Insert it as far as your middle finger and thumb, at the grip – or middle – of the applicator. Once the barrel is comfortably inside, hold the grip and push with your index finger on the smaller tube to push the absorbent part of the tampon into the vagina. Push this until it meets the grip and your other fingers.
I have great news for you: You can't put a tampon "too far" in! And a tampon can't get lost inside you, either. If your tampon has a string, it will be really easy to just pull out. If your tampon doesn't have a string, you'll be able to reach it easily.
Push it in until you reach the base of your finger. You won't feel the tampon when it's in the right place. If you do, push it a little further in. Make sure the string is left hanging outside of your body.
The string should be visible hanging down from the vagina. This is there to help remove the tampon later. Inserting a tampon should never hurt. If it does, it may mean it's too absorbent or not inserted far enough.
“After you've inserted the plunger, lightly pull out the plastic or cardboard barrel,” Youngblood says. “Leave the tampon in place, with just the string hanging outside of your body.”
The most likely reason is that you didn't push your tampon in far enough when you inserted it. Not to worry – simply use your finger to push it in a little further. If that doesn't fix it, just take it out and try again with a fresh one.
If you notice your tampons get soaked through in a couple hours, or you see blood on the string when you change it after a short time, you might need a larger size. You may need to size down if the tampon is mostly dry after wearing it for a few hours.
Why does my tampon leak? Typically, a leaky tampon means you've left your tampon in for too long, or you're using the wrong absorbency. Be sure to change your tampon every 4-6 hours. If you find that you are leaking through your tampon after just four hours, it's time to start using the next absorbency up.
Most tampons are a little less than two inches long and, after insertion, are easily removed by gently pulling the string attached to one end.
This is because a dry tampon can stick to the vaginal walls when there isn't enough blood flow for the absorbency rating. When this happens, abrasions can occur when they are removed, and this creates an entry point for bacteria.
Use smaller tampons
If you're struggling to insert a tampon, make sure you're trying the smallest size you can first. Even if you have had sex before, you may simply have a smaller hole down there that the tampon has to get through, so give it the best chance by choosing the smallest size.
When your period flows out of the little hole in the cervix, it tracks along the side of the tampon rather than the central top area so the blood only appears on one side of the tampon. No worries!
One of the main reasons why your tampon can feel some obstruction is because your vaginal muscles tend to tense up and stop anything from passing through. While most of the time, that feeling of “hitting a wall” can be helped via pelvic relaxation exercises, sometimes the underlying issue can be a tad bit more serious.
Infections include the rare but serious Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). It is safe to sleep with a tampon in as long as it's not for more than eight hours. So, if you can keep your night-time snooze to 8 hours or under, then you can wear a tampon overnight.
Yes, it's fine to wear a tampon in the bath or shower. If your period is light at the time, you might find that you don't need one for the few minutes that you are in the bath or shower. Most of the time, blood won't leak out.
Tampons are more likely to leak than pads because they can't always absorb all the blood flow. Pads are better at absorbing blood, making them a good choice for people who are worried about leaks. However, it may mean you have to change them regularly.
Try not to worry if your tampon string does get wet. Urine is sterile, so there won't be any health repercussions if you do pee on the string.
This could be due to weak pelvic floor muscles that allow the bladder or uterus to fall into the vaginal canal. This would be due to how a tampon would support those organs and keep those organs “up” and out of the way when it's in — which may change how you prevent the flow or urine.
Tampon pain from walking or sitting can happen if you haven't inserted the tampon deeply enough. When you put it in, it should go past the nerve endings of your pelvic floor muscles. If you've inserted the tampon to the correct depth, you won't feel it when you're active.
Some girls are born with a very small opening in the hymen, which prevents them from inserting tampons. However, this is true in only about 2% of teens. Others are just nervous the first time inserting a tampon and need practice.
You shouldn't feel it once it's in, so if there still is pain or discomfort, you may not have inserted it correctly. That's okay, like any new skill it may take practice to get it right. The key to pain-free tampon application is to relax, which - if it's your first time - is probably the hardest thing to do.
Can it be used just for discharge? "No. Never use a tampon in anticipation of bleeding, or for discharge because it won't function properly and could harbour infection. Only use tampons when you need them – if you're just starting your period and there's hardly any bleeding, use a sanitary towel instead.
A. If you notice on heavy days of your period that blood seems extra-thick, and can sometimes form a jelly-like glob, these are menstrual clots, a mix of blood and tissue released from your uterus during your period. They can vary in size and color, and usually, they are nothing to worry about.
What If It's Difficult? A tampon should not be difficult to insert and should not cause any discomfort once it's properly inserted. Make sure to follow the instructions for tampon insertion that come in each package.