AN EMBARASSING QUESTION

In various parts of Germany, tampons only came in two brands and none like the US. My daughter and friend did not like them at all. Thank goodness I'm beyond that stage of my life! :-)
However, I'm now in the panty liner stage and I do take my own.

Ask for a Pharmacia, they will have products - maybe not your product of choice but at least some choices.

It's really not embarassing, just life. My daughter would say, "Do you have any 'feminine products'?" while making quote signs with her hands. I always laugh at that :)

For Lisa in Austin,

Diva cup may be great for periods, but not for urinary incontinence which is why the original poster was asking specifically about Poise panty liners. As the sister of someone who can flood a doctor's exam room from a single sneeze, I am very familiar with the need. She managed to live in France for 18 months and never mentioned having difficulty finding the products she needed so I must assume they were available in Europe. She was in a very small town, too.

In other parts of Europe you can get them but you will pay............I took a supply with me to make sure I had what I needed and worked for me..........and yes, it takes up room but I had that space available to me on the way home!

Glad you brought this up because it is a fact of life for many women!!

I discovered something wonderful for traveling during that time of month. Please look up "The Diva Cup" on line. Too bad not many women know about this, so PLEASE look into this!! It doesn't take up any room in your suitcase and this product works great! I don't work for the company, just happy with this product.

I haven't been to Italy but I found that stuff in Poland. If I got it there, I am sure you could get it in Italy. But as stated before, I have read other places it is best to take what you need with you if you are particular to a certain brand. I have also heard of the wonders of the diva cup and want to try that.

Sherri

Such items are available at the Pharmacy in France and I would think it would be the same in Italy.

I would recommend to bring your supply - especially because you want to be comfortable while traveling and minimizing any embarrassing situations.

When it comes to Tampons, I was surprised in Berlin, There were only two different brands. Not much of a choice there! I'll be in Italy this fall, but with the Diva Cup, I don't need anything else. However, I do like to wear pads even if it's not that time of month for me. Pads keep my underwear cleaner longer. I do bring my own pads. They don't take up that much room.

Opps! Sorry, I didn't know what Poise panty liners were! Because she was talking about women, I didn't think it was for urinary since men can have that problem too.
I hope the moderators will still keep my posts up because women should know about the Diva cup.
Sorry if I offended anyone.

Now this is refreshing! Really, it's these personal little embarassment that sometimes hold people back. Many men over 60 can relate believe me. Better to be honest and ask for advice than suffer in slience is my motto. Oh, and it opens a whole new avenue of funny stories.

I'm entertained by this series :).

Seriously, though, I've had several times where I've been caught unprepared in Italy and have had no problem finding pads, tampons, etc. Grocery stores and some drug stores have them and they are relatively easy to come across. There are some American and some Italian brands available--I've used all and they are fine. They are more expensive than similar products in the US. If you know you will need them for sure, I would just bring them--not worth worrying about once you get there--but if it's a maybe thing it's no big to find them.

Sorry if I led some of you astray. Good advice anyway. It truly is an embarasing topic to me.

Isn't life grand. You go from feminine products for most of your life to "absorbant products" (it says that on the package, honest!) with a few years off for menopause. Thanks to those of you who addressed this so matter of factly. It's a sensitive issue.

Hey fellow Texan! You brought up a good topic. I know I misunderstood the post at first, but I think all of this that we're posting on this thread is good.
Rick being a man would not even think of such things. Too bad his wife doesn't want to get in on the act!
Maybe Rick Steves should have his own brand for the Diva Cup! LOL!! A man coud have invented it anyway! It does make it easier to travel light!
No need to be embarrassed. True, what Brad said, it's life!
Have a wonderful time in Italy!!

Lisa,

I wasn't offended at all by your bringing up the Diva cup. It sounds like a great thing for people who are able to use it. I don't know that I would. Too many memories of having difficulties removing the sponge when that was the birth control I was using...

Sherri,

Never be too embarrassed to ask for what you need. For one thing, chances are the person you are asking is someone you will NEVER see again. Granted, I come from a family that is very frank about stuff like that. I will never forget being a young teenager and having to get my Dad to get me some feminine hygiene supplies on a family vacation. That got me over being too embarrassed to get them myself, FAST.

The only problem with the diva cup is when the hostel you are in only has a toilet in the wc and your sink is in your room. I found this out the hard way.

Definitely plan to take your own. Finding a pharmacy that is actually open can be very difficult in a tourist area, and, because of the high price of real estate, they tend to be very small, and therefore do not stock bulky items. I spent 2 weeks in Greece trying to connect with a pharmacy, and never made it. Fortunately, my need wasn't urgent. I personally have never seen incontinent products for sale anywhere in Europe. The lining in my suitcase has a zipper in it, which leads to the compartment for the handle. I found it to be a great place to pack such products. Good luck, and think about how lucky you are to get to go to Italy!

??????

John, you must be young. Wait until your prostate starts acting up and you have to wear Depends. :p

Ah, I remember being in Europe many years ago and the only package of pads I could findto buy was 12 or 24. Now try packing that in your backpack!
Also the daily pantie liners work great for bandages if you fall and split open your knee and your first aid kit doesn't have enough gauze pads to cover the cut. ouch! I found out in Lacock, England how well they work for a bandage. Great subject because we all need to know. Perhaps the lady that teaches "Packing for Women" should add this information to her presentation.