Why does it hurt so much?

Question

I am 12 and I have my period, why does it always hurt to take a tampon out?

Answer 1

Tampon being removed before it is filled/wrong absorbency:
The most likely reason is because you are using absorbency too high for your menstrual flow and removing the tampon too early. If you use tampons, no matter if they are commercial, organic, sponge, homemade or soft tampons, you need to use the lightest absorbency possible for your flow throughout your period, which means constantly changing the absorbency throughout your period to suit your menstrual flow. Tampons need to be changed every 4 hours, they should not be worn to bed, they should not be worn when you are not bleeding, and they do not need to be changed every time you go to the bathroom.

Friction caused by the tampon against your vaginal walls:
Inside of your vagina is what is called mucosa or mucus membrane, mucosa in your vagina is similar to the mucosa inside your nose, eyes and mouth, and it is very much like skin however does not have a top protective layer so is more sensitive and delicate. In someone of your age it's even more sensitive as it is still developing, as such the friction from tampons can irritate it more, tampons absorb not just menstrual blood but also vaginal fluids that leave mucosa dry so prone to splitting, also commercial tampons such as Tampax contain chemicals to make them whiter and those chemicals can irritate your mucosa, also at your age you don't have the same antibodies if an infection occurs as a result of using tampons.

Tampons are bad for vaginal health:
Tampons themselves are not good for your vaginal health no matter your age because in absorbing your vaginal fluids and plugging your vagina it prevents the vaginas self-cleaning functions that help protect it by flushing out excess bacteria, some of the fibres from the tampon can also stay inside the vagina for bacteria to multiply upon. The tampons then encourage bacterial growth by giving bacteria a warm, moist, blood filled pores area to multiply upon, and if using commercial tampons these will excel bacterial growth due to synthetic materials, and because chemicals in the tampons can effect the pH of your vagina that in turn affects the balance of good and bad bacteria – this is why tampons are linked to vaginal infections, TSS, and problem periods.

Tampons expand, making them bigger when they come out:
Tampons expand, even when there is not enough blood to be absorbed by the tampon will still absorb moister including the vaginal fluids, so if you remove a tampon before it is due to be removed it may still have expanded making it much larger than it was when it was first put into your vagina, so making it more difficult to remove.

Tampons catching on your hymen:
If your hymen is in tact this may also make it difficult to remove tampons, the hymen breaking or stretching can be painful for some girls, where as for some girls there is no pain at all or the hymen breaking can even be pleasurable. If your hymen is in tact this may be what it causing you pain so you may want to wait until you are older to use internal menstrual options. If you don't know if your hymen is in tact you can look by sitting comfortably and using a mirror to look at your vulva (external part of your genitals) to see the vaginal opening. The hymen is different from girl/woman to girl/woman but usually if in tact it will look like a ring of flesh around the opening to your vagina; where as if broken it will look like flaps of skin around the vaginal opening.

It is really not a good idea for any women to use tampons, but at your age you are putting yourself at even greater risk, you may think you want to use tampons because it makes you mature, but what actually makes you mature is being able to care for your body and make an educated choice on what menstrual options you use.

There is no point in making yourself uncomfortable and putting yourself at risk just so you can use a tampon, particularly not when there are better options available than tampons, your periods should be positive things, not painful or inconvenient.

I would highly recommend you stick to pads such as cloth pads, organic pads or padded panties, or use free-flow methods for the time being, then when you are a little older and can better decide whether-or-not you should use internal menstrual options look at menstrual cups or softcups as these are far safer than tampons, as well as easy to use, more comfortable, hygienic and convenient.

Tampon absorbency;
http://womenshealth.about.com/od/periodfaqs/f/tamponabsorbenc.htm?terms=center+for+devices+and+radiological+health – Explanation of tampon sizes.
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content4/teen.tss.fda.html - absorbency and TSS risk.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampon - Wikipedia entry on tampons.

Tampon risks;
http://www.spotsite.org – Tampon health web site.
http://www.tamponalert.org.uk – Tampon alert.
http://www.frontiernet.net/%7Eruthb/Tampons.html - Tampons and endometriosis.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/features/tampons_003834.htm - Tampons at Netdoctor.

Information on the hymen;
http://www.healthystrokes.com/hymengallery.html - Hymen images.
http://www.the-clitoris.com/f_html/hymen.htm - Hymen information. http://www.scarleteen.com/body/female_anatomy.html - Female anatomy.

Different menstrual options;
http://www.natracare.com – Organic tampons and pads.
http://www.lunapads.com – Cloth pads and padded panties.
http://www.reddyspads.com – G-style/pad belts.
http://www.wen.org.uk/sanpro/reports/makeyourown_web.pdf - Homemade pads.
http://www.divacup.com – Silicone bell-shaped cups.
http://www.thekeeper.com – Rubber bell-shaped cups.
http://www.softcup.com – Softcups.

Answer 2

There could be a few reasons why you are experiencing pain.

The first is that you are not leaving the tampon in long enough or you are using one that is too absorbant for your flow.

You should not change your tampon more than every 4 hours unless you are bleeding though them. But again you do not want to leave it in too long either (no more than 8 hours) because of a small chance of a rare infection called Toxic Shock Syndrom.

Try stepping down on the absorbancy. If you are using Super, try Regular and if you are using Regular, try Junior.

The second thing that may be happening is that you are not relaxing your muscles enough to pull the tampon out smoothly. If you believe that it's going to hurt or you are very new to using tampons, you may be tensing up your vaginal muscles, which is making it difficult to remove the tampon. Try taking a few deep breaths and taking it slowly.

Another thing to you might want to do is to see exactly what angle you are pulling the tampon out at. If you are trying to pull it out straight down you may be experiencing resistance from the natural contors of your body. Try pulling it out at a slight angle. Pull the string angled toward your knees.

You are not too young to use tampons. It takes practice but once you get use to it, tampons will be all you'll want to use.

Answer 3

12 may be a bit young - however, there ARE tampons configured for young ones your age - ask the local pharmacist - also there are some brands that are lubricated and easier to insert.

Otherwise use pads until you mature more.

Answer 4

if it hurts taking a tampon out . ..the problem is your not leaving it in long enough. They have to be full to take them out for it not to hurt.

Answer 5

There is a scary hadith of Prophet(pbuh) I don't know the exact words but the hadith is that If a Muslim see an oppression and decides not to do anything about it, doesn't condemn the acts of the oppressor by his heart or by his speech have the lowest level of Emaan.

Answer 6

Sounds like you are taking it out too early. If it doesn't come out easily try leaving it in longer. If you are already leaving it in for 8 hours or are bleeding through you might want to consider using pads (I know they suck but it's better than being in pain right?).

Answer 7

well i'm 17 and i dont use tampoms.. maybe it hurts cuz ur too young to be using tampons i dk.. u should wait till ur 15 or something.. use pads better

Answer 8

NO TAMPONS AT 12........................

Answer 9

i found that.. dont worry it gets easier probably because your less scared of it hurting :) just dont think about it x

Answer 10

at your age i think its better to use pads instead of tampons.im a grown woman now i still use pads.