Tuesday, January 24, 2012

My First Time Using a Tampon

I was in tenth grade when I used my first tampon. I explained in this post why it was at this point I wanted to go from wearing pads to using tampons. I mulled it over for a while before I decided to use them, weighing whether or not it was worth the risk of TSS to have comfort and to feel clean. If you follow the link above, I talk about all the pros and cons there. I finally decided...Yup! Tampons.

Tampons are my friends! So cute. I want one...

I was at Walmart with my parents when I bought them. I remember saying, "I need some feminine products." Back then I was so shy about periods and thought that was less weird-sounding than, "I need some tampons."

My dad said, "What do you mean? Like makeup?"

I was mortified. And then, to make it worse, my mom said, "No, I think she means pads." 

"No," I said, "I want to try tampons this time." I also wanted to die from embarrassment because I had to say the word out loud. (Boohoo, right?)

But wait, there's more! My mom got all weird, and was like, "Do you know how to...you have to..."
"Ahh! Stop talking about it!" I said. "I'll figure it out."

And I did because the box of tampons I bought--Tampax Pearl--came with instructions (as does every box in every brand, so far as I know).


Thing is...I didn't put my first tampon in all the way. So when I stood up afterward and walked around, I could feel it. That's not supposed to happen.

And it freaked me out so much I passed out in the kitchen.

That's not even the worst part.

My boyfriend was over that day. Yup. Which, I mean, wouldn't even be a bad thing if it weren't for the following few minutes.

My mom found me on the kitchen floor, seconds after I passed out, and asked me what happened. Because I didn't wan to give her the secret real answer, I mumbled something about my period.  

She walked me into the living room and told me to lie down. My boyfriend sat down next to me and asked if I was okay just at the same moment his mom knocked on my door. I don't remember why. But she came in and saw that I looked awful and asked what was wrong. Then my mom chimed in with, "Oh, it's just woman stuff. We won't mention it in front of Gary." Gary being my boyfriend. And I know she was trying to be discreet for my sake, but I'd rather she just said it outright because the obvious secrecy was so...embarrassing. Like..duh! He knows what you mean by that. And then she said, "Maybe Gary should go home since Jessie's not feeling well."

And he left.

I'm over it now. Obviously, or I wouldn't be sharing. 

If you're unsure how to insert a tampon, like I was, here's an instructional video by U by Kotex:





Was your first time using a tampon easy or does your story sound like mine? Leave a comment below or email Period Fairy at jessie(dot)mullins5(at)gmail(dot)com!

Lots of love,
Jessie

@Je55ieMullin5

29 comments:

  1. Hi... It's my first time using tampons... I can't figure out of I'm doing it right or not... I try to push it in.. But it hurts to much.... What should I do?

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    1. Try wetting the applicator or making yourself more lubricant and make sure it's going up and not into the side walls.

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    2. I just used a tampon for the first time today and i put the whole thing in i didnt know only the cotton was sjpposed to go inside you, i had no instructions

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  2. Hi, Anonymous! I can't tell you how sorry I am for the delayed response. Way, way delayed. I would ask firs, in what position are you trying to insert the tampon? It is best to do it on the toilet or while standing with one leg up, say with your foot propped on the toilet seat. Relax as best you can, and insert gently at a forty five degree angle. Your fingers should be on the grip part of the applicator. Push in until your fingers touch your skin. If the tampon is all the way in, you should not be able to feel it. I hope this helps!

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    1. Hi, I'm useing tampons for the first time and when I inserted it my tummy hurt,I then went to stand up and it slipped out?

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    2. It didn't go in further enough, if you're scared of loosing it tie the string on to your pants also try wiping inside your vagina with a wet wipe if you can get hold of one to trick your vagina whilst inserting the tampon. Hope this helped.

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    3. If your tampon slips out, it could mean the following:
      1) Your tampon is too full or is not a high enough absorbancy.
      2) You don't have it in all the way. Make sure when your fingers are on the grip part of the applicator that you push it in until your fingers touch the outside of your vagina.
      3) You may just have a wide-set vagina, which happens. This is the case with a friend of mine, and she is unable to use tampons because they slip out. Try a menstrual cup!

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  3. Similar thing happened to me! I was 11 when I started and tried tampons at 12. I felt really sick after passing out, so now i don't use them. I want to use them to make it easier for my when i play sports but i don't feel confident enough. Any tips? My mum said i could try wearing one when i'm not on my period to get used to it, but idk if that will work.

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    1. Hi, Anonymous. I would not recommend trying a tampon while you're not on your period for one reason: When you pull the tampon out later, it may cause vaginal discomfort and extra dryness.
      Here's my question to you: Are there certain days of your period when you feel most woozy or sick to your stomach? Avoid testing tampons on those days. Wait until a day on your period when you feel your best. The most important thing you can do is relax. Give yourself a good chunk of time in the bathroom to completely relax your body and mind and then give it a try. Remember to push in at an angle towards your lower back and push it in until your fingertips touch the opening of your vagina. I hope that helps!

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  4. Hi! I am 12 and started my first period 4 days ago! I am very scared of tampons, and I cannot buy any lite ones from Tesco- can i just use regular- or will it hurt too bad?

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    1. Hi there! Regular ones won't hurt you as long as you have a steady flow of blood. My advice would be to avoid using them if you're only spotting. Remember to relax and follow the instructions when you put it in to avoid discomfort. Good luck and thanks for the question!

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  5. Hi!
    I've had my period for a couple of years at least (to be honest I'm awful at remembering any dates when I started or when my next period is but whatever) and up until now I've always used pads. But I hate them, they're messy, bulky and I often do sport where wearing ultra-tight leggings and pulling my legs into flexible positions makes me feel really self-conscious about people noticing that I'm wearing pads.
    SO anyway, I wanted to try tampons. I have actually tried them a couple of times in the past, but I've always chickened out after literally a couple of minutes and taken them out and gone back to pads. But this time I feel I'm old enough (15) and I just want to get it over with and start wearing tampons. I have been using the applicator ones, and I don't find it painful at all putting them in, it's actually really easy and fine. I'm just slightly worried about two things; firstly, I can feel them there and I don't know if I'm supposed to. I've looked at online discussions, and some people think it's perfectly normal to feel it when it's your first time, but some people think it means I've put it in wrong...can you shed some light? It's not uncomfortable, just a bit weird, and my vagina feels very 'full' if that makes sense, but I don't really know how to describe it...
    Secondly, whilst experimenting with putting them in and trying to get it right, I had to take quite a few out and start again, and whilst they go in super easy, they hurt LIKE HELL to take out. I was on the verge of tears and it actually felt like I was being ripped apart or something...why is this? Am I taking them out wrong?
    Thanks x

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    1. When you take them out, try opening your legs to the limit and if that doesn't work take them out sooner or invest in some super absorbent tampons. Also I know the feeling, it's because the bedding that was made for your egg is clogging up along your cervix walls. Also me and my friend have air come inside when we leak involving us to feel our periods fart in a way when the air release but it's all normal.

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    2. You're not supposed to be able to feel them once they are in all the way. When you insert your tampon, do you push it in so that your fingers, which are on the grip of the applicator, touch the outside of your vagina? That is how you know it's in all the way.
      If it hurts when you pull the tampon out it could be two things:
      1) You're taking it out too soon or the absorbancy is too high. Make sure you experiment with different absorbancy and pay attention to when your flow is light or heavy, and use the different types of tampons accordingly.
      2) it could hurt if you're too tense, so try to relax the best you can before removing it. I hope this helps!

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  6. I'm 13 going to be 14 in 2 months, anyways the first time i inserted a tampon was HORRIBLE MOTHERS DON'T I repeat DON'T ever do thid to your child -.- for my mom doing this i hate her -.- anyway she made me SPREAD my legs while standing one leg on the toilet and the other on the floor half naked my mom looking at my vagina and me HOLDING my tears so embarradsing i after 15 minutes of pleading not to do it she threatned to whip me and ground me till thid day i hate her and im moving with my dad ... Mothers be careful what you do to your children ..

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    1. Sorry for reading your comment so late. And I am deeply sorry that happened to you. I hope you were able to move with your dad and feel safer there. *hugs*

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    2. This was probably so embarrassing for you. My mom never really talks to me about periods, and I like that about her because she won't ask me about it. But, once in a while she will say, "Are you on your period?" when I'm cranky. I don't honestly think that if your cranky your suddenly on your period.. :T Anyways, I'm truly sorry about this horrific experience and hopefully you moved in with your dad. <3

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  7. I have not had a period in over a year due to my birth control. I've decided to get off of it 5 months ago, and I have been bleeding for almost 2 weeks, which is very typical for me. I can insert a tampon correctly, and everything is fine until I have to pee. I could have to pee 15 minutes after inserting one. For some reason, after I pee, it feels like the tampon is slipping out and it tends to hurt when I sit, usually bad enough for me to remove and reapply. Do you know why this may be happening? They don't get anywhere near full, so I'm going through them really fast. Can I just use my fingers and push them back up? Or is it better to do what I have been doing? Like I said, I have been using tampons for 6 years now and this is just happening..

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  8. You're not alone, my first time using a tampon was also the same time having my period. Not a very good day. I had no choice in the matter over tampons or pads. I was at school and had to call my mom for supplies/support and was then inside a cramped bathroom stall with my mom and a very scary looking foreign object that I was supposed to somehow shove up my vagina. On top of all of this I had less than thirty minutes to accomplish this seemingly impossible task before the bus left for the state track and field meet. Well I ended up getting so worked up and stressed out that I fainted right there in the stall. Did I mention what an awesome day it turned out to be... well I did eventually get the tampon in and make it onto the bus. And that ladies and gentlemen was the story of my first period.

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  9. I don't know if this is weird but I love this blog it helped me so much today. I just started wearing a tampon and I thought I done it wrong but when you said to put it in until you can feel it, I had to fix it and now I don't feel it.
    thanks you so much for the davice

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  10. So let me tell you my story. So it was around Halloween and I got invited to a Halloween party. :) I was really excited! So I was getting ready to go to the party when I found out my period was here. I wasn't expecting it since I was like two months late since my period was still regulating. I was so upset because I was looking forward to swimming. I've never used a tampon before, so I was kind of scared. I called up my friend and asked her to bring a tanpon to the party. She did and she told me how to use it, since I've never done it before. So I tried the first time, and it felt very awkward. It didn't necessarily "hurt", but it did feel kind of uncomfortable. I asked if that was normal, and she said it was just because I've never used one before. So after it was in, I pushed the actual cotton part in. It made my vagina feel full, but it didn't "hurt". So after it was in, my hand was all bloody. I had major cramps that day, so it was very painful. But I got through it. I washed my hands off and at the end of the party, I pulled the tampon out. That part hurt a little but not bad. It is supposed to be uncomfortable. lol that's my story fam!! :)

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  11. Everybody has their own inclinations with regards to utilizing a cushion or a tampon while discharging in menstruation. Both these items have their own particular cons and stars and everything relies on an individual's close to home decision. Presently there may be some of you who have needed to attempt the tampon however never could simply.

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  12. Is it normal to still feel like your tampon is in when its not.
    Its my first time using them

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  13. Hello everyone! Today was my first time wearing a tampon and it wasn't necessarily easy but I definitely wouldn't say it was difficult. Just remember to stay relaxed and do your research before using one! And taking it out wasn't bad either. It was a tad uncomfortable, but not painful at all! Good luck and pads are history for me!

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  14. I'm 32 and today was my first time using a tampon. My change was more of a necessity than a want. I was out with a friend and started early without a single pad in my purse. Thankfully she had a tampon. Insertion was a little awkward but I managed. Removing it felt weird as hell but honestly not feeling anything vs feeling like I'm wearing a diaper....I'll take I'll any day. Bye bye pads!!

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  15. I am 13 and I've had my period for about 2 years now. I want to try tampons but I'm afraid to, I feel like it will hurt or I will feel awkward about it. Is there anything anyone has done or thought about to eventually do it? I'm such a chicken. :(

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  16. I got my period when I was 11
    the day after I had tried a tampon to see what it felt like
    at the time I was super freaked out and didn't tell my mom
    but 5 years later and I'm fine

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  17. no no no no, it was scarier that I thought

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  18. Today is my first time using a tampon cause tomorrow I’m going swimming and my period decided to start (a week late too) I really wanted to go swimming so I dragged my mom to the store and bought a small box of tampons. I tried to put the tampon in but I had no idea where, I couldn’t find where to put in. I put it in and it’s kind of uncomfortable, I’ve changed it once and it still feels weird. What do I do?

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