About tampon
Tampons, like pads, are products used to absorb menstrual flow. It is a soft cotton product – pressed together to form a cylinder-like shape, so that tampons can be easily inserted into the opening of the vagina. Each tampon absorbs the menstrual flow, or blood during limited period and the absorbed tampon should be taken off from the vagina. Tampons produced in different sizes and absorbencies. Each person should select tampon sizes according to the size of vagina and volume of menstrual or blood flow. You can find tampons in most convenience stores or supermarkets – Tampax, o.b., Playtex, Playtex Sport.
Tampons
How insert tampon – Guide
Many girls asking questions about tampons: How should I insert a tampon? How to use a tampon? How correctly insert a tampon? I cannot insert a tampon?! Tampon use guidelines? Is it safe to use a tampon? What are main steps for tampon insertion?
| Steps | Description |
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First wash your hands and unwrap your tampon. Stand or sit in a comfortable position. Some women prefer to place one leg on the toilet seat or tub, or bath while others prefer to squat down. Some women find it easiest to crouch down with knees apart. Hold the applicator (where the ridges are on the tube) with the thumb and middle finger of one hand. Hold the middle of the tampon, at the spot where the smaller, inner tube inserts into the larger, outer tube. Make sure the string is visible and pointing away from your body. |
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Using second hand spread the folds of skin around the vaginal opening. Place the tip of the outer tube of the tampon applicator (not the end with the cord hanging out) in the opening of your vagina. |
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The vagina slants upwards towards your back. So, gently slide the applicator in an upwards and backwards direction. (It sometimes helps to slightly rotate or twist the applicator from side to side). Stop pushing when your thumb and finger touch your body. |
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Still holding the applicator on the ridges, push the bottom of the small tube completely up inside the big tube. This slides the tampon out of the applicator and into your vagina. |
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Hold tightly onto the two tubes that are now one inside the other. Gently take out both applicator tubes together. (Wrap them in tissue and put them in a bin. The cardboard tubes can also be flushed away.) You’ll see that the cord of the tampon is now hanging down outside your body. Make sure that the string hangs outside of the vaginal opening. Later, when you are ready to remove the tampon, hold the string and gently pull it downward until the entire tampon is out. |
What if even with above mentioned instructions you still don’t succeed inserting tampon?
Don’t be nervous while using a tampon for the first time. Many girls and women feel pretty nervous for the first time. It is normal to feel nervous, especially if you have any unanswered questions about tampons. Many girls are concerned because they don’t know enough how to insert a tampon, did they choose the correct size of the tampon, could hymen be obstacle (for virgin girls), is it safe to use tampon, how often tampon should be changed?
Hopefully the following Tips and Warnings will answer your questions, address your worries, and make your first experience with tampons a positive one!
If you did not succeed first time – be relaxed and try few more times with small amount of petroleum jelly
If you did not succeed after several times – visit your doctor. Some girls have very small opening in the hymen (2% of teens)
If you feel the size of tampon is big for you – choose the smaller size. In general buy tampons that are appropriate to your menstrual flow: light, average or heavy
If you use tampons regularly -Change your tampons at least every 4-8 hours or more often if necessary
If you are worried about tampon side effect – wear a minipad or panty liner (not a tampon) during the lightest days of your period
If you need more information about tampons – read instructions which you can find in tampon packages
If you feel your tampon – remove it. You shouldn’t be able to feel the tampon in your body. If you can, you may not have inserted it far enough. Remove it and try again with a new tampon. Try inserting the applicator a little further into the vagina before pushing the inner tube of the applicator into the outer tube
If you don’t know what to do with used tampon – Wrap the applicator in toilet paper and throw it away. Do not flush it down the toilet.
To avoid Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), do not keep the same tampon in for more than 8 hours.
