Does it seem that you have turned into a big girl now and need something to soak your menstrual blood? Once you get your period, there are 2 choices to help you absorb your menstrual flow. It is either a tampon or a sanitary pad. Surely, you must have seen them at stores. Today, we will explain about tampons here. Though your mom, elder sister or aunt is there to help and guide you about it, we still thought to make you aware of a few things, which are important to know as a girl. You might feel nervous to use a tampon, especially if it is your first time. But, you might have a curiosity to know about tampons in depth. Hence, we thought of writing an article and listing some common questions you may have in your mind. We will tell you how long can you keep a tampon in, how to wear or insert a tampon, what happens if you leave a tampon too long and so on. So, let’s get started.
What Is A Tampon?
A tampon is a soft material placed or inserted inside the vagina to soak menstrual blood.
How Do Tampons Work?
Tampons are just like pads, which are used to absorb a girl’s menstrual flow or blood. They are cylinder-shaped, made of very soft cotton and are easily inserted into the vagina’s opening. Tampons come in various sizes as well as absorbencies. You can find them at grocery stores and pharmacies.
What Tampon Size Should You Use?
It is always good to use the “slender-sized” tampons if it is your first time. However, if you are used to them and feel that slender ones are not enough to absorb your flow, you can try other sizes.
| How Long Can You Keep A Tampon In? |
| One of the most important and frequently asked questions by most girls as well as women is none other than how long can you leave a tampon in? According to health experts and studies, you should not keep a tampon for more than 8 hours during your period. Moreover, if you are someone, who has heavy menstrual flow or has the need to change a tampon every 4 hours or more frequently, consider using a good-quality tampon with higher absorbency.
Tampons come in different sizes and absorbencies suitable for varying flow days. “6g to 9g” is usually a measure that tells how long a tampon can absorb or how much fluid it can hold. However, it also depends on a woman’s flow rate. If you find your tampon completely saturated, perhaps by 4 to 6 hours, then it is a clear indication that you need to use the next size. On the other hand, if you take your tampon when it is nearly 8 hours and still find white fiber, it just means that your tampon is very absorbent. Hence, it is better to use one size below of what you are using. In short, it takes some experimenting to learn what absorbency or tampon size you need for your period and when to change. |
How Often Should You Change Your Tampon?
With respect to the question — how long can you keep a tampon in, there is yet another query asked by different women, which is how often can you change tampons? Well, the answer is the same as above. You shouldn’t leave a tampon for over 8 hours and should change according to your flow level. If it is too high and the tampon is saturated fully, change it immediately, even if it is 3 hours. Do not wait until the 8-hour cycle is over. On the other hand, changing a tampon frequently may affect its ability to soak — that’s because it needs some moisture to expand.
How To Know When To Change Your Tampon?
Generally, tampons must be changed once in every 4 to 8 hours. Never wait more than eight hours to change it. However, here are few guidelines to figure out when it is time to change your tampon:
A tampon must be easy to take out. If it is dry or stuck, it possibly hasn’t been left long enough to soak all the menstrual blood. Also, if your tampon string is wet, it is a sign that it is completely saturated and requires to be changed. Now, the better you know your flow, easier it is to figure out which tampon size is ideal for you and when to change it.
Tampons leak for a few reasons. Chances are that they might have reached its complete capacity to soak or it might not have been inserted properly or it is the wrong absorbency you are using for your flow. Keep in mind that tampons are not “plugs”. Few girls experience leakage due to their vagina shapes too. For extra protection, it is good to wear a panty-liner too.
Can You Leave A Tampon Overnight?
Yes, tampons can be used overnight. In fact, Tampax Tampons can be used for 8 hours both during day and night. According to survey reports, they are reported to give complete period protection and remain in place even if you move around or sleep in different positions. However, it is important to insert a brand new tampon before you go to bed and immediately remove in the morning. Also, make a note that if you sleep over 8 hours, it is good to use pads instead.
Can You Use 2 Tampons Simultaneously?
No. Certainly not! In fact, this is one of the biggest mistakes women tend to do. You are supposed to use only 1 tampon at a time. Prefer the lowest absorbency or slender-sized tampon at first. If it is not adequate, try the next variant. If you are concerned that your period flow is too heavy, consider using a better absorbency tampon or use a pad with the tampon for protection against leakage.
When Should A Girl Begin Using Tampons?
Health experts suggest using Ultrathin Pads (that has wings) first. After a few menstrual cycles, a girl is probably ready to use tampons. However, this is her personal decision. Unless a girl isn’t completely ready or feels uncomfortable using tampons, she may continue with sanitary pads.
Can A Tampon Be Used For Other Vaginal Discharges Apart From Menstrual Flow?
No. Certainly not! A tampon should be used only for the period and never for other hygiene needs. If you are worried about unusual vaginal discharge during your periods, talk to your doctor.
Is It Easy To Take A Tampon Out?
Yes, they are easy to insert as well as to take out. However, we advise to use the quality ones because they guarantee that their cord will not come loose. All you have to do is to pull the tampon’s cord lightly in order to remove it.
What Is The Difference Between A Sanitary Pad And A Tampon?
A sanitary pad is a rectangle-shaped soft absorbent material, which is placed on the underwear to help absorb menstrual flow. They come in 2 types:
- Regular rectangle pads and
- Ultrathin pads with wings (these are folded on the underwear’s edges to prevent leakage and to hold them in place)
A tampon on the other hand, as explained above is a cylinder-shaped soft cotton material used to absorb a woman’s menstrual flow. Usually, girls start using pads at first. They prefer tampons when they go swimming or play some sports. Before using a tampon, it is good to talk to your mom or some elder woman regarding this.
What Happens If You Leave Your Tampon Too Long Or For Days?
Leaving your tampon for more than 8 hours or for days leads to a serious infection called TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome). To learn more, read what is written below.
What Is TSS?
Toxic Shock Syndrome or TSS is a rare but dangerous infection. It occurs in women, who use tampons. But this doesn’t tampons are bad or they spread this disease. No. Bacteria called “Staphylococcus aureus” cause TSS. When a tampon is inserted into your vagina, it offers an ideal environment for various bacteria to grow. You will possibly never get Toxic Shock Syndrome but it is good to be aware of the symptoms and ways to prevent it.
Symptoms Of TSS
- Diarrhea
- Sudden fever
- Flu-like symptoms (headache, muscle aches, eye redness, etc…)
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness or fainting
- Vomiting
- Rashes
| Note: |
| If you experience TSS symptoms when using a tampon, remove it and consult a doctor immediately. |
How To Prevent TSS?
Believe it or not, TSS affects around 40 people in the UK every year, out of which half of them are related to tampons. Now, the question is how to avoid getting TSS from tampons? Read the points listed below:
- Always follow healthy hygiene while using tampons. Wash your hands before and after using tampons
- Ensure that your fingernails aren’t jagged or sharp, as this can tear the skin inside
- Change your tampon once in every 4 to 6 hours period or frequently if necessary
- Use the right tampon size
- Alternate between tampons and pads. Use pads at night and tampons during the day
- Do not use a tampon other than your period
How Do You Wear Or Put A Tampon In?
By following the guidelines given below, as well as the instructions are written on the tampon package, the insertion process should be pretty easy. The more relaxed you are, easier it is to insert a tampon in. When you are scared or nervous, your muscles are easily tensed. Thereby, making it hard for you to insert the tampon.
Before we explain to you how to put a tampon in, let us understand where to insert it first.
Where Should You Insert A Tampon?
If this is the first time you are ever going to use a tampon, then it would be better to have a mirror with you to see your vulva and other female genitalia (or parts). The “urethra” is the part where your urine comes out, “anus” is from where you poop and in the center is your vagina, where you will see a tiny opening. This is exactly where you should insert a tampon. It is common to be nervous for the first time when using a tampon. However, it gets easier soon.
Instructions To Follow:
- It is important to main proper hygiene before inserting a tampon. Hence, wash your hand with liquid wash and water. Pat dry and then unwrap a tampon. Out of nervousness, if you happen to drop you first tampon down, don’t hesitate to throw it away and use a new one.
- Stand or sit in a comfortable position. Usually, women prefer placing one leg on the tub or toilet seat. However, few choose to squat down. Once you are comfortable, hold the tampon (with the hand you write), where the small, inner tube inserts into the big, outer tube. Ensure that the tampon’s string is noticeable.
- Next, with the other hand, gently open your labia (or vaginal opening).
- Gently push your tampon into the vaginal opening.
- Stop it when your fingers touch the body, as this is an indication that it is fully inside your vagina.
- Once the outer tube or applicator is inside the vagina, use your pointer or index finger to push the tampon’s inner tube (where the string is visible) via the big, outer tube. This helps in pushing the tampon properly.
- Once the inner tube is inside, use your middle finger or thumb to take away the outer tube or applicator. Make sure that the tampon’s string hangs outside of the vaginal opening because you will need this to remove the tampon out.
- As soon as you are done inserting the tampon, don’t forget to wash your hands.
How To Know If You Inserted The Tampon Properly?
Well, if you inserted the tampon correctly, you shouldn’t feel it. However, if you are uncomfortable, you might have inserted it incorrectly or perhaps, the tampon doesn’t go with your vagina’s size. If this is the case, just take away the tampon and insert a new tampon again. Practice makes it perfect. Rather getting irritated, relax and do it again.
What If You Are Still Unsuccessful After Trying Many Times?
If you are still not getting it right after many tries, you can either switch to sanitary pads or fix an appointment with your doctor, as she may be able to help you better. The reason why we are suggesting you meet a doctor is that you might have a very small opening, which stops you from inserting tampons. Though this is true only for about 2 percent of teens, it could still be a problem.
Can You Use Tampon In Your Lifestyle?
You can use different products before deciding whether tampon is good for you. You can ask your friends and mom regarding it. You can ask them like whether they use tampons and it works for them and is the right age to use tampons? Using different products on different period time is the most common one. To say it, for example, some uses tampons at the time of day time and others use pads during the night time.
In addition to the tampon, you can also use a pad or a thin pad to prevent the leakages. Have it for your extra protection. Some people think like the way they feel very comfortable with tampons as it is not being felt. Others think they are more comfortable with pads because they don’t want to put something into their vagina. You can use tampons in the water whereas you can’t pads in the water. So if you are into swimming, then wear tampons.
Do not use the tampons with a scent. It will cause vaginal irritation for some people.
Hope we have answered all your questions regarding tampons. If you have any queries, feel free to tell us.
