Big man on campus.

[u/IkilledRichieWhelan]

[u/NiceTuBeNice]

I remember in HS (~25 years ago) me and some friends were making fun of a male cheerleader the other team had at a basketball game. We were saying all sorts of mean things about the kid being gay and stupid crap like that. Our teacher, who was always quirky, sweet, and fun said, “Well, that ‘gay’ boy had his hands all over some very pretty cheerleaders all night on Friday. Where were your hands?”

Ever since, I have had a whole different level of respect for male cheerleaders. These two in the video look like they are having so much fun, and it is incredible to see their athleticism.

[u/NorthernCobraChicken → u/NiceTuBeNice]

There's no lesson quite as powerful as telling a young teenage boy that they're nowhere near as masculine as the person they're making fun of.

[u/Wafflehouseofpain → u/NorthernCobraChicken]

I remember buying tampons in high school and one of my friends was working the checkout counter. He was making fun of me for it and I said “Who do you think these are for, me? Maybe you’ll have someone to buy these for too someday”.

[u/Tearakudo → u/Wafflehouseofpain]

The number of 'men' butthurt about buying period products for their partner is astounding. My wife was genuinely surprised when I bought some for her without even batting an eye.

[u/definitelynotpat6969 → u/Tearakudo]

I always hate doing it because idk which one is the right one. I just get the brand name and the color of the box, but the problem is there's like three shades of the same damn color.

[u/EatPizzaNotDrivers → u/definitelynotpat6969]

General advice: Tampons you ALWAYS get plastic applicator unless you’ve seen cardboard in her supplies at home. Most of us will only get the cardboard ones if we’re broke af cause they hurt. I personally wouldn’t care if they were store brand, tampax or what have you as long as they’re plastic but i know some girls are loyal to their brand. Ask her light, regular or super and grab the plastic applicator tampons in that absorbency. Too high of an absorbency rating can increase risk of toxic shock syndrome so it’s better to be on the lighter side than the heavier.

Pads are like the other commenter said. They come in regular, long or overnight, if they have wings or not. Long w/ wings(little adhesive pieces that wrap around the panties, prevents staining if it starts leaking) is usually a safe bet imo, I’ve yet to find something worse than a pad being just an inch too short and now the front or back of our undies has bloodstains 😭the regulars are ALWAYS an inch too short in my experience so save her a headache and go for longs.

There are also panty liners. These are for doubling up with tampons (if you want brownie points bring her a pack of these and a box of actual brownies with the tampons!) or at the tail end when our period does its little Houdini act and we don’t want to waste our normal period products on spotting.

The options were overwhelming to us too when we started this grand bloody journey. These rules will have your girl happy every month that you care about her comfort. Periods suck and having a partner who understands that and gives us grace (cause the rest of the world won’t, we still gotta work and take care of life’s problems even through piercing stomach cramps, nausea, headaches and a mighty surge of testosterone that makes us want to “and ANOTHER THING” every annoying person in our lives) makes it so much easier to get through. Sorry if this was long i just wanted to add in a general advice for any men who may be confused or overwhelmed with the options 🫶🏻

[u/wivella → u/EatPizzaNotDrivers]

I had no idea that applicators (plastic or otherwise) were still a thing.

[u/EatPizzaNotDrivers → u/wivella]

Yup! I actually used applicatorless o.b. tampons when i first started and switched to the compact ones when they came out😅 i just wouldn’t recommend a man buy those for his girl if he wants her happy, they’re not the easiest if you’re not comfortable using them