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Hi Heather,
So, I’ve had my period twice. The first time I just used pads but they’re kind of annoying, so I wanted to try a tampon for the first time. My mom told me to read the instructions inside the box, so I tried to do what they said. BIG PROBLEM. It hurt!
I tried so many times in different positions, but I would breakdown crying every time. My mom said there could be something wrong with me. Am I too small, or not ready? Or am I just not doing it right? And should putting a tampon in really hurt that bad? HELP!!!!
First things first: you need to relax, girl! Although I can’t say for sure (because I’m not your doctor), I doubt that there’s something wrong with you. Tampons seem so easy to use, but for a lot of girls, they really aren’t that easy. This is actually a totally normal situation, so no need to freak out just yet – especially since it sounds like you’ve only tried this a few times.
Are you a virgin? If so, that’s probably why you’re having a lot of trouble here. Your vagina isn’t used to having a foreign object in it, so it’s something your body has to adjust to. The other reason you’re probably having trouble is because you seem really nervous and stressed out about the whole issue. It sounds to me like you tried the first time, and it hurt – so obviously, you weren’t exactly thrilled about trying it again, and your body tensed up. That reaction is completely normal.
Annnnd relax... | Source: ShutterStock
But that’s exactly why it’s so important to remain calm and relaxed while attempting to inset a tampon. Feeling that nervous about doing it is going to make your body (and down there region) tense up. That’s going to make things tighter down there, and naturally, it’s going to hurt and cause you some pain and pressure.
Pick a time to try this when you’re feeling calm. Sit in a comfortable position with your legs spread wide, and try using a mirror so that you can see exactly what’s happening. Inset a small tampon (for the first time, you should try a light or regular one so that it’s not as difficult) very slowly. If you start to tense up, take a deep breath and calm yourself down again. If you get it in, you might feel a little pressure at first, but eventually you should get used to it. Give yourself a few times to try this – if it doesn’t work right away, don’t get frustrated. That’s only going to tense you up more.
If you’re feeling a really serious pain when trying to inset a tampon, go to a gynecologist. A doctor is the only one who can find out if there’s really something wrong going on. But before you do that, try just relaxing. You’ll be surprised to find out that will probably work.
take care,
heather
What’s on your mind? Heather can help! Send her your question at heather@gurl.com
The complete guide to your period options
I started my periods when I was 11 and I could not get the Tampon in no matter how hard I tried. I invested in a diva cup instead and I could get that in and after that it was real easy to put tampons in. If your in a lot of pain while inserting it feel around down there and if your really concerned then see a doctor
Well when I had my period, I used a tampon first and it went in really easy no pain or anything…. But everyone said it should hurt if you are a virgin and I am and it hasn’t ever hurt ever since??
I got my period at 13 and I am now 14 and I cannot get one in. I think it might be because I cant see what im doing and idk what angle its suppose to go in so I found this website and tryed what it said but I still cant. So now I am getting into complete panic mode because I am going on a cruise next month on the same week I usually get my period so I am soo scared for if ill be able to swim or not. I dont know what to do.
Iv’e been having my period for five years now. The first time i got it i tried to use a tampon and when i found the right hole, the tampon would not go in, and the more i tried, the more it hurt(badly). i have been using pads ever since and been miserable playing sports that i love. i would try again every now and then and it would be the same thing:pain. I am a virgin; which i thought was the reason why it was not working for me. then i heard that masturbating helped loosen things up down there. i tried that for a while and the next time i tried putting a tampon in it kinda worked a little better but there was still pain. i know that it is not in all the way because i can still feel it and it is very uncomfortable, i can barely walk. i don’t know wtf to do now but to keep using pads=(. and i feel like i’m the only one with this kind of problem.
You don’t have anything wrong with you. I was the Same way, I’m a virgin to. The reason it hurts is because the fabric of the tampon is rough. So, you should try using the tampons that have the plastic cover it doesn’t hurt, they should just slide in if they don’t I would suggest that you see a ginocalogist. I hope this helped
This is Weird Im a Guy O_O!
Haha well why read something bout tampons
Btw heather your a life savior love you
I’m not really sure. I’ve always found it easy to us tampons, and I’m very heavy! When I first used one, it was incredibly easy to use! I think it may have been that I have always done so much sport in my life! But I would definately recommend tampons, even if it hurts a little first time, thats no reason to not use them! They are just as effective, and quite a bit more private and less obvious to see in the clothes that you wear! And the more that you use them, the easier it gets to use them! Remeber that.
I’ve had my period for about a year but I’m still not able to use a tampon! I’ve tried countless times with my body totally relaxed and using a mini tampon in the heavy-flow time of my period. But it is so… dry. It just gets stuck because it’s dry. And hurts like six shades of hell if I keep going.
The first time I used one I was also in panicked mode so eventually. I got mostly in but it hurt really bad so it hurt to take out too so mom had to help me get it out but she didn’t have to touch me thank God! Awkward! All she did was.grad the string and lightly jerk but she only jerked because it was already half out. She said I have to wait a few years because I was too small
Hey, ummm…well….. I use pads all the time that I have my periods but I have never tryed tampons…..i feel really nerviouse when thinking about it and I bet concourse that I shouldnt be sticking something in natural up there….. I’m in school and because it is so heavy I have to have days of….which is not good…
Also I wanna now how long thevtampon can last until having to take it out …..
well i have tried a few times to i just started to use them, but you need to relax like try it a few times and then next time you get it just try it thats how i got mine to work i hope it works for you if you try it
it usually takes about 2-4 hours before u have 2 take the tampon out.
I never used tampons while i was at school, i think i started using tampons after i gave birth to my first child 8 years ago, i didnt have any problem with inserting them. i chose to use tampons because they are much more comfotable than pads, you can pop it in and dont have to worry about it, you dont even feel them, with pads you always know they are there and it is uncomfortable, i would never use a pad again, i sleep with a tampon in, i go to bed at 11pm, set my alarm for 3am, go to the toilet and change then go back to bed, im up at 7am to get kids to school, i dont mind getting up for 10 mins to change. i would definately reccommend tampons.
I only tried a tampon once. I got this care package thing for first time “period havers” and I’ve had my period a while before I got the package, but I wanted to see what was inside.
So it came with tampons and I decided to use one. Well…It hurt just a little for two reasons. My muscles were tense and I was on my second to last day of my cycle. So my flow was a little light and it wasn’t a smooth ride for the tampon. I learned it’s best to use them when there is a little more blood but not super heavy. But yeah I haven’t tried putting one in yet, but I will be trying again soon when my cycle comes back.
I really dont like tampons because they bug me but i cant use the normal size tampons. i usually get like playtex slender because they are skinnier than the normal ones. the only drawback is i can only find them in light and regular but i dont really need more so they work pretty good for me when im out of pads. i would just say use playtex slender.
The first time I used a tampon, I had difficulty getting it in as well. After ages of trying, I felt a sort of “pop” that hurt a little and made me bleed some non-period drops of blood. That was my hymen breaking, and once I cleared that it was easy.
Now, there are a lot of women who have “vaginismus” which is where the vaginal muscles are so tight that inserting anything is painful and/or impossible. It varies, with some women (like myself) able to use tampons and have sex but the sex is painful, to women who can’t even insert their littlest finger. This condition is treatable, but it takes time and not a lot of OB/GYNs understand it so it helps to do your research if you think you may be experiencing this.
That being said, I would take the advice already given and just take your time, relax, and try again. Don’t be afraid to use your fingers to explore your own anatomy so that you’re sure of what’s what and that you’re aiming at a comfortable angle (example: try inserting a tampon aimed back more towards your tailbone as opposed to straight up). A lot of women have difficulties with tampons, both the first time and many times afterwards. I eventually got used to tampons and used them for years, but I got sick of how they made me feel itchy and irritated and dried out, so in the last year I’ve swapped to a DivaCup. If you can’t get a tampon in, a DivaCup also won’t work…but once you DO get to the point where you can insert something, I highly recommend a DivaCup.
The first time I tried to use a tampon I was in panic mode, so I tried to calm myself down. When I had done that, I started to try and get the tampon in and realised that I must have pushed it in while I was trying to calm myself down.
i never had a problem when i started using tampons which was back when i first got my period i didnt like the feel of pads and i was still a virgin then.
I think that the reason that it worked so well is that i brought the smallest size i could which i think was libras minis
anyway keep trying there
I know a few women with children who hate using tampons because they’re too uncomfortable! So I doubt that anything is wrong with you! Yes, tampons are more convenient, but don’t stress yourself out over not being able to use them. That’s what pads are for!
Yeah, it is normal. When I first tried to use a tampon, I didn’t even ask my mom. I knew where she kept her tampons…. well they were of course by the pads that I usually used…. one day when I had my period I tried it. Nothing. I couldnt do it. I had a mirror and everything. Later that day I tried again, and I couldn’t get it in. So at midnight when everyone was sleeping, I tried again and finally I got the whole applicator in. But since I guess I didn’t read the instructions well enough, I ended up accidentally removing the little tube that pushes the tampon in, and so I had the tampon in the big tube down there. And I didn’t know if I did it right, and of course it didn’t, I found out it leaked like that. So I took it out and put on a pad. The next day I tried again and I actually read the instructions good this time. So the big tube wasn’t up there anymore with the tampon.
And yes, I did eventually tell my mom. Well…. actually I didn’t. This one time when we were staying in a hotel with a waterpark and I wanted to go swimming but I had my period. No worries, my mom didnt ever find out that I learned how to use a tampon myself because I “pretended” I didn’t use tampons and I just brought pads on that trip. So my mom goes out and buys a little pack of tampons (the plastic kind this time :] ) and gives them to me. And since I already knew how to use them (plus she already showed me before how to use them in a very similar situation but I couldn’t get it in [and that was before I learned to use a tampon myself]) I was pretty quick at it by then and just took a little extra time in the bathroom to make it seem like i was having trouble. And that’s my story
By the way, for beginners at using tampons I definetly recommend plastic applicators. They’re soooo easy to use and slide right in whereas cardboard is pretty difficult to get in sometimes.
My mom’s friend was never able to use tampons until she lost her virginity because her hymen was so thick! Definitely go to the doctor and see whats up.
This is pretty normal. The first time I had to wear a tampon it was because I was at school and all my friend had was a tampon. I had never masturbated back then so it took me forever to find the right place to put it in and when I did it hurt A TON and I bled a lot but after the first time it gets a lot easier.