Place a finger in the vagina, making circular movements and reaching as far inside as possible. Try to reach the area at the top of the vagina where the tampon is likely to be lodged. If the tampon can be detected, try to insert two fingers to grip the tampon and pull it out.
First, some reassurance: There's absolutely no way to lose a tampon in your body. It can get stuck in your vaginal canal, but it can't go any farther than that.
A tampon CANNOT get lost in your body. Even though your vagina connects your outside parts with the “inside” of your body, there's basically a dead end at the top of the vagina - it's called your cervix, and there's no way a tampon can go past that.
Tips on how to remove a tampon
Tampons have a string attached to them that stays hanging outside your body. That removal string is sewn in the whole way to the top, so it won't come off. Gently and firmly pull on the string that is left hanging outside your body and your tampon will slide right out. Ta-da!
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.
Tampons can also come without applicators and are inserted using the index finger. Young girls and teens generally find tampons with applicators easier to use when they begin their period.
In general, TSS symptoms can develop as soon as 12 hours after a surgical procedure. Symptoms usually develop in 3 to 5 days in individuals who are menstruating and using tampons or menstrual cups.
Your vaginal muscles hold the tampon in place, so trying to relax may help. If the tampon is dry, you may feel a bit of pressure when taking it out – but it shouldn't hurt. If you can't take the tampon out, call your health care provider.
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.
Toxic shock syndrome affects 1 in every 100,000 people. TSS is more common in people assigned female at birth (AFAB), but it can affect anyone. Until the 1990s, it was most commonly associated with people using super-absorbent tampons during their period.
The instructions on your tampon box are clear: You should never keep the same tampon in for longer than eight hours. If you leave it in longer than that, you risk toxic shock syndrome and other health concerns. If you really want to be on the safe side, though, you may want to change your tampon even more often.
Prostration and hypotensive shock can occur within 24 hours. Milder forms of the disease also may be seen. The overall mortality rate is approximately 8 percent. This report describes a mild case of TSS in a young, healthy, 16-year-old female who developed symptoms during menstruation.
Early treatment is especially important for TSS. If you have any concern that you might have TSS while using a tampon, you should remove your tampon, get immediate medical attention, and tell the healthcare provider that you're worried you might have TSS.
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!
Check if you have toxic shock syndrome
Symptoms include: a high temperature. muscle aches. a raised skin rash that feels like sandpaper.
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but very serious infection. TSS is a medical emergency. So it's important to know how to prevent it and what signs to watch for. With prompt treatment, it's usually cured.
Since toxic shock syndrome can progress quickly, there probably isn't a lot you can do ahead of time to prepare. If it is the result of surgery, it can develop as soon as 12 hours after the procedure. Women who have it due to the use of tampons can start experiencing symptoms within three to five days.
Even the lightest tampons are meant to absorb a lot more stuff than you will make in a normal day when you are not on your period. You won't be wet enough down there and the tampon won't get full enough to be comfortable going in or coming out. It's not fun taking out a nearly dry tampon – ouch!
Do not wear tampons when you do not have your period. Consider using pads or panty liners during the last day or so of your period when your flow is light. Use a lubricating jelly when inserting tampons in the last day or so of your period when your flow is light.
About half of all cases of toxic shock syndrome with staphylococci bacteria occur in women of menstruating age (most often in women ages 15 to 25 years of age who use tampons).
TSS from streptococcus infections is most commonly seen in children and the elderly. Other people at risk include those with diabetes, weak immune system, chronic lung disease, or heart disease.
Clinical Criteria
Multisystem involvement (three or more of the following organ systems): Gastrointestinal: vomiting or diarrhea at onset of illness. Muscular: severe myalgia or creatine phosphokinase level at least twice the upper limit of normal.