Archery Club

How do I know that most travel writers are men?  Easy!  Guidebooks never have enough information about feminine hygiene product (also known as sanitary product) availability.  There’s nothing more frustrating that wasting space in jam-packed backpack with pads you could have bought upon arrival… except, that is, planning to pick up tampons when you arrive and discovering that they aren’t sold in the place you’re visiting!   If you would like to share information about pads, tampons and more in your country, or a country you know well, please use the form . 

This list was last updated on April 5th, 2016.  Keep the great information coming!

Egypt – Pads can be found easily, but tampons are rare outside of Metro Supermarket (where they come in packs of twelve with cardboard applicators for regular absorbancy, and cost about 45 Egyptian pounds).

Ethiopia – Pads are available in most grocery stores in Addis Ababa.  In rural areas it is difficult to find any feminine hygiene products.

Kenya – Pads and tampons- with and without applicators- can be found at major supermarket chains like Nakumatt.  Common brands include Always, Kotex and OB.  Stock up in larger towns before visiting smaller villages.  Birth control pills can be purchased over the counter in Kenya.

Madagascar – In major cities you will find pads and tampons.  In rural areas, only pads are available.  In very remote areas there are no feminine hygiene products for sale.  Stores with the best variety include Jumbo Score supermarkets and Shoprite.

Mali – In the capital (Bamako) and other large cities, pads and tampons are in most grocery stores and pharmacies.  In large villages only pads are available, and in small villages feminine hygiene products are not sold.

Morocco – Tampons are sold in large stores that cater to tourists, in areas with lots of tourists.  Also, they are carried by the supermarket chain Marjane.  Pads are available everywhere.  If you’re using a menstrual cup, nearly all washroom facilities will have some kind of water you can use for washing and rinsing.

Senegal – In the capital (Dakar) and other major cities, both tampons and pads are available at grocery stores and pharmacies.  Small villages will have either pads or no products at all.

South Africa – A full range of pads and tampons (with a variety of applicators) is widely available.

Tanzania – A source writes, “No pantyliners, no tampons with applicators, no tampons without applicators, and lots of maxi pads.”

Uganda – A user wrote in to let us know that pads are widely available but tampons are not.  Another reader mentioned that in Kampala, you will mostly likely find Tampax tampons at the Game store in Lugogo, and other brands may be available at Shoprite and Nakumatt.

Zambia – There is a good selection of pads, pantyliners, and tampons with and without applicators at most supermarkets.

Zimbabwe – Of the area near Victoria Falls, a source writes, “no pantyliners, no tampons with applicators, lots of tampons without applicators, and lots of maxi pads.”  This is consistent with a second report describing most urban centers; that reader also noted that pads are usually available in rural areas, too.

Bahrain – Wide range of pads and tampons available in supermarkets and pharmacies.

Bangladesh – Pads are available in most cities and towns, but they are quite bulky.  Tampons are virtually impossible to find.  You will need to bring your own toilet paper into most bathrooms, and you will want to look around in advance for places where you can dispose of used products.

Brunei – Find your pads at the supermarket, not the pharmacy.  Tampons are not normally sold, but may be purchased at the NAAFI store (serving UK military families).

Cambodia –  Pads are very common in supermarkets and mini marts in cities, and sometimes at markets in small villages.  Tampons are very difficult to find, but check at major supermarkets in big cities and stock up if you find them!  Reusable menstrual cups can be found at Western Pharmacy in Phnom Penh, Peace Cafe in Siem Reap, and Bantreay’s Women’s Spa in Kampot.

China – Most local women prefer pads, but tampons (including Chinese and foreign brands) may be available in some locations (especially at Watson’s and Auchan).  If you can’t find them, look up!  They might be on a higher shelf to appeal to taller, foreign women.

India – Pads are available, though they are often big, bulky and designed for overnight wear (you know what we mean!).  If you’re looking for a thin pad, brand names include Whisper Ultra Thin or Stayfree Dry Max, and you might have good luck shopping for them at Health & Glow.  OB tampons without applicators can be found, but not everywhere.  In major stores in urban areas it is possible to buy Carefree pantyliners.

Indonesia – In most cities you are likely to find a variety of pads in most shops, with tampons being sold at high-end groceries.  Also look at Japanese supermarkets.  In small towns it may be harder to find pads (look for Laurier or Charm brands), and it’s unlikely you’ll find tampons.

Iran – Pads are widely available.  The availability of tampons may be on the decline; several years ago they could be found in big-city pharmacies, but a recent report suggests that they are now difficult to find even in big cities.

Isreal – Pads and tampons (with and without applicators) are easily found.  Brands such as Kotex, Tampax and Always are widely available.

Japan – Tampons with applicators (in limited sizes) and pads are widely available in Japan.  Pads tend to be bulky, long and wide, with “wings” that wrap under the panties for adhesion.   Pantyliners are available as well.  If you can’t find what you’re looking for, ask a shop assistant as they might be behind the counter.

Kuwait –Pads are available at all large supermarkets, but tampons are limited and pricey. Tampons (with applicators) can usually be found at Sultan Center and Saveco. Both of these stores usually carry Tampax Regular and Super Plus. At times, Boots Pharmacy carries Regular and Super varieties of its own brand in select locations.

Malaysia – Pads are sold in supermarkets, not pharmacies.  In  major urban centers tampons with and without applicators are available as well, though they are expensive.  * We have received conflicting reports about the availability of birth control pill over-the-counter in Malaysia.  One reader reports that it is available without a prescription, while another says it isn’t.  Please plan accordingly.

Nepal – Pads are easy to find, while tampons (without applicators) are sold in shops that target foreign tourists.

Oman – Wide range of pads and tampons available in supermarkets and pharmacies.

Pakistan – Sanitary pads are widely available.  Tampons in Pakistan are almost impossible to find, even in drugstores, so .  A reader reports that she has never seen a female working in a Pakistani pharmacy, and many men in the country don’t understand menstruation.  In major cities you may find tampons with applicators in bigger supermarkets, but expect little variety.

Philippines – While pads are definitely more common, it sounds like it’s getting easier to find tampons as well.  For tampons, look in stores like Rustan’s Supermarket, Watson’s, Mercury Drugstore, S&R and the SM department stores in Manila.

Qatar – Wide range of pads and tampons available in the supermarkets and pharmacies  of Doha.  Another reader reports that tampons are “a rare commodity and astonishingly expensive when you can buy them”, so if you’re leaving Doha you’ll probably want to pack your own!

Saudi Arabia – Tampons are rarely available.

Singapore – Singapore is a great place to get your period!  Pads from Chinese, Japanese, American and European brands are widely available.  Tampons with applicators can be found in many places as well; for applicator-free tampons look in supermarkets and drugstores.

South Korea – Pads are available at convenience stores, though many brands are “bulky”.  Tampons with applicators are often available as well, but there are limited brands and sizes as most women only wear them for swimming.

– Pads and tampons without applicators are widely available.  I recommend checking DM, a chain of drug stores.  A limited selection of tampons with applicators was available as well, but not in heavy absorbancies.

Bulgaria – Pads and tampons without applicators are widely available.

– Pads and a wide range of tampons are widely available.

– Pads and tampons (with and without applicators) can be easily found in supermarkets and pharmacies across Lithuania.

The Netherlands – Tampons with and without applicators are widely available.  Pads are available too, but they’re called maandverband, which translates to “month pads”!  Too cute!

Norway – Pads, pantyliners and tampons can be found in all supermarkets.

Poland – In Warsaw, Carrefour carries a wide range of pads and tampons.  Throughout the rest of the country, most supermarkets and pharmacies will also have a good range of pads and tampons.

Portugal – Pads and tampons (with and without applicators) can be found in every supermarket.  Hypoallergenic pads are also available in some supermarkets and pharmacies.

Guatemala – Tampons and pads are easy to find in Guatemala City, but variety may be very limited.  Check supermarkets like La Torre or Paiz.  In rural areas it can be difficult to find any feminine hygiene products, but you might get lucky and find Kotex pads.

Honduras – Pads are widely available, and it is becoming increasingly more common to see tampons with applicators in major supermarkets.

– Pads are widely available.  Tampons available at most major supermarkets, with and without applicators.  It is easier to find lower-absorbancy tampons, though “Super-Plus” were available at Mega supermarkets during the author’s last visit.

Nicaragua – Sanitary pads are widely available, but it is difficult to find tampons.  Your best bet for tampons is a pharmacy in a larger town.

Panama – Pads are widely available.  Tampons are available in large cities (Panama City and David, mainly), at supermarkets and pharmacies.  Thong pantyliners are very hard to find.  One writer reports that a local teacher asked her to teach her female health class students about tampons, because the teacher was unfamiliar with them!

Trinidad – Pads, and tampons with and without applicators, are widely available.

United States – Pads, and tampons with and without applicators, are widely available.  Reusable menstrual cups are also available, most often at health food stores.

Argentina – Pads are available in every supermarket, pharmacy and corner store.  The Great Argentinean Tampon Crisis of 2015 has ended, and tampons are once again widely available (though brands without applicators are more common).

Bolivia – Pads are everywhere in all different shapes and sizes.  Occasionally you might find tampons (without applicators) in a major supermarket, or if you ask at a pharmacy, but don’t expect to find a variety of brands or sizes.

Brazil – Pads are widely available in Brazil.  It is also easy to find tampons without applicators at supermarkets and pharmacies, but you might have to ask at a few different pharmacies to find tampons with applicators.

Chile – Most women in Chile wear pads, so you’re likely to find them anywhere you need them.  Tampons with applicators are becoming more common, though it’s nearly impossible to find applicator-free tampons.

Ecuador – It is easy to find many kinds of pads.  Very few women use tampons, so while you can find OB-style tampons (no applicator) in a supermarket or pharmacy, you  might get some weird looks.  If you want tampons with applicators bring them from home!

– Major supermarkets like Plaza Vea have a wide assortment of pads, and a limited variety of tampons.  Smaller supermarkets, pharmacies and even corner stores have fewer pads and may also sell one or two types of tampons.