why does it hurt when u try to insert a tampon?

Question

is it just like havin sex? when u put it in and does it hurt that bad like ur havin sex? just wonderin

Answer 1

Tampons can hurt if they are put in incorrectly as too low down or put into the wrong hole it can be painful, pains similar to very bad menstrual cramps, if this happens remove the tampon and try again at a later time.

Often nerves affect tampon insertion, your vagina naturally stretches and expands there is also lubrication in the discharge and menstrual flow to help insertion, but if you are nervous this will make the muscles in your vagina tense up making penetration difficult and painful - particularly when you take into consideration tampons are dry wads of material being put into a naturally moist and delicate area.

If your hymen is in tact this may also make tampon insertion difficult, the hymen breaking 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 tampons. 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

Tampons can also be felt even when put into the vagina correctly as tampons are dry wads of material it means that they can cause friction burns and drying of the vaginal walls, chemicals within commercial tampons can also cause irritation or allergic reactions. The string can be felt, many women find that when it moves about during the day it can become painful as the string can pull tight between the inner labia (inner lips) of their vulva (external genitals) acting like cheese string - ouch.

Tampons expand, widthways expanding tampons can contribute to bloating feeling during menstruation and length-ways expanding tampons can expand into the already sensitive cervix, tampons also pose health risks meaning that the decrease in vaginal health can contribute to menstrual health problems such as heavy menstrual flow or menstrual cramping. There are far healthier and easier menstrual options like pads, free-flow or menstrual cups for example.


Sex can hurt girls and women to have sex - a lot of people will say that sex the first time will hurt, but for the most part it is myth and sex causing pain has very little to do with tampon insertion.

It is amazing the number of girls and women who will perpetuate this myth, but in all fairness it is no surprise as so many people are ignorant about sex and the female body, and there are still a lot of taboos surrounding female sexuality and the female body that probably started off the ideas on anything to do with the genitals hurting – menstruation, child-birth, sex, none of these things need to be painful but people constantly tell girls and women that they are supposed to be painful.
People simply refuse to learn, or because they believe it will or should hurt they will think nothing of it if it does, some will even carry on having sex just to let their partners enjoy sex. Girls and women have the ability to stop sex if it hurts, try again later, demand other forms of sex prior to penetration and have every right to enjoyable sex – pain is your bodies way of telling you that something is wrong, sex should be pleasurable.

Sex the first time can hurt normally due to a few common reasons;

-Hymen breaking – this can be painful, but it is just as likely to be pleasurable or have no feeling at all, a lot of girls hymens are broken before penetrative sex so this is not an issue for them.

-Not being emotionally ready – a lot of girls and women convince themselves they are ready for sex when really they are not, they either feel pressured by friends or their partners, if not ready they will not enjoy sex and it will make sex difficult. If a girl believes sex will be painful it will be painful because they will tense up making it hard for the vagina to stretch as it should.

-Not being physically ready – only 30% of women orgasm from penetrative penis to vaginal sex, women's bodies simply are not made to be stimulated by penetration alone so need sex before penetration (i.e. foreplay) I order to make sure the vagina is lubricated enough, elongated enough, flexible enough and to make sure the clitoris is stimulated enough.

If you are educated, wait till the right time and have sex with someone you love and trust who can turn you on and accepts that you need pleasure too then there is no reason for pain past medical or psychological problems – some girls and women however are simply not ready to accept this fact.

One of the best articles on this ever written was by Scarleteen, the site is aimed at teen girls mostly however I know it helps a lot of women too, this article goes through in a simple and non-patronising way why sex could hurt and what to do about it, I seriously recommend you read through it - http://www.scarleteen.com/sexuality/owtowow.html

Some more links you should check out;

http://www.the-clitoris.com/f_html/virgin3.htm
http://www.sexwithoutpain.com
http://www.scarleteen.com
http://www.myvag.net
http://www.vaginaverite.com
http://www.sexinfo101.com
http://www.infosex.com
http://www.sxetc.org

Answer 2

No, it isn't like sex, at all. And it shouldn't hurt to insert a tampon. If it does, then you aren't relaxed enough or you are doing it wrong. Make sure you read the directions and you are in a comfortable position. If you are tense/nervous, it won't go in as easily. Don't force it. And make sure it is in all the way, if it isn't, it will be uncomfortable. There should be no pain involved. I love tampons, they are so much more comfortable then pads! :)

Answer 3

I can't be much more thorough than the response before mine, but I love tampons alot. I find that a dollop of lubricant such as KY Jelly on the tip of the tampon makes it insert easier, as does a standing position.

Answer 4

well, I personally am about 2 to 3 times the size around of a tampon, and I go in and out very rapidly, lol, a tampon is barely bigger around than your finger, and it only goes in once and as fast as you push it. you shouldn't ever try to put a tampon in when you're not on your period, so I would suggest you try using your finger to find out where it is and the angle of it and if you can get a finger in all the way comfortably. If a finger is no problem, then try a tampon next time you're on your period

Answer 5

It does not hurt to insert a tampon and it is NOT like having sex.

You have to relax and insert it properly as instructed in the enclosed directions.

Answer 6

you must be either really dry or allergic to them. but if you have that kind of problem when you are having sex (if you use them) you could be having a reactions to the condoms you use also.