Safe use of Tampons

Getting Ready

Inserting a tampon with applicator can be intimidating. But so is taking the training wheels off your bike! You got through that, right? Here’s some help learning how to insert a tampon with applicator.

First, make sure to wash your hands well. All clean? Unwrap your tampon with applicator and keep reading. We’ll walk you through how to insert a tampon.

Finding A Comfortable Position

Many girls have found that standing with their knees slightly bent is a very comfortable and easy position for inserting a tampon. You can also try putting a foot up on the tub or toilet seat.

How To Insert A Tampon?

Ready? Take a deep breath and relax. Hold the tampon applicator securely by the anti-slip grip with your thumb and middle finger. Not sure where to hold it? Look for little grip marks.

With the removal string hanging down, insert the outer tube of the tampon applicator into your vagina at a slight upward angle, toward the small of your back. Gently slide the applicator all the way into your vagina, until your fingers touch your body.

With your index finger, push the inner tube all the way into the outer tube until the ends of both tubes are even; this slides the tampon out of the applicator and into the right place in your vagina.

Removing The Applicator

Firmly hold on to the outer tube and pull it out gently, leaving the tampon inside your body and the string hanging outside ready for removal. Probably at some point you’ve wondered, “do tampons hurt?” If your tampon is inserted correctly, you shouldn’t even feel it. If it does feel uncomfortable, it’s probably not in far enough. The uncomfortable feeling comes from the tampon rubbing against the muscles at the opening of the vagina. If this happens, pull it out and try again with a new one, making sure to insert it further into your body. It’s normal for beginners who aren’t sure how to insert a tampon to try a few times before getting it right, so don’t worry!

Hey, You Now Know How To Insert A Tampon! Let's Get Rid Of The Rest.

Can you flush tampons? That would be a negative. Don’t flush the tampon applicator or wrapper and you really shouldn’t flush the actual tampon either. After you’ve finished inserting a tampon, you can place the used applicator back into the wrapper and throw it out in the bin.

Time To Remove Your Tampon

Knowing when to remove or change your tampon isn’t an exact science. Every girl and every flow is different. That said, you should never leave your tampon in for more than 8 hours. So if you’re ready to climb under the covers and plan to sleep very late after inserting a tampon, pads are probably the best choice.

When you’re ready for a fresh tampon, changing it is super easy. Just head to the bathroom and wash your hands. Once you’re in position, simply pull on the string and voilà! Your tampon should slide right out (remember – don’t flush it!).

If you just started using tampons, take a look at your tampon after you’ve removed it. Is there still some white showing? You might want to consider using a lower absorbency tampon next time. Have you leaked through to your underwear? Maybe you need a higher absorbency. Finding the best tampon with applicator and perfect absorbency for you can be tricky at first, but you’ll get the hang of it.