Tampon Help?

Question

i wanna start using tampons (cuz pads arent good for sports) and i wanna know how do you put them in? pictures or websites would be good too.

thx

Answer 1

Tampon insertion can be difficult at first, the first thing I would say is to try to change between applicator and non-applicator tampons to see which are easier for you to use.

How to insert a commercial or organic tampon [non-applicator];
Always make sure you wash your hands before and after!

•Get into a position that is comfortable for you, standing or sitting.
If sitting then sit on the toilet, if standing try one foot on the toilet seat.

•Hold the tampon in your right hand if you are right-handed, left if left-handed.

•Use your thumb and middle finger to hold the bottom of the tampon.

•Use your other hand to hold open the labia (lips) of your vulva/vagina.

•Point the tampon towards you vagina aiming to the small of your back.

•Gently push the tampon into your vagina as far as it will go.

•Insure strings are hanging down from your vagina.

•Dispose of rubbish in the nearest bin – never flush.

•When ready to remove the tampon pull gently on the strings, down and forward – tampons should never be flushed, always bin your tampons.

You can see instruction images here;
http://geocities.com/4birthing/insert.html
http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/tampon.html

Most importantly wait until you are on your period and at a time when your period is at its heaviest so the tampon can be inserted easier and so you can be sure it is the right time to insert a tampon.

Relaxation is vital, there is no such thing as being 'too tight', your vagina is naturally stretchy – remember at some point if you choose to have children a baby may well have to come out of that seemingly little hole.

The best way to relax enough for penetration is to masturbate as when aroused your vagina almost doubles in size, vaginal muscles relax and your vagina produces lubrication – you may want to use KY jelly or olive oil as lubrication on the end of the tampon to make insertion easier.

It is difficult to insert them into the wrong place, down below you have three holes; the urethra (where urine and ejaculation come from), the vagina (where blood and discharge come from) and your anus (where poo comes from) – some girls do put it into the urethra, this would hurt a lot so you would know about it. It is vital you know what's what, take a mirror and look at what you have down there, it helps to relax on your bed in a position where you can look comfortably.
I'd also strongly recommend you take a look at a few sites, this will help you know what is what down there because if you are old enough to be online you are more than old enough to know the basics about your body – YOU NEED TO LEARN!!

This is a very good image of a vulva (external part of your genitals) that has the vaginal opening clearly labelled for you ("vaginal orifice ") - http://www.3dvulva.com/diagrams/diag-vulva-open-02-22.jpg

Information on the vagina and menstruation;

http://www.scarleteen.com
http://www.the-clitoris.com
http://www.myvag.net
http://www.vaginaverite.com
http://www.menstruation.com.au
http://www.debuinc.com
http://www.mum.org
http://www.sisterzeus.com/teensection.html

Your hymen may get in your way if you have one and if it is not already broken, if it is in tact it might prevent you from using internal options unless you can stretch your hymen or are willing to break your own hymen – your hymen has nothing to do with if you are a virgin or not, it is also not always painful for a girl to break her hymen.
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.
There is a good site that shows images, not photos, of the hymen so you know what to look for here - http://www.healthystrokes.com/hymengallery.html

It is okay that you want to try tampons but be aware that tampons are one of the most unhygienic and unsafe menstrual options available to you, using tampons does not make you mature but educating yourself about your body and all your options is – trust me once you have learned about your body and other options you will not be so keen to use tampons!

Menstrual options;

Commercial tampons – e.g. Tampax
Organic tampons – e.g. Natracare
Sponge tampons – e.g. Jade & Pearl
Soft tampons – e.g. Gynotex
Homemade tampons
Padettes
Commercial pads – e.g. Always
Organic pads – e.g. Organic Essentials
Cloth pads – e.g. Gladrags
Pad belts – e.g. Ready's
Homemade pads
Padded panties – e.g. Lunapanties
Period blankets
Silicone bell-shaped menstrual cups – e.g. Divacup
Rubber bell-shaped menstrual cups – e.g. Keeper
Softcups – e.g. Instead
Diaphragms used as menstrual cups
Homemade menstrual cups
Free-flow
Free-flow layering
Free-flow instinctive
Extraction

Tampons are the most harmful menstrual options because tampons negatively affect your vaginal health (preventing self-cleaning, absorbing vaginal fluids, giving bacteria a place to multiply, leaving fibres in the vagina, introducing chemicals into the vagina) this means they can also cause vaginal splitting, vaginal infections and even prolong your periods and increase menstrual cramps.

If you are young such as in your teens you are at additional risk because your body does not have the same antibodies as adult women's bodies and your vagina is still maturing so the mucosa (skin like lining of your vagina) is more delicate so more prone to splitting and irritation.

Tampon risks;
http://www.spotsite.org
http://www.tamponalert.co.uk
http://www.wen.org.uk/sanpro
http://www.seac.org/tampaction
http://cookiepuss.tripod.com/tampons.htm
http://www.frontiernet.net/%7Eruthb/Tampons.html

If you do want to try tampons I would highly suggest not using commercial tampons like Tampax because these are made from synthetic materials that not only are more absorbent but also harsh so upping the risk of TSS and vaginal splitting, these also contain chemicals that can cause health problems and can interfere with the normal pH of your vagina thus increasing your risk of TSS and vaginal infections.

Instead of commercial tampons use organic tampons that are made from 100% organic cotton and are not chemically treated or bleached, alternatively try using sponge tampons or homemade tampons that may also be easier for you to use. These are safer than commercial tampons like Tampax, but remember they are still harmful to the vagina.

Organic and sponge tampons;
http://www.natracare.com
http://www.lunapads.com
http://www.jadeandpearl.com
http://www.tampontification.com
http://www.organicessentials.com

I would highly suggest you look at getting yourself a menstrual cup or a softcup, menstrual cups are internal like tampons but unlike tampons they are safe, hygienic, environmentally friendly and cheap, they can also be left in for up to 12 hours without leaking, including when you go to bed, for sports like swimming and before your period is even due.
Menstrual cups have money back guarantees too so you can try them and return them if you don't like using them.

Menstrual cups;
http://www.divacup.com
http://www.softcup.com
http://www.thekeeper.com
http://www.mooncup.co.uk
http://www.lunette.fi

When using tampons be sure not to use tampons when you are not menstruating, also be aware that you should not use tampons when you are sleeping not just because of the length of time they will be in but also because when laying down blood does not flow down so tampons will absorb more discharge/vaginal fluids.

Change your tampons every 4 hours, if you find the tampons are still dry or white then use a lower absorbency if you need to change sooner then increase the absorbency – always use the lowest absorbency for your flow, this means changing what absorbency you are using throughout your period.

Please remember tampons are environmentally harmful due to manufacturing methods (only 30% of trees harvested are used, chemicals put into the environment, excess energy used) and waste (the average woman uses 12000-15000 tampons in her lifetime). Using applicators adds to the waste, plastic applicators are a particular problem as they are not biodegradable. Tampons are also not flushable, always be sure to dispose of them responsibly in a bin.

If you have any more questions feel free to e-mail me from my profile, good luck, and seriously try looking at safer menstrual options.

Answer 2

The box comes with directions. It may take a few tries at first and you shouldn't try to insert them if you don't have your period at the time. Have a look with a mirror to see if you can find the right hole (towards the back) and the tampon goes toward the your spine rather than straight up. Try the applicator ones. They are good for getting it in the right place. If you can feel it once it's in, it is inserted incorrectly.

Answer 3

The Tampon box has an paper inside with instructions on how to use them. Once you get the hang of it... and it will take a few times to get it right, you'll feel the freedom! It might be frustrating and feel uncomfortabe at first, but you'll get better at it. Don't give up.
Good luck!

Answer 4

Follow the instructions given, but I had trouble as a girl until I learned to stand and not sit. Once I was more experienced I could do it either way, but at first it just wouldn't go in while sitting. Good luck! Be safe.

Answer 5

Get a box of plastic applicator or gentle guide tampons. Inside the box will be explicit directions with pictures. Good Luck.

Answer 6

Go to the website listed below. It is for young women learning to use tampons. It has simple directions and pictures.

Answer 7

I found a website that helped me put a tampon in the first time.
www.tampax.com

Answer 8

Sweetheart, youare better off asking a girlfriend or female family member to help you with this. But definately if you havn't used these before, go with the plastic applicators.

Answer 9

there's usually an instruction sheet with pictures inside the box, and make sure when u r inserting it, make it into an angle towards the back of u

Answer 10

you should practice with a finger first, just to find out where it is and the angle of it, then when you can get your finger al the way in, a tampon is not much bigger.


there are instructions and a video how-to here
http://www.beinggirl.com/en_US/pages/goods_tampinsert.jsp

Answer 11

Every package of tampons comes with a set of instructions, but here's one in case you want to read-up before buying them:

http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/azhealthtopics/ht/How_Insert_Tamp.htm

http://teenadvice.about.com/od/usingtampons/Using_Tampons_Myths_Facts.htm