The best way to know if your tampon needs changing is to give a light tug on the tampon string, if it starts to pull out easily then it's time to change, if not, it usually means you can leave it a bit longer. Just remember with tampons, 4 hours is about right, and don't leave one in for more than 8 hours.
Using tampons is great. We're big fans – but you may be concerned about whether you can feel a tampon while wearing one. If it's inserted properly, you can't feel a tampon at all.
Typically, a leaky tampon means you've left your tampon in for too long, or you're using the wrong absorbency. Be sure to change your tampon every 4-6 hours.
Tampon manufacturers advise that a tampon should not be left in for more than 8 hours. Occasionally, a rare but life-threatening bacterial infection called toxic shock syndrome has been linked to women using tampons.
While it's generally safe to sleep with a tampon in if you're sleeping for less than eight hours, it's important that you change tampons every eight hours to avoid getting toxic shock syndrome. It's also best to use the lowest absorbency necessary. Call a doctor if you think you may have toxic shock syndrome.
Normally you shouldn't feel your tampon no matter what position you're in. Sounds like your tampon may not be in quite right.
Keep in mind: Dry tampons that haven't absorbed as much blood, or those that haven't been in for very long, can be more uncomfortable to remove. This is a normal feeling because they aren't as lubricated as tampons that have absorbed more blood.
When removing a tampon, sit over the toilet and carefully grab the string between two fingers, gently pulling out at the same angle you used to insert it. You may not be able to remove it if you are tense, so relax and pull slowly and steadily. Flush the used tampon when finished.
Take the tampon in one hand and gently insert it into the vaginal opening (string side down) until you reach the small indentation on the applicator's side, about halfway up.
When your period flows out of the little hole in the cervix, it tracks along the side of the tampon rather than the central top area so the blood only appears on one side of the tampon. No worries!
Yes, it's fine to wear a tampon in the bath or shower. If your period is light at the time, you might find that you don't need one for the few minutes that you are in the bath or shower. Most of the time, blood won't leak out.
If you have bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days per period, or is so heavy that you have to change your pad or tampon nearly every hour, you need to talk with your doctor. To find out if you have menorrhagia, your doctor will ask you about your medical history and menstrual cycles.
Know that a tampon can't get too far up. Why? Because your vaginal canal is approximately eight centimeters in length and dead ends at your cervix (the end of your uterus). If for some reason you cannot find a tampon string, simply inserting a finger or two should help you locate it to pull it out.
When you pull out a dry tampon, the absorbent fibres can feel very rough making it uncomfortable or sometimes even a little painful to remove. But don't worry, you can't seriously hurt yourself by removing a dry tampon.
How do you know if you inserted it correctly? If it's inserted correctly, you shouldn't feel anything. But if you don't insert the tampon far enough, it might feel uncomfortable. To make it more comfortable, use a clean finger to push the tampon farther up the vaginal canal.
One of the main reasons why your tampon can feel some obstruction is because your vaginal muscles tend to tense up and stop anything from passing through. While most of the time, that feeling of “hitting a wall” can be helped via pelvic relaxation exercises, sometimes the underlying issue can be a tad bit more serious.
This could be due to weak pelvic floor muscles that allow the bladder or uterus to fall into the vaginal canal. This would be due to how a tampon would support those organs and keep those organs “up” and out of the way when it's in — which may change how you prevent the flow or urine.
When deciding whether to use pads or tampons, it's really up to you. Many girls start out using pads, but might want to use tampons when they do sports or go swimming. Tampons also are easy to store in a purse or pocket. Another advantage to tampons is that they can't be felt because they're inside the body.
Most products warn that you can wear a tampon for up to 4-8 hrs. However, if you typically sleep for longer than 8 hrs., you should wear a pad instead. The reason for this is although rare, TSS, or toxic shock syndrome, is a health concern.
However, 3-6 products per day (pads or tampons) is normal. If you're using less than that, you may not be changing them enough for health and hygiene. If you're using more than that because they are filling up fast or leaking, you may want to try a bigger size.
You should never wear more than one tampon at a time. Doubling up on tampons increases your risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, or TSS. If your flow is very heavy, wear a tampon with a higher absorbency and change it more frequently. Or use a sanitary pad as extra back up.
Polyps and Fibroids
Uterine polyps that grow on the cervix or in the lining of the uterus can also be a factor in heavy clotting. If you're experiencing heavy bleeding, large blood clots during your period or lower back pain, it could be a uterine obstruction like a fibroid.
Some people might feel like their periods end faster when they use tampons, while others say that using pads seemingly shortens their period length because pads do not hamper period flow. However, there is no scientific evidence that either tampons or pads can make your period end faster.