GirlsLife.com - How do I insert a tampon?

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I can’t insert a tampon without it hurting. Is something wrong? How do I get it right?

Tampons can be tricky at first, but they shouldn’t be uncomfortable or painful at all, insists Dr. Charles Wibbelsman, author of The Teenage Body Book. You probably need to learn precisely how to put them in place. Start by buying the slender regular sizes (they are the smallest and easiest to insert).

Now, follow these steps. 1) Sit on the toilet, or stand in front of it with one foot on the floor and one on the toilet seat. 2) Toss the wrapper (duh!), and put the rounded tip against your vaginal opening. With your forefinger on the plunger (the end point downward) and your middle finger and thumb on the upper part of the applicator, gently push the tampon inside your body, aiming toward the small of your back. Once you’ve pushed the inner tube all the way into the out tube—this pushes the cottony absorbent part into the perfect spot—withdraw both tubes, leaving the string hanging outside your body.

A few more tips: It’s easiest to insert a tampon when your flow is heaviest, like the first three days of your period, because you’re more lubricated. You may want to use pads on lighter days. Or try and over-the-counter vaginal lubricant—K-Y Jelly is a brand doctors recommend—on the end of the tampon before insertion. This is a safe way to make the whole process slicker. Once you’ve got it in right, you shouldn’t feel a thing!

BY GL ON 12/22/2009 7:00:00 AM

How to put in a tampon:
1)Take your tampon. Before you insert it, go to the bathroom and wipe so that you dont pee on the tampon(thats gross for when you have to take it out) or drip urine on your hand.
2)Unwrap the tampon and find a postion squating or with one foot elevated. I prefer squating in a hovering over the toilet way because it makes the process easier.
3) With one hand, hold the tampon, and with the other find the opening to your vagina. If you need to, hold the tampon of to the side of your hand (kind of in your fingers... key point is to spread open the vagina a little bit, however you do it.) and use both hands to find the opening. it is the second hole, after where the pee comes out, and don't be afraid to use a hand mirror if you are having trouble.
4)Once you have the opening, spread it out a tiny bit so it's easier
5)take the applicator, and push up into your vagina, but don't push the applicator too far(halfway). leave a little out still. It should slide pretty easily. It shouldn't be terrible pain, either.
6)Once you have the applicator in about halfway, push the insert part on the back until the tubes are inside of each other.
7)Remove the applicator and insert so only the string is hanging from your body.

AND THATS IT! Tell me how this works for you, if it was confussing, etc.

Tips:
.To start out, use a light tampon or a slim if you can find one, then move on to thicker applicators.
.A tampon, if inserted correctly, will not hurt. If it does, it probably isn't in far enough and you should try again.
.A tampon might be a little hard to put in on your first day of you period because it isn't as lubricated.
.If you go to change your tampon and there is not one there, you MUST tell your mother, chances are it fell out, but tell her anyway.
.Don't leave a tampon in for more than 4 hours, and use a pad to sleep in to be on the safe side.

I hope this was helpful. Contact me if you need more help, I'm confident you can get it!

MOD
So I'm almost 17 and I still use pads! The thing is, I don't really want to use tampons, but I feel like I should. I think putting something "up there" just seems awkward and weird. I got my period when I was really young (10) so I've been using pads for quite some time, but I feel like they're for beginners and I should be using tampons... but I'm more comfortable with pads.
I guess my point is: do I have to use tampons? Is it weird to just wear pads for the rest of my life? Thanks.

Hey girly, I totally get where you're coming from. It's fine to use pads instead of tampons -- it's your body, and completely your decision! Using pads or tampons doesn't really have anything to do with how old you are or how long you've had your period, but what you're most comfortable with! Personally, I prefer pads to tampons!

Alissa S.

by purplestreakpunk on 6/28/2010 1:30:50 PM

This is gunna sound weird... But I used a tampon the other day and when I went to take it out I guess I didnt get it in far enough or my flow wasnt heavy enough and it hurt really bad taking it out? Why is that? And is there any way to make that stop? Because now I'm scared to use them again... THANKS!

by hotshot655 on 6/27/2010 11:13:00 PM