How do I insert a tampon for the first time? Will it hurt, and what should I expect?
—Kylie, 19, she/her
I could give you a tutorial on how to insert a tampon…but luckily, every brand of tampon comes with a detailed step-by-step guide on how to use their product. Plus, each tampon is slightly different in terms of shape and applicator. So instead, I’ll just offer a few pieces of advice that will come in handy while you’re practicing:
If you’re inserting it correctly, it really shouldn’t hurt. There might be a bit of discomfort if you’ve never had anything up there, or if your hymen is still intact. But once you’ve practiced a few times, you’ll realize that if the tampon is in the correct spot, you shouldn’t be able to feel it at all.
A tampon can’t get lost up there. The vaginal canal ends at the cervix, an inch-long donut-shaped organ that has a tiny hole in the middle—a hole that’s much, much tinier than a tampon. And a tampon does have to be up pretty far into your vagina in order for your muscles to properly hold it in place. So don’t fret about it going “too deep”!
Never practice unless you actually have your period. A rookie mistake is to try to insert a tampon when you’re not bleeding. There’s not enough moisture in a non-menstruating person’s vagina to handle a highly absorbent piece of cotton, which means a dry tampon might irritate or even tear your sensitive inner tissue. Don’t do it!
Remember to change your tampon frequently. The key to tampon success is to change them every 4 to 6 hours and make sure you choose the right absorbency for your flow. Your tampon package may have really scary warnings about toxic shock syndrome (which is a serious but exceedingly rare disease whose cause is pretty poorly understood), but the main reason to cycle out those tampons promptly is comfort and hygiene. Nobody wants a sudden and unexpected leak all over their clothes! Just don’t change them too frequently, or else you’ll risk that same dry-tampon irritation I describe above.
You may need backup. Tampons are a wonderful invention, but they’re not foolproof! On heavier days, even the most expertly-inserted tampon may leak. So if you’re bleeding a lot that day, consider pairing your tampon with a pantiliner.
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