If you’re anything like me, your first time using tampons went a little something like this: you tore open your box of tampons your parents got you, unfolded the instructions pamphlet, and began to read. As you scanned through the complex & unclear diagrams, and the advice to “just breathe”, you felt the panic seeping in. Is this thing seriously supposed to go inside me? Is it going to hurt? Will it be uncomfortable? What if it gets stuck?! You ripped open the tampon wrapper and got into an awkward squat, repositioning as you tried to insert the tampon. You likely struggled a few times before finally getting it in, only to realize that when you began to walk around, it still felt super uncomfortable. That didn’t feel great, and hold on, did that go all the way in?
If this sounds like you, don’t worry – you’re not alone. We surveyed our community and discovered that 86% of respondents have also experienced discomfort when inserting tampons. But it shouldn’t be this way – you deserve to be able to comfortably use tampons. Of course, everyone’s body and experiences are different, and some may feel a tampon more than others, but the goal should be to make tampons as comfortable as possible for your body.
Whether you’re new to using tampons, you have a pelvic floor condition, or you experience vaginal dryness, there are many reasons why using a tampon could be uncomfortable, if not painful. In today’s blog, we’re diving into why your tampon may hurt and what you can do to create a smoother insertion process.
Learn more in this Marlow article, written by Nadia Ladak. Read more