Do tampons hurt? They shouldn't. If your tampon does hurt, it usually means that something's not quite right. In fact, when used properly, you'll barely be able to feel your tampon.
A tampon may hurt the first time you try to insert it, but it shouldn't be bad. 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.
Using the tip of the tampon, open the folds of skin on your vagina and slide the entire barrel inside, angling towards your back. The tampon won't go in smoothly and may be painful if inserted straight up and in. Insert it as far as your middle finger and thumb, at the grip – or middle – of the applicator.
The best way to know if your tampon needs changing is to give a light tug on the tampon string, if it starts to pull out easily then it's time to change, if not, it usually means you can leave it a bit longer. Just remember with tampons, 4 hours is about right, and don't leave one in for more than 8 hours.
“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.”
Normally you shouldn't feel your tampon no matter what position you're in. Sounds like your tampon may not be in quite right.
Expert analysis says the more absorbent the tampon, the more bacteria it can hold onto. That, paired with a tiny tear from something like pulling out a dry tampon before it's saturated with blood, can introduce the bacteria into the body.
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.
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.
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.
Do tampons hurt? They shouldn't. If your tampon does hurt, it usually means that something's not quite right. In fact, when used properly, you'll barely be able to feel your tampon.
Your pelvic muscles may not be relaxed enough while you put the tampon in or pull it out. See if it helps to take a deep breath and then completely release your pelvic muscles before you attempt to remove or insert the tampon.
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!
Teach safe tampon use.
Some girls are successful even if they get no help at all. But any help at all can go a long way toward your daughter feeling comfortable with her body, and bravo for trying. Don't forget to tell them how to take the damn thing out!
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.
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.
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.
The main thing you need to do is get in the right position (squatting, sitting on the toilet or 1 foot on the toilet seat are all popular options) and of course RELAX. The muscles of the pelvic floor are very strong, so if you're not relaxed, it will be very hard to put the tampon in.
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.
When it comes to tampons, however, popping one in before your flow starts is not the best idea. This can throw off the vagina's healthy bacteria and dry it out, increasing the risk of infection.