About some words , which is the most widely used , sanitary towel or maxi pads ?
I looked this word up in Dictionary , the translation is sanitary towel . And on WIKI , it says A sanitary napkin, sanitary towel, sanitary pad, menstrual pad, or pad is an absorbent item worn by a woman while she is menstruating, while she is recovering from vaginal surgery, for lochia (post birth bleeding), after an abortion, or in any other situation where it is necessary to absorb a flow of blood from the vagina.
I remember foreign friend told me that you guys call it Maxi pads or Tampon .
I think WIKI is very authoritative , they won't lie about this .
Is this word wrong ? Sanitary towel .
If it's wrong , if you came up to this word , what do you think it would be ?

Question

About some words , which is the most widely used , sanitary towel or maxi pads ?
I looked this word up in Dictionary , the translation is sanitary towel . And on WIKI , it says  A sanitary napkin, sanitary towel, sanitary pad, menstrual pad, or pad is an absorbent item worn by a woman while she is menstruating, while she is recovering from vaginal surgery, for lochia (post birth bleeding), after an abortion, or in any other situation where it is necessary to absorb a flow of blood from the vagina.
I remember foreign friend told me that you guys call it   Maxi pads or Tampon .
I think WIKI is very authoritative , they won't lie about this .
Is this word wrong ? Sanitary towel . 
If it's wrong , if you came up to this word , what do you think it would be ?

Answer

In the US, the proper term in sanitary napkin.  I've never heard "sanitary towel" but I would immediately understand it.  "Maxi Pad" is indeed a popular brand (take it from a man married for 36 years).  Another brand name that is used to refer to the item is Kotex.  "I need to buy Kotex." can mean any brand of sanitary napkin.  A "tampon" is not a napkin, it is an insertible menstrual product for inside the vagina.

Answer

In the UK, it's ALWAYS "sanitary towel". Shops sometimes use the term "sanitary products" for their whole range of tampons and sanitary towels. I don't know what term they use in the USA, but I believe "Maxi Pad" is a popular American brand name?

Answer

In the UK it is called a "sanitary towel" for menstruation purposes, but post-birth the item used is a "maternity pad". The maternity pad is thicker than a sanitary towel and is designed to absorb greater blood flow.

A tampon is an altogether different device designed for insertion into the vagina to contain blood flow during menstruation.

Answer

in Canada normally tampon, and sometimes "sanitary pad" - 
"towel " sounds strange in this connection

I should shut up. Ask the women. The women know

Answer

In Canada, most people I know would just call these products "pads and tampons"