broken. So I tried them, and I found I could use them without any problems. There is no doubt that during the day when you’re out and about tampons give you far more confidence and less hassle than pads.

I have now come to a happy medium between pads and tampons. I use tampons for the first couple of days of my period when my period is heaviest, and then when my flow is less heavy I use pads. I also use pads at night, as I think it is healthier, and decreases the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Summary: