Tampon Troubleshooting
August 12, 2021 9:17 AM Subscribe
I’m a 30 year old virgin who would like to use tampons but struggling.
Problems:
-I have tried using mirrors to really see what’s going on down there but don’t really see anything at all. I mean I see my clitoris and labia but I don’t see any holes. Just blood.
-So I just go with the jab it places until it slides in somewhere method
-That works ok, but I can’t get it past a certain point.
-If I try to push the applicator part so the actual tampon part extends, it works variably but it’s very uncomfortable (though not quite painful). Like I’ve decided to shove up diaper there. I feel like I’m waddling like a penguin when I try.
-it’s way too uncomfortable for me to go around like that, and I don’t want to feel like a penguin anyways.
Other:
-my period is pretty heavy right now so I don’t think lubrication is an issue.
-I’m using Tampax pearl and playtex sport
-I have tried all positions but the only one I can consistently jab into the right place is with one foot on the toilet.
-No, I don’t have females in my life I can ask. That’s why I’m asking the internet.
-I don’t really masturbate or use toys obviously and don’t really want to.
-Discs/cups seem even harder to insert.
Problems:
-I have tried using mirrors to really see what’s going on down there but don’t really see anything at all. I mean I see my clitoris and labia but I don’t see any holes. Just blood.
-So I just go with the jab it places until it slides in somewhere method
-That works ok, but I can’t get it past a certain point.
-If I try to push the applicator part so the actual tampon part extends, it works variably but it’s very uncomfortable (though not quite painful). Like I’ve decided to shove up diaper there. I feel like I’m waddling like a penguin when I try.
-it’s way too uncomfortable for me to go around like that, and I don’t want to feel like a penguin anyways.
Other:
-my period is pretty heavy right now so I don’t think lubrication is an issue.
-I’m using Tampax pearl and playtex sport
-I have tried all positions but the only one I can consistently jab into the right place is with one foot on the toilet.
-No, I don’t have females in my life I can ask. That’s why I’m asking the internet.
-I don’t really masturbate or use toys obviously and don’t really want to.
-Discs/cups seem even harder to insert.
It may seem counterintuitive, but you might try o.b. or some other tampon with no applicator. You kind of pull open one end and it becomes like a bishop's miter for your finger. Then you can just push it up there the same way you push your finger up there. (Can you in fact push your finger all the way up there, all the way up to your knuckles?)
You'll know it's in place when you get past your pubic bone (the huge bone in the front wall of your vagina).
posted by 8603 at 9:27 AM on August 12, 2021 [19 favorites]
You'll know it's in place when you get past your pubic bone (the huge bone in the front wall of your vagina).
posted by 8603 at 9:27 AM on August 12, 2021 [19 favorites]
Heya, so my advice is to use your fingers to explore, so you get used to finding the entrance to your vagina. Tampons REALLY suck if they're not put in "straight" or are at a weird angle; that's probably why it feels so uncomfortable. You really will get better at using them with practice! You can buy slim ones made for teenagers, maybe that is a good place to start? I know you said lubrication isn't likely an issue, but I have a friend who swears by using lube on the applicator tip when inserting. She said it makes a world of difference for her. If you go that route though, make sure you look for a high quality, vagina friendly lube- one that doesn't have glycerine, for example. And test it out first before you use it for tampon insertion.
Fwiw I find cups MUCH harder to use, to the point where just don't.
posted by DTMFA at 9:32 AM on August 12, 2021 [14 favorites]
Fwiw I find cups MUCH harder to use, to the point where just don't.
posted by DTMFA at 9:32 AM on August 12, 2021 [14 favorites]
The "waddling like a penguin" feeling is due to the applicator not being inserted far enough before being deployed, so that the tampon itself is placed too low. When it's in far enough, the main part of the applicator, the part before the neck, should feel like it kind of got swallowed into your vagina; that sensation is actually the applicator getting past the pubic bone.
I don't think looking with a mirror will be very beneficial in this case because the position you'd need to be in to see the vaginal entrance is not the position you need to be in to insert a tampon (at least for me). Also, if you make a failed attempt at this, wait a day before trying again. Pulling a misplaced tampon out is really abrading.
posted by HotToddy at 9:33 AM on August 12, 2021 [8 favorites]
I don't think looking with a mirror will be very beneficial in this case because the position you'd need to be in to see the vaginal entrance is not the position you need to be in to insert a tampon (at least for me). Also, if you make a failed attempt at this, wait a day before trying again. Pulling a misplaced tampon out is really abrading.
posted by HotToddy at 9:33 AM on August 12, 2021 [8 favorites]
If I had to guess, your tampon is not inserted far enough - this absolutely happens to me and happened a lot more often when I first started using tampons. When it's inserted deeply enough, you shouldn't be able to feel it at all when it's in.
Two troubleshooting possibilities: First, can you try sliding your (WELL LUBRICATED) fingers into the vaginal opening and gently, carefully feel around? The canal is not straight, it has bends and folds. Sometimes the tampon wedges in one of these like that darn container ship in the Suez canal. Understanding the interior architecture might help you navigate and avoid this.
Second, try starting the insertion in the position that works for you (one foot up works best for me too), but once you're partway inserted, try changing positions - you might even try a sort of 'head-down butt up' pose, which could help your cervix pull up out of the way. If your fingers are around the ridged area in the middle of the tampon applicator, they should go all the way snug against the opening of the vagina before you push the inner part of the applicator in.
Last but not least, don't think 'jab'. Your body deserves for this tampon to be carefully and kindly snugged up into just the right spot - you can do it! (Almost certainly. But if you ultimately decide they just aren't comfortable with your body, that's fine too, that happens to people as well and it's OK).
posted by Ausamor at 9:33 AM on August 12, 2021 [5 favorites]
Two troubleshooting possibilities: First, can you try sliding your (WELL LUBRICATED) fingers into the vaginal opening and gently, carefully feel around? The canal is not straight, it has bends and folds. Sometimes the tampon wedges in one of these like that darn container ship in the Suez canal. Understanding the interior architecture might help you navigate and avoid this.
Second, try starting the insertion in the position that works for you (one foot up works best for me too), but once you're partway inserted, try changing positions - you might even try a sort of 'head-down butt up' pose, which could help your cervix pull up out of the way. If your fingers are around the ridged area in the middle of the tampon applicator, they should go all the way snug against the opening of the vagina before you push the inner part of the applicator in.
Last but not least, don't think 'jab'. Your body deserves for this tampon to be carefully and kindly snugged up into just the right spot - you can do it! (Almost certainly. But if you ultimately decide they just aren't comfortable with your body, that's fine too, that happens to people as well and it's OK).
posted by Ausamor at 9:33 AM on August 12, 2021 [5 favorites]
It sounds like maybe you're not quite getting the tampon fully inside, all the way past the muscles around the vaginal opening (your vagina has a sphincter). Typically there's a bit of tightness around the opening and then once it gets past that band of muscle, it feels much roomier and looser, but if you are leaving the tampon in or slightly past that opening, it can feel weird and tight and not comfortable. Or your vaginal muscles are possibly tense and tight, which contracts around everything and can make a tampon feel uncomfortable and huge and like it's going to squeeze itself out of you. The muscles can be tense without you even really being conscious of it. If *everything* feels uncomfortable and difficult to insert, such as during a gynecological exam, fingers, etc. then you could ask your doctor about the possibility of vaginismus which is when your muscles go overboard trying to keep stuff out of your vagina, much like an eye blinking involuntarily. I mention it as I was diagnosed with it after tampons were impossible to use due to pain and discomfort. Pelvic floor physical therapy helped me loosen up and identify which muscle groups to relax.
Otherwise, do you do Kegel exercises? That can help train your body to recognize "relaxed" vs "tightened." You can also practice with an empty applicator - no period needed - and see if you can tense and loosen around the applicator.
posted by castlebravo at 9:33 AM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
Otherwise, do you do Kegel exercises? That can help train your body to recognize "relaxed" vs "tightened." You can also practice with an empty applicator - no period needed - and see if you can tense and loosen around the applicator.
posted by castlebravo at 9:33 AM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
(And yeah, cups are a lot harder to use. I wouldn't try to go that route right now.)
posted by HotToddy at 9:34 AM on August 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by HotToddy at 9:34 AM on August 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
Oh you poor thing. We can figure this out.
I was the last girl in my grade to get my period and didn't have any peers to safely talk to. My mom only asked if I wanted one of her no applicator o.b.s and then checked out. So I had to teach myself from the promotional box of teen Tampax I got in the mail when I was 13 from God knows where and had been hiding in my closet ever since.
You're going to have to do all sorts of gymnastics the first few times to get into the right position for you, which is not the same as for everyone. For me this was a sort of 3/4 squat. For you it may be something else. The Tampax box suggested a foot up on the toilet seat. That didn't work for my anatomy.
My best suggestion for you is to go back to the store and get a pack of tampons specifically marketed to teens, and buy a pack of lights. These will have the smallest bore smoothest package applicators and will be the easiest to insert. You'll need to use a backup pad for now since your flow is heavy. But these are the best for practice imo.
Getting the applicator all the way up and into place is uncomfortable (it shouldn't hurt at all, but it should feel "not right"), and then hitting the plunger on the applicator will put the tampon in the right position, which is probably quite a bit higher than you expect it to go. But once it's up in its spot, you should barely feel it. Definitely no diaper/waddle effect.
To make sure you've got the right place, next time you pee use this opportunity to locate your urethra. It's where the pee is coming out so you can't miss it. Directly behind that hole (+/- distance based on anatomy) is your vagina, and that's where your tampon needs to go in. For a while I had to relocate myself like that every time.
If you're still struggling, then yes I agree discussing with your gynecologist will be very helpful. But this takes a lot of trial and error so don't feel bad.
posted by phunniemee at 9:38 AM on August 12, 2021 [6 favorites]
I was the last girl in my grade to get my period and didn't have any peers to safely talk to. My mom only asked if I wanted one of her no applicator o.b.s and then checked out. So I had to teach myself from the promotional box of teen Tampax I got in the mail when I was 13 from God knows where and had been hiding in my closet ever since.
You're going to have to do all sorts of gymnastics the first few times to get into the right position for you, which is not the same as for everyone. For me this was a sort of 3/4 squat. For you it may be something else. The Tampax box suggested a foot up on the toilet seat. That didn't work for my anatomy.
My best suggestion for you is to go back to the store and get a pack of tampons specifically marketed to teens, and buy a pack of lights. These will have the smallest bore smoothest package applicators and will be the easiest to insert. You'll need to use a backup pad for now since your flow is heavy. But these are the best for practice imo.
Getting the applicator all the way up and into place is uncomfortable (it shouldn't hurt at all, but it should feel "not right"), and then hitting the plunger on the applicator will put the tampon in the right position, which is probably quite a bit higher than you expect it to go. But once it's up in its spot, you should barely feel it. Definitely no diaper/waddle effect.
To make sure you've got the right place, next time you pee use this opportunity to locate your urethra. It's where the pee is coming out so you can't miss it. Directly behind that hole (+/- distance based on anatomy) is your vagina, and that's where your tampon needs to go in. For a while I had to relocate myself like that every time.
If you're still struggling, then yes I agree discussing with your gynecologist will be very helpful. But this takes a lot of trial and error so don't feel bad.
posted by phunniemee at 9:38 AM on August 12, 2021 [6 favorites]
Applicator-free ones. Get the very smallest o.b. brand or get a multipack and try the smallest ones first. Tampons in applicators are usually not actually very smooth - the applicator is smooth but the thing itself is not. This can make them painful and difficult to insert. Also, positioning and dealing with the applicator itself is another source of complication. My impression is that the main actual purpose of applicators is to avoid touching your actual body/any blood/etc. I'm sure they are convenient for some people for other reasons, but they make the process much more difficult, less environmentally sound, etc.
posted by Frowner at 9:39 AM on August 12, 2021 [9 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 9:39 AM on August 12, 2021 [9 favorites]
I would also suggest trying o.b. or another non-applicator kind. I really think inserting those is easier than using an applicator. Get the smallest size, which o.b. calls Regular. First try sticking your finger in as far as you can. (My fingers are short and stubby, so I use my middle finger and push it all the way in.) Assuming you can do that, then try it with the tampon. It's important to get it far enough in. In my experience, if you can still feel it a couple of minutes after you put it in, that means it isn't in far enough. If it's far enough in, you shouldn't notice it. With my short stubby fingers, I push my middle finger in firmly as far as it can go.
posted by Redstart at 9:40 AM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Redstart at 9:40 AM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
Ok, let’s just dive right in; first thing you can try is putting a finger inside your vagina. It’s going to be messy, so maybe in the shower would be good. Relax, take your time. Get one finger all the way in. You can feel around and find your cervix. It’ll feel firm and round with a dimple in the center. Pay attention to the angle of your finger, it’s not straight up, or straight back. Try two fingers if you are comfortable. Your vagina is elastic and you will be able to move the tampon around in there a bit. I would suggest a tampon that doesn’t need an applicator. They are shorter than the ones that need applicators. You can use your index finger and thumb to get it in and then push it further with just your index finger. The most important thing is to get the tampon fully inside the entrance to your vagina. If you leave it at the entrance it is going to be brutally uncomfortable! Keep your legs apart and crouch a bit during all this. You’ll know when you get it in the right place because you won’t be able to feel the tampon!
posted by LaBellaStella at 9:41 AM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by LaBellaStella at 9:41 AM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
Let me amend my last sentence: you won’t feel the tampon because it’s in the correct position, not because it goes in SO FAR! After you get it in there, you can still touch it with your fingers.
posted by LaBellaStella at 9:46 AM on August 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by LaBellaStella at 9:46 AM on August 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
It's possible you have a tilted uterus; this is an extremely common variation that can cause pain and frustration when inserting tampons. You may need to angle the tampon toward your belly, and perhaps to the left/right, rather than toward the small of your back.
posted by toastedcheese at 9:55 AM on August 12, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by toastedcheese at 9:55 AM on August 12, 2021 [7 favorites]
I've re-read your question and I have another thought which may not be obvious.
The order of operations is you hold the applicator in the middle at the spot between the top half and the bottom plunger half. Then you place the applicator at the entrance to your vagina. Then you slide the first half of applicator all the way in (may need to very gently wiggle about a bit as you go). All the way in to the hilt, if that makes sense, so that now it's your fingers that are at the entrance to your vagina. And only then do you push the applicator plunger to deploy the tampon into its correct spot. Then you pull the applicator out, leaving the tampon behind.
posted by phunniemee at 10:00 AM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
The order of operations is you hold the applicator in the middle at the spot between the top half and the bottom plunger half. Then you place the applicator at the entrance to your vagina. Then you slide the first half of applicator all the way in (may need to very gently wiggle about a bit as you go). All the way in to the hilt, if that makes sense, so that now it's your fingers that are at the entrance to your vagina. And only then do you push the applicator plunger to deploy the tampon into its correct spot. Then you pull the applicator out, leaving the tampon behind.
posted by phunniemee at 10:00 AM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
Seconding that it's mostly all about the angle, so don't try brute forcing anything. If it hurts or you feel it can't go any further, try tilting the tampon or your hips at different angles until you find the one that makes it work easily. (It gets much easier after the first few times - you'll know how to do it automatically.)
posted by trig at 10:00 AM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by trig at 10:00 AM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
Oh my. So many interesting instructions. I wasn't brave enough to use tampons untl my hymen was broken, and it was still often difficult in the early days, because you have to tilt it backwards - imagine your index finger upright and then move the tip towards you about 30 degrees.
And the other thing, the more you try, the dryer you get. I would suggest a small sex toy with lube and a mirror so you know what's going on down there (and please, don't feel embarassed - I know what it feels like but I don't know what my clitoris + hood looks like - and it was sheer luck during my first sexual experience that I managed to direct his penis in the right direction - both quite smart people without a clue, and if at any stage you're considering sex as a method of removing your hymen, if indeed you still have it - don't believe the romance books that say oh a slight sting and then multiple orgasms. Phhhht. I was trying so hard not to cry, though he was quick - I mean you're tearing a bit of flesh.
posted by b33j at 10:09 AM on August 12, 2021
And the other thing, the more you try, the dryer you get. I would suggest a small sex toy with lube and a mirror so you know what's going on down there (and please, don't feel embarassed - I know what it feels like but I don't know what my clitoris + hood looks like - and it was sheer luck during my first sexual experience that I managed to direct his penis in the right direction - both quite smart people without a clue, and if at any stage you're considering sex as a method of removing your hymen, if indeed you still have it - don't believe the romance books that say oh a slight sting and then multiple orgasms. Phhhht. I was trying so hard not to cry, though he was quick - I mean you're tearing a bit of flesh.
posted by b33j at 10:09 AM on August 12, 2021
I had to use actual lubricant the first several tries so I second trying that.
posted by sm1tten at 10:23 AM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by sm1tten at 10:23 AM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
I was trying so hard not to cry, though he was quick - I mean you're tearing a bit of flesh.
This is outdated information and entirely unnecessary.
If you fall within the big part of the bell curve with your vaginal anatomy, the hymen will stretch. If you're an outlier and have a hymen that is quite thick or has only a very small opening, you can get a surgically assisted hymenotomy from a medical professional.
Full feature use of a vagina simply does not require sexual pain or violence.
posted by phunniemee at 10:27 AM on August 12, 2021 [19 favorites]
This is outdated information and entirely unnecessary.
If you fall within the big part of the bell curve with your vaginal anatomy, the hymen will stretch. If you're an outlier and have a hymen that is quite thick or has only a very small opening, you can get a surgically assisted hymenotomy from a medical professional.
Full feature use of a vagina simply does not require sexual pain or violence.
posted by phunniemee at 10:27 AM on August 12, 2021 [19 favorites]
When I started wearing tampons, I found ob, which is an applicator-free brand, to be much easier to figure out placement with than applicator tampons (which I never managed to get up far enough at first). It does require a certain level of comfort reaching inside yourself, but it's easier to feel if you're doing it right because your hand is up there with the tampon instead of the applicator. Plus, ob is a really effective brand as far as things like leaks. So I nth that suggestion.
But also, there's absolutely no shame in talking to a primary care doctor or gynecologist to get assistance with this if you're struggling with it yourself - it's always possible that there's something unusual about your anatomy that would be hard to know without an outside observer. I'm sure you wouldn't be the first to ask, and it's well within their wheelhouse to help with.
posted by mosst at 10:38 AM on August 12, 2021 [3 favorites]
But also, there's absolutely no shame in talking to a primary care doctor or gynecologist to get assistance with this if you're struggling with it yourself - it's always possible that there's something unusual about your anatomy that would be hard to know without an outside observer. I'm sure you wouldn't be the first to ask, and it's well within their wheelhouse to help with.
posted by mosst at 10:38 AM on August 12, 2021 [3 favorites]
I think a lot of people are jumping to conclusions that there is something unusual going on with your anatomy when it seems to me more that you don't like touching or putting anything inside of your vagina. If you typically don't like/don't want anything in your vagina, I don't see a compelling reason to force yourself to use tampons. If your periods are very heavy and maxi pads aren't doing the trick (I think pads are underrated) you could look into going on birth control, which in my experience eventually greatly reduces your flow. Whatever you decide to do, it's all good.
posted by cakelite at 10:56 AM on August 12, 2021 [10 favorites]
posted by cakelite at 10:56 AM on August 12, 2021 [10 favorites]
Contra many people here, I found the applicator ones easier to use (I was a late starter), but you want to start with the slims, for sure. The "waddle" feeling definitely means you're not getting it high enough (far enough inside and you basically can't feel it, because there are no nerves there, but that can cause a slightly unnerving "losing it up there!" feeling).
It's worth using a "toy" just to get used to insertion and explore what it's like up there. You absolutely don't have to think of it as a sexual thing. There are a number these days that are made of silicone and are just abstract shapes in chill colors. Tantus's small Silk is barely bigger around than a woman's finger. Practice makes perfect.
posted by praemunire at 10:56 AM on August 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
It's worth using a "toy" just to get used to insertion and explore what it's like up there. You absolutely don't have to think of it as a sexual thing. There are a number these days that are made of silicone and are just abstract shapes in chill colors. Tantus's small Silk is barely bigger around than a woman's finger. Practice makes perfect.
posted by praemunire at 10:56 AM on August 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
(But, on preview, what cakelite said, too. Tampons have their conveniences but plenty of women just use pads.)
posted by praemunire at 10:57 AM on August 12, 2021
posted by praemunire at 10:57 AM on August 12, 2021
I also found tampons easier to insert without an applicator. There were fewer moving parts, and it was easier to figure out what was going on.
But unlike everyone else (apparently), I actually found the cup to be a lot more comfortable than tampons. Tampons irritate my vaginal walls. Silicon or rubber or whatever it was, not so much!
But now I'm back to just using (washable) pads because I just don't bleed enough to make tampons or cups worth the bother.
What I would suggest: Did you feel comfortable wearing a mask the first time you put one on at the start of the pandemic? How about the second? If you're committed to tampons, consider waddling about like a penguin for a while and see if you get used to it.
posted by aniola at 11:13 AM on August 12, 2021
But unlike everyone else (apparently), I actually found the cup to be a lot more comfortable than tampons. Tampons irritate my vaginal walls. Silicon or rubber or whatever it was, not so much!
But now I'm back to just using (washable) pads because I just don't bleed enough to make tampons or cups worth the bother.
What I would suggest: Did you feel comfortable wearing a mask the first time you put one on at the start of the pandemic? How about the second? If you're committed to tampons, consider waddling about like a penguin for a while and see if you get used to it.
posted by aniola at 11:13 AM on August 12, 2021
One thing I’m not seeing here: hold your inner labia open with your fingers (of the hand not holding the tampon). It may give you a better sense of direction. Aim the tampon towards the small of your back.
If you’re using a mirror it’s completely normal not to see a “hole”; after all, the walls of your vagina normally touch, that’s basically what holds the tampon in.
posted by Hypatia at 11:15 AM on August 12, 2021 [4 favorites]
If you’re using a mirror it’s completely normal not to see a “hole”; after all, the walls of your vagina normally touch, that’s basically what holds the tampon in.
posted by Hypatia at 11:15 AM on August 12, 2021 [4 favorites]
I loathe tampons even after getting OBs in the right place (you'll know it's the right place because you no longer feel like you've got a diaper stuffed up there). I suggest lube. Blood isn't as lubricating as it seems like it should be.
Never managed to get applicators to work, and uh, I don't have any problems putting anything else up there in other contexts.
My theory is that I hate the intensely dry feeling of the OB, even if at peak flow, so I just don't use tampons.
If I'm swimming (mostly outdoors, so clarity of water may make this infeasible) I go swimming and run for the bathroom immediately after. Other than that, I haven't found I miss tampons.
I tried a cup and really liked it (much to my surprise!) after I cut the 'stem' short enough. But the pressure from the cup on my vaginal muscles gave me cramps, so you may find cups work fine even if tampons don't.
Embrace the cotton pony! ;)
posted by esoteric things at 11:30 AM on August 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
Never managed to get applicators to work, and uh, I don't have any problems putting anything else up there in other contexts.
My theory is that I hate the intensely dry feeling of the OB, even if at peak flow, so I just don't use tampons.
If I'm swimming (mostly outdoors, so clarity of water may make this infeasible) I go swimming and run for the bathroom immediately after. Other than that, I haven't found I miss tampons.
I tried a cup and really liked it (much to my surprise!) after I cut the 'stem' short enough. But the pressure from the cup on my vaginal muscles gave me cramps, so you may find cups work fine even if tampons don't.
Embrace the cotton pony! ;)
posted by esoteric things at 11:30 AM on August 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
Nthing non applicator tampons and lube. I like the idea of a multi size pack so you can practice with the smallest size. I find them much easier to position. My theory is that you automatically make tiny directional adjustments when you use your finger as plunger to find the path of least resistance. And that’s the path that will get past those muscles to the point where tampons are not noticeable.
posted by koahiatamadl at 11:46 AM on August 12, 2021
posted by koahiatamadl at 11:46 AM on August 12, 2021
I think people above have given good advice about insertion; mostly my experience was having to try it a few times.
But a few more things that are related-- much domestic plumbing actually can't handle tampons or their applicators, no matter how much the packaging might claim it is flushable. So, uh, beware.
I eventually switched to a DivaCup which was indeed much more comfortable (and held a lot more flow too -- part of your issue may be heavy flow making you have to switch it out often enough to be irritating). I did switch after more than a decade with tampons though so I don't know if it would have helped my initial learning curve for insertion.
That having been said the best switch I made was getting a Mirena IUD. I'm on my second one, and consequently I haven't had a period in almost 9 years. It's fantastic. (Getting it inserted was really extremely painful and unpleasant-- but very briefly so. And completely and totally worth the 5 years of period-free and conception-free life afterwards).
posted by nat at 11:46 AM on August 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
But a few more things that are related-- much domestic plumbing actually can't handle tampons or their applicators, no matter how much the packaging might claim it is flushable. So, uh, beware.
I eventually switched to a DivaCup which was indeed much more comfortable (and held a lot more flow too -- part of your issue may be heavy flow making you have to switch it out often enough to be irritating). I did switch after more than a decade with tampons though so I don't know if it would have helped my initial learning curve for insertion.
That having been said the best switch I made was getting a Mirena IUD. I'm on my second one, and consequently I haven't had a period in almost 9 years. It's fantastic. (Getting it inserted was really extremely painful and unpleasant-- but very briefly so. And completely and totally worth the 5 years of period-free and conception-free life afterwards).
posted by nat at 11:46 AM on August 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
I think you should practice by sticking your finger in as far as it'll go (up to your knuckles). You'll notice there's a bit that seems "in the way" but if you experiment, you can navigate around it / nudge it aside. I'm guessing this is the bit blocking your tampon.
Buy tampons without applicators and push them inside just the way your finger went. The tampon should go deep enough that you can push most of your finger in there after it!
posted by Omnomnom at 12:25 PM on August 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
Buy tampons without applicators and push them inside just the way your finger went. The tampon should go deep enough that you can push most of your finger in there after it!
posted by Omnomnom at 12:25 PM on August 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
There are lots of great points and ideas here. Here’s one more I didn’t see mentioned: for me, inserting a tampon is MUCH easier near the start of my period than near the end. Maybe that will give you another variable to experiment with too.
posted by MangoNews at 12:26 PM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by MangoNews at 12:26 PM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
Firstly, I would also highly recommend scouting out your vagina by feel rather than visually. Ideally under non-stressful circumstances, and with additional lubrication if necessary.
It helps to have a mental picture of which way the vaginal canal is angled, and possibly how deep it is and where the cervix is located (but not everyone can comfortably feel inside up to where their cervix is, so don't worry if you can't). I didn't always know this stuff about my own body, but I became much more familiar with my insides when I started using a cup.
Secondly, as a counterpoint to the idea that cups are harder to use and/or more intrusive: tampons did not agree with me at all, so I gave up and used pads for years until I tried a cup and had a much more pleasant experience. They're very different to tampons. When I wear one I don't feel it at all.
Having said that, different people's vaginas are different shapes and sizes and angled differently, and I know that cups don't work well for everyone. And there is definitely still a learning curve to figure them out. So your mileage may very much vary -- this only a suggestion to keep options open.
posted by confluency at 12:27 PM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
It helps to have a mental picture of which way the vaginal canal is angled, and possibly how deep it is and where the cervix is located (but not everyone can comfortably feel inside up to where their cervix is, so don't worry if you can't). I didn't always know this stuff about my own body, but I became much more familiar with my insides when I started using a cup.
Secondly, as a counterpoint to the idea that cups are harder to use and/or more intrusive: tampons did not agree with me at all, so I gave up and used pads for years until I tried a cup and had a much more pleasant experience. They're very different to tampons. When I wear one I don't feel it at all.
Having said that, different people's vaginas are different shapes and sizes and angled differently, and I know that cups don't work well for everyone. And there is definitely still a learning curve to figure them out. So your mileage may very much vary -- this only a suggestion to keep options open.
posted by confluency at 12:27 PM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
Vaginas are generally angled toward your spine and slightly up. Not straight up towards your stomach. Also they can curve left or right. +1 to self exploration and inserting it enough. I have a high cervix so I would insert the applicator as far as I could, hold it there, then insert. The cervix is flexible so it can be pushed against.
posted by Crystalinne at 12:45 PM on August 12, 2021
posted by Crystalinne at 12:45 PM on August 12, 2021
I am 43 and have never really successfully used tampons. The only ones that have worked even a little for me are the ones with plastic applicators - I couldn't get ones with no applicators far enough, and somehow the cardboard ones I couldn't get to..... eject? the tampon. I learned much later in life, through pelvic floor therapy related to nerve damage from having babies, that my vagina is tilted in an unusual way that made it difficult to get them in the right spot.
I used pads for FOREVER until I used a cup. I had to go through a couple to find one that was comfortable but from the get go it was much better than tampons for me. Discs were also okay.
Now I mostly use ModiBod period underwear except on my heaviest days when I use a cup.
Hang in there. You'll get this :)
posted by dpx.mfx at 1:35 PM on August 12, 2021 [3 favorites]
I used pads for FOREVER until I used a cup. I had to go through a couple to find one that was comfortable but from the get go it was much better than tampons for me. Discs were also okay.
Now I mostly use ModiBod period underwear except on my heaviest days when I use a cup.
Hang in there. You'll get this :)
posted by dpx.mfx at 1:35 PM on August 12, 2021 [3 favorites]
I'm also someone who hates these stupid things but it's convenient for water based situations. I recommend taking an afternoon off, take a washcloth & clean it up & get a mirror so you can really see what's going on down there. Then it's key to lie down on your bed & try it that way with your legs in the air.
posted by bleep at 1:40 PM on August 12, 2021
posted by bleep at 1:40 PM on August 12, 2021
I was a late tampon adopter (I had pelvic floor dysfunction and had trouble with insertion). My gynecologist suggested that I sort of push against the tampon with my muscles instead of trying to relax enough, which helped quite a bit. Just something to try if you've not been successful relaxing. You'll get there, it just takes some practice and everyone is different.
posted by zoetrope at 1:46 PM on August 12, 2021
posted by zoetrope at 1:46 PM on August 12, 2021
I found plastic applicators much easier to insert than the ones with no applicators or cardboard applicators - seems like the cardboard applicators and the ones without applicators always started absorbing fluid on the way in and didn't move smoothly, like they'd start to swell before they were in place and sort of get stuck before they got far enough in to be comfy. Sacrifice a couple to practice, just to see how the applicator goes. Picture the first half of the applicator going inside, and then the bottom half pushes up to eject it up farther inside. Once it's past the pubic bone you shouldn't really feel it in there much. It will take some trial and error to figure out the best angle.
Or maybe you have an issue similar to this woman who wrote in to Scarleteen with a similar question. This would be a very reasonable thing to ask a GYN about. You could set up the appointment asking for a wellness checkup and then bring up your issue once you're there if that would be more comfortable. It's very possible that you're not doing anything wrong and there's just a bit of an anatomy issue that can be resolved with a quick doctor visit.
posted by beandip at 2:25 PM on August 12, 2021
Or maybe you have an issue similar to this woman who wrote in to Scarleteen with a similar question. This would be a very reasonable thing to ask a GYN about. You could set up the appointment asking for a wellness checkup and then bring up your issue once you're there if that would be more comfortable. It's very possible that you're not doing anything wrong and there's just a bit of an anatomy issue that can be resolved with a quick doctor visit.
posted by beandip at 2:25 PM on August 12, 2021
First things first:
I have tried all positions but the only one I can consistently jab into the right place is with one foot on the toilet.
That's not wrong. I'd been menstruating for many years before any other method worked for me. (Once I found the method that worked, I can't say I looked very hard elsewhere.) The one-foot-up on the tub/toilet seat method is definitely helpful, especially when you're new. It helps because you, as noted above, may be just slightly tilted one way or the other (so experiment with putting up either leg). For my first many years, that was the only way I could do it, and I needed two hands, one for positioning my nether regions "open" (which I later realized was mostly unnecessary) and the other for being able to plunge the applicator. Now, in my mid-50s, I can do the whole thing, with one hand, in the dark, half-asleep.
In addition to one leg up, you may want to (simultaneously) experiment with your posture. Bending slightly forward at the hips/waist may help you feel a bit less tense. It also may help you to tighten all of your muscles (basically, a Kegel), as if you were trying to stop a flow of urine, and then immediately relax all of your muscles just before you endeavor to slide-then-plunge. (It's a two-step process; more below.)
Also, I just checked a Tampax box and the illustrations, which used to be full-size are now smaller than dimes! It's unreadable/incomprehensible! No wonder it's hard to tell what's going on. This is an excellent little animated video — and look, the cartoon lady has one lifted! See? It's fine to do that, and matches the directions and pitfalls-to-avoid that I'd already written for you further down!
https://youtu.be/-P2nCzE2Bzg
BACKGROUND: When I was 12, I had the same situation you described. My mom took me to her OB/GYN who determined immediately that it wasn't an anatomical problem. Eventually, by luck, I found that I'd had the angle ALL WRONG for many, many attempts.
TROUBLESHOOTING: Yes, as everyone has said, if you can feel the tampon and feel penguin-y, it's definitely not in place, it's way too low. Once a tampon is properly in place, you shouldn't be able to feel it any more than you can feel your appendix or your liver.
I suspect you ate plunging the applicator WAY too soon.
The tampon has two parts, the part of the applicator that actually holds the tampon, and the push-plunger. They come together at the middle. The old cardboard kind had little rings to show you where to hold your fingers until it was time to plunge; the plastic kind (like the Pearl) have such skinny plungers, it's more obvious where the "bottom" of the non-plunger part is because the plungers are so skinny now. Hold that and manually slide the tampon all the way up into you (I know, this is part of your problem) until your fingers and only the very end part of the applicator that holds the tampon is at the edge of your body; only the plunger and string are completely outside of your body. If you can feel any more that that tiny that cups the very bottom of the tampon itself, it's not deep enough in you yet.
Hold the bottom-most part of the part that holds the tampon (the part at the very edge of your body) with your thumb and ring (or third) finger. Then, and only then, plunge with your index finger.
The string should be hanging out and the applicator should have sort of "popped" entirely into your hand, half the length it originally was as now the plunger is fully within the part that had been holding the tampon. And you shouldn't feel the tampon inside you.
It's 42 years later, but I truly remember that frustration I felt, wondering if I'd ever figure it all out. I have confidence that you will.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 2:34 PM on August 12, 2021 [4 favorites]
I have tried all positions but the only one I can consistently jab into the right place is with one foot on the toilet.
That's not wrong. I'd been menstruating for many years before any other method worked for me. (Once I found the method that worked, I can't say I looked very hard elsewhere.) The one-foot-up on the tub/toilet seat method is definitely helpful, especially when you're new. It helps because you, as noted above, may be just slightly tilted one way or the other (so experiment with putting up either leg). For my first many years, that was the only way I could do it, and I needed two hands, one for positioning my nether regions "open" (which I later realized was mostly unnecessary) and the other for being able to plunge the applicator. Now, in my mid-50s, I can do the whole thing, with one hand, in the dark, half-asleep.
In addition to one leg up, you may want to (simultaneously) experiment with your posture. Bending slightly forward at the hips/waist may help you feel a bit less tense. It also may help you to tighten all of your muscles (basically, a Kegel), as if you were trying to stop a flow of urine, and then immediately relax all of your muscles just before you endeavor to slide-then-plunge. (It's a two-step process; more below.)
Also, I just checked a Tampax box and the illustrations, which used to be full-size are now smaller than dimes! It's unreadable/incomprehensible! No wonder it's hard to tell what's going on. This is an excellent little animated video — and look, the cartoon lady has one lifted! See? It's fine to do that, and matches the directions and pitfalls-to-avoid that I'd already written for you further down!
https://youtu.be/-P2nCzE2Bzg
BACKGROUND: When I was 12, I had the same situation you described. My mom took me to her OB/GYN who determined immediately that it wasn't an anatomical problem. Eventually, by luck, I found that I'd had the angle ALL WRONG for many, many attempts.
TROUBLESHOOTING: Yes, as everyone has said, if you can feel the tampon and feel penguin-y, it's definitely not in place, it's way too low. Once a tampon is properly in place, you shouldn't be able to feel it any more than you can feel your appendix or your liver.
I suspect you ate plunging the applicator WAY too soon.
The tampon has two parts, the part of the applicator that actually holds the tampon, and the push-plunger. They come together at the middle. The old cardboard kind had little rings to show you where to hold your fingers until it was time to plunge; the plastic kind (like the Pearl) have such skinny plungers, it's more obvious where the "bottom" of the non-plunger part is because the plungers are so skinny now. Hold that and manually slide the tampon all the way up into you (I know, this is part of your problem) until your fingers and only the very end part of the applicator that holds the tampon is at the edge of your body; only the plunger and string are completely outside of your body. If you can feel any more that that tiny that cups the very bottom of the tampon itself, it's not deep enough in you yet.
Hold the bottom-most part of the part that holds the tampon (the part at the very edge of your body) with your thumb and ring (or third) finger. Then, and only then, plunge with your index finger.
The string should be hanging out and the applicator should have sort of "popped" entirely into your hand, half the length it originally was as now the plunger is fully within the part that had been holding the tampon. And you shouldn't feel the tampon inside you.
It's 42 years later, but I truly remember that frustration I felt, wondering if I'd ever figure it all out. I have confidence that you will.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 2:34 PM on August 12, 2021 [4 favorites]
I had to do the one-foot-up for the longest time, too, and it still felt bad. Then a friend told me about how the vagina can be angled differently, and suggested I try different angles and also push it in a little more AFTER I had pushed the plunger in. That was the ticket - somehow I had never been getting it in far enough. It felt really different once I got it into place, but I definitely had to mentally prepare myself for pushing it in more - at the time it scared me a lot. I really wanted to use tampons though, so it was worth trying. I wish you the best!!
posted by fleecy socks at 3:32 PM on August 12, 2021
posted by fleecy socks at 3:32 PM on August 12, 2021
So much good advice in this thread! I wish I had had it when I was younger!
The only thing I haven’t seen mentioned so far that made a difference to me is regarding plunger technique. The first bunch of times I used one, I held the applicator in one hand with my thumb and middle finger on the “grip” part of the middle of the applicator, and then used my index finger to push the plunger. But, this made it very easy to accidentally withdraw the applicator while I was also pushing down the plunger—I was making a pinching motion, drawing my thumb and fingers all toward each other, instead of holding my thumb and middle finger flush against my skin to hold the applicator in place. I started inserting the applicator with one hand and depressing the plunger with the other, until I got more used to the process.
I think there was also probably something subconscious happening, where I thought I couldn’t possibly be meant to insert the tampon quite that deep. But once I figured out my anatomy a bit more—which I honestly didn’t do until after I had had penetrative sex—it was a lot easier to navigate. I know you’re not really interested in toys or masturbation, but in retrospect, I think I would have had an easier time coping with menstruation and tampons if I had spent more time exploring my internal anatomy in a sexual/pleasurable context on my own first. I tried to do the more clinical “exploring my vagina” thing, but it was always uncomfortable—not emotionally, but physically. Arousal makes a vagina easier to navigate! (Yes, lube exists, but arousal typically triggers a bunch of physical changes that make penetration easier.) And when I was more used to penetration in a pleasurable context, it was a lot easier to figure out the more utilitarian kinds.
Oh, one other thing I wanted to mention is the idea that you won’t feel the tampon if it is in the right spot. This has actually never been true for me (and was something that also made it hard for me to determine if I had one situated correctly or not, since I could always feel it no matter what). It’s not that a tampon hurts or is uncomfortable, but I absolutely know it’s there. If I feel the “waddling” feeling I know it’s too low, but being able to feel it all doesn’t necessarily indicate positioning failure. You might just be more sensitive than most.
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 4:25 PM on August 12, 2021
The only thing I haven’t seen mentioned so far that made a difference to me is regarding plunger technique. The first bunch of times I used one, I held the applicator in one hand with my thumb and middle finger on the “grip” part of the middle of the applicator, and then used my index finger to push the plunger. But, this made it very easy to accidentally withdraw the applicator while I was also pushing down the plunger—I was making a pinching motion, drawing my thumb and fingers all toward each other, instead of holding my thumb and middle finger flush against my skin to hold the applicator in place. I started inserting the applicator with one hand and depressing the plunger with the other, until I got more used to the process.
I think there was also probably something subconscious happening, where I thought I couldn’t possibly be meant to insert the tampon quite that deep. But once I figured out my anatomy a bit more—which I honestly didn’t do until after I had had penetrative sex—it was a lot easier to navigate. I know you’re not really interested in toys or masturbation, but in retrospect, I think I would have had an easier time coping with menstruation and tampons if I had spent more time exploring my internal anatomy in a sexual/pleasurable context on my own first. I tried to do the more clinical “exploring my vagina” thing, but it was always uncomfortable—not emotionally, but physically. Arousal makes a vagina easier to navigate! (Yes, lube exists, but arousal typically triggers a bunch of physical changes that make penetration easier.) And when I was more used to penetration in a pleasurable context, it was a lot easier to figure out the more utilitarian kinds.
Oh, one other thing I wanted to mention is the idea that you won’t feel the tampon if it is in the right spot. This has actually never been true for me (and was something that also made it hard for me to determine if I had one situated correctly or not, since I could always feel it no matter what). It’s not that a tampon hurts or is uncomfortable, but I absolutely know it’s there. If I feel the “waddling” feeling I know it’s too low, but being able to feel it all doesn’t necessarily indicate positioning failure. You might just be more sensitive than most.
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 4:25 PM on August 12, 2021
I had almost forgotten cardboard applicators exist. They’re horrible. The OB ones are obviously the better choice for the environment, but there’s too much friction for me to get the comfortably in place. Plastic is by far the easiest insertion for me.
posted by HotToddy at 4:32 PM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by HotToddy at 4:32 PM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
I'm 38 & still use one foot up on the toilet, it's the most consistent way for me! Nth-ing the other commenters who've said that non-applicator tampons are easier to get in the right place, because you have a better sense of where they're going. I didn't first try them until maybe 4 or 5 years ago and I'm definitely not going back to applicators! And also nth-ing the commenters who've brought up the angle youre inserting at - when I insert tampons, they definitely need to be angled back (towards my spine). Trying to insert them straight upwards doesn't work.
posted by augustimagination at 5:11 PM on August 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by augustimagination at 5:11 PM on August 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
I didn't read this mentioned in any of the answers already, but it could be helpful to wait until your period stops and try inserting a tampon with lube when you aren't actually bleeding. This way you can use your mirror to actually see what is going on down there without a bunch of blood. I know that doesn't help you in the here and now, but it would help you for next time. I'm pretty sure that's how I learned many moons ago. It's also good to get familiar with your own anatomy. I embarrassingly did not know the clitoris was not the same as where your pee comes out until in my 30s.
posted by DEiBnL13 at 5:34 PM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by DEiBnL13 at 5:34 PM on August 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
I love tampons and found them to be life-changing because they give you so much more freedom. As a teen, I really wanted to use tampons so I wouldn't have to miss out on swimming. I tried, but couldn't figure it out because I didn't know what went where. It wasn't until my first sexual experience that I figured things out. In retrospect, I wish I had just gone to the gynecologist to have them teach me so I wouldn't have had to wait so long to start using them. With that said, here are my tips:
- Go ahead and insert your finger to find out exactly where your vagina is and what the angle is - vagina's are pretty tough, so don't worry about causing any damage.
- Remember that the vagina angles sort of toward the small of your back (ie, 45° angle) rather than straight up.
- I prefer applicators because they seem to go in more smoothly.
- Sitting on the toilet works best for me.
- Hold on the the applicator with your fingers at the very top near the plunger, and insert the applicator all the way until it reaches your fingers.
- Press on the plunger.
You might even consider adding some lubrication to the plunger before you insert it.
posted by SageTrail at 5:46 PM on August 12, 2021
- Go ahead and insert your finger to find out exactly where your vagina is and what the angle is - vagina's are pretty tough, so don't worry about causing any damage.
- Remember that the vagina angles sort of toward the small of your back (ie, 45° angle) rather than straight up.
- I prefer applicators because they seem to go in more smoothly.
- Sitting on the toilet works best for me.
- Hold on the the applicator with your fingers at the very top near the plunger, and insert the applicator all the way until it reaches your fingers.
- Press on the plunger.
You might even consider adding some lubrication to the plunger before you insert it.
posted by SageTrail at 5:46 PM on August 12, 2021
Absolutely bring this to your gynecologist - they can help! I was 15 and could not for the life of me figure this out (it turns out the meanest girl in your summer camp cabin yelling instructions through the bathroom door isn't much help). I was extremely embarrassed but my mom brought me to her gynecologist, who inserted a tampon for me. The approach felt WAY different than I had been expecting - and so much more comfortable, like, oh, of course that's the angle it should go in at! It's not weird at all to ask about this.
You've gotten lots of good tips about how deep you should insert the tampon before pushing in the applicator plunger. One weird tip (TM) I have is that sometimes, after I have fully inserted the top part of the applicator (the lip of the plastic applicator is right at the edge of my body, and only the plunger and string are outside), I do a kegel and grip the applicator inside me, and THEN push the plunger up. For some reason, this kegel action pulls the applicator inside me into the right angle, so that the only direction the inserted tampon can go once the plunger is inserted is the correct direction. Might be worth trying. Good luck!
posted by airplant at 9:17 PM on August 12, 2021
You've gotten lots of good tips about how deep you should insert the tampon before pushing in the applicator plunger. One weird tip (TM) I have is that sometimes, after I have fully inserted the top part of the applicator (the lip of the plastic applicator is right at the edge of my body, and only the plunger and string are outside), I do a kegel and grip the applicator inside me, and THEN push the plunger up. For some reason, this kegel action pulls the applicator inside me into the right angle, so that the only direction the inserted tampon can go once the plunger is inserted is the correct direction. Might be worth trying. Good luck!
posted by airplant at 9:17 PM on August 12, 2021
I'm here to echo castlebravo on two points:
1) If not being able to insert things into your vagina is really bothering you, or you keep failing with the tampon, you should talk to a pelvic floor physical therapist! I had a RAGING case of vaginismus for, like, 15 years, and my PFPT helped me through it. I know many other people who have had wonderful experiences with PFPTs. Just something to think about!
2) As my PFPT explained, your vagina has lots of muscles around the opening. She said to picture a beer bottle -- the first few inches are very narrow and tight, and then suddenly it just widens out. When I'm inserting something (which I'm STILL amazed I can do, even though it's been 10+ years since PT), I can always feel when the object gets past the tight point and then sails into the wider part beyond. You really do need to get the tampon past that first bit in order for it to be in the right place.
Will also echo that plastic/smooth applicators are WAY better than cardboard; I'd suggest the smallest version of the Tampax "Pearl" brand as a great starter tampon. Also, I always had the best luck inserting while I was sitting on the toilet. (I'm now on 24/7 birth control, so I blissfully don't have to worry about this anymore.)
posted by leftover_scrabble_rack at 10:32 AM on August 13, 2021
1) If not being able to insert things into your vagina is really bothering you, or you keep failing with the tampon, you should talk to a pelvic floor physical therapist! I had a RAGING case of vaginismus for, like, 15 years, and my PFPT helped me through it. I know many other people who have had wonderful experiences with PFPTs. Just something to think about!
2) As my PFPT explained, your vagina has lots of muscles around the opening. She said to picture a beer bottle -- the first few inches are very narrow and tight, and then suddenly it just widens out. When I'm inserting something (which I'm STILL amazed I can do, even though it's been 10+ years since PT), I can always feel when the object gets past the tight point and then sails into the wider part beyond. You really do need to get the tampon past that first bit in order for it to be in the right place.
Will also echo that plastic/smooth applicators are WAY better than cardboard; I'd suggest the smallest version of the Tampax "Pearl" brand as a great starter tampon. Also, I always had the best luck inserting while I was sitting on the toilet. (I'm now on 24/7 birth control, so I blissfully don't have to worry about this anymore.)
posted by leftover_scrabble_rack at 10:32 AM on August 13, 2021
Go ahead and insert your finger to find out exactly where your vagina is and what the angle is - vagina's are pretty tough, so don't worry about causing any damage.
Cut your fingernails first.
posted by bendy at 11:13 PM on August 14, 2021
Cut your fingernails first.
posted by bendy at 11:13 PM on August 14, 2021
I have many years of successful tampon experience, and have trouble getting Tampax in comfortably. I think they're longer than other tampons. I suggest trying other brands, any other brand. My personal fave is U by Kotex.
posted by Mavri at 8:17 AM on August 16, 2021
posted by Mavri at 8:17 AM on August 16, 2021
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(Also, yeah, cups are way bigger and more intrusive, probably not going to help.)
posted by restless_nomad at 9:26 AM on August 12, 2021 [3 favorites]