Dr. Farah Kroman: Inserting a tampon shouldn’t hurt. It should be very easy. The main things you need to do are get in the right position 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. Get to know your body. Get a mirror and have a look where the tampon is going to go before you start. The easiest and most convenient position is with one foot on the toilet seat. Alternatively, sit on the floor in front of a mirror. Wash your hands well then use your index finger to gently push the tampon past your labia (outside folds of the vagina) into your vagina. Push it is as far as it will go- don’t worry, you can’t go too far. Make sure that the strings are hanging out for easy retrieval. When you are done, you shouldn’t be able to feel the tampon. If you do, then you haven’t pushed it in far enough, remove it and start again with a new one.
I Put My Tampon In and It's Leaking
Dr. Farah Kroman: Sometimes, especially when your flow is heavy, the tampon doesn't 'mop up' the excess blood in the vagina when you put it in and that can leak onto your undies. Also, if your flow is too heavy for the tampon you are using, you can have leakage. I suggest using a bigger liner (made to absorb small amounts of blood) for that first hour or so after tampon insertion during heavy flow times and to make sure you are using the right absorbency tampon.
Tampon Sizes
Dr. Farah Kroman: Thanks for the feedback. Like everything biological there is a lot of variation between individuals. There are lots of tampons available in different shapes and absorbencies. Super tampons are for heavy flow and are the biggest tampons available. .. However, remember that if you feel that tampons are not right for you, then a pad may be a better option. Good luck!
Lost the Tampon String?
Dr. Farah Kroman: Tampon strings are very tightly bound inside the tampon and don't fall off. The string should be left hanging out of the vagina. Other than the regular way of pulling on the string to pull the tampon out, it would need to be reached with two fingers. If that's not possible she should see a doctor who can help. If there is one stuck in there, don't wait too long before getting medical attention.
Using a Tampon When Not On Period
Dr. Farah Kroman: It certainly wouldn't be harmful but it's usually easier to use tampons when you have your period as the blood flow acts as a lubricant to help slide the tampon in.
CAN A TAMPON BE INSERTED TOO DEEP?
There are two reasons why you don't need to worry about inserting a tampon too far in.
Firstly, thanks to its length, the tampon string is clearly visible even after insertion and allows you to adjust or remove the tampon at any time.
Secondly, the tampon cannot get lost in your body or enter the uterus as the opening to the uterus is way too small for a tampon to pass through.