I see so many girls worrying way too much over tampons, believing they can get lost inside of you or they worry about Toxic Shock Syndrome. If tampons were that horrific, they wouldn't be used by millions of women around the world! Tampons are one of the best things invented for women and should be appreciated more! They're a lot more hygienic and they make you feel like you're not on your period, I sometimes forget I'm on my period when I use them!
Being a tampon fan and user since the day I started my period, it's disappointing seeing women too scared to use them or not using them correctly so they don't appreciate their awesomeness! I've been using tampons for years and have never had a problem with them. I know everyone's different but I hope this take will make you concerned ladies reconsider using tampons.
Can you lose a tampon inside you?
This is the most ridiculous, yet most popular and believed myth over tampons - it's simply not true. Every woman should know her own anatomy because if they did, they would never believe such a thing! Your vagina is only 3-4 inches long until it "shuts off" at the cervix, which is usually tightly shut (this is the part which dilates when you give birth). The string of a tampon is about 6 inches long (depending on brand). If you've used a tampon before, you can feel that it stops at a certain point; that point is the cervix (shown in diagram). Even if you somehow managed to push a tampon into your cervix, it wouldn't get lost amongst your organs, it would end up in
You can't lose the string either, it has nowhere to go! The string is threaded into the tampon so it's really unlikely that it'd detach (it's never happened to me or anyone I know). You can find out for yourself how tough they are by trying to tear out the string of a tampon. It's not the end of the world if the string does detach, you may be able to remove it yourself but if not, you can go to the hospital to have it removed and it's nothing to be ashamed of.
I would recommend that you line the string with your underwear to make sure it stays there and you know where it is when you come to remove the tampon.
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)
Vaginas are full of bacteria and is the perfect place for bad bacteria to grow so it's not surprising that bacterial infections can arise. I'm sure you've seen this name on the packaging of tampons and it can be concerning when it says that TSS can be fatal, but it's extremely rare and is usually preventable. TSS is a bacterial infection that very few are susceptible to and can be caused if you leave a tampon in for longer than necessary. However, if it says to not go over 4-8 hours with a tampon, don't think you're going to die if you left it in for 8 and a half hours. A few times when I was light, I left the tampon in for up to 12 hours. If you wear them to bed, it can be unavoidable to time how long the tampon is in. The tampon companies have to state what TSS is for legal reasons and it doesn't mean it will definitely happen to you so don't be too concerned. If you're still unsure and it's your first time, look out for any symptoms stated in the link provided. If you suddenly don't feel too good after putting a tampon in, remove the tampon and go to the hospital just to be safe. TSS isn't fatal if caught and treated early.
Swimming
You can swim with a tampon in and there aren't certain types of tampons for this; any tampon will do. If you're worried about blood/tampon loss when in the pool, it's unlikely because the vagina closes up when it comes in contact with water, making the tampon more secure and preventing anything entering or leaving. Don't worry, your tampon won't get stuck! When you leave the water, the vaginal walls will relax and return to normal and you will always be able to remove the tampon.
Applicators
You can get tampons with or without applicators. Tampons without applicators are inserted with the index finger. For some, this isn't appealing and some may find it very
How Do You Use a Tampon?
Women have their unique ways of inserting a tampon easily which they find through trial and error. You can do it sitting on the toilet or you can insert them standing up with one leg resting on the toilet seat. It helps to spread your legs slightly. The most common mistake is trying to push a tampon vertically but as seen in the first diagram, your vagina actually goes diagonally towards your lower spine. This can be fairly confusing and frustrating the first time, so I've found an alternative way! Insert the tampon (with an applicator) at an angle towards your spine, but only put about half of it in, then loosen your grip slightly on the tampon. It will position itself into the right direction, then you can continue inserting the tampon in that direction. Over time, you'll get a good idea of what the right angle is.
When inserting a tampon, you should push it in until you feel it gently hit the cervix. Doing so will make sure you don't feel it inside you when you're done. If you can feel the tampon, it means you haven't pushed it up far enough. You can either push
The most important thing is to stay calm, pay attention to your body and take it slow to avoid discomfort. Packs of tampons usually come with precise instructions but if not, you can always search the internet or ask a trusted female tampon user for help.
Do Your Research
Many of these misconceptions and myths of tampons develop from having no knowledge of women's own vaginal anatomy and tampons. If you're unsure of something, you should do your research and be able to understand your own anatomy first. Once you know that and with some practice, tampon use becomes a doddle!
Most Helpful Girl