Has the tampon got stuck or you can't find the lanyard anymore? It can happen, don't feel embarrassed; sometimes it can get stuck indoors, due to physical activity or other reasons. You should still be able to remove it without too much difficulty; however, if you are unable, go to the doctor right away. If you leave the tampon inside your vagina for too long, you risk developing an infection.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare to Remove the tampon
Step 1. Act quickly
You have to address the problem promptly; you don't have to neglect it just because you are really uncomfortable, otherwise you can run into serious health problems. Remember that this is an "accident" that has already happened to many other women.
- You should never leave the tampon for more than 8 hours; otherwise, you may be suffering from toxic shock syndrome, a disease which, although treatable, can be deadly. However, if you have kept it inside for a very short time (like an hour or so), you can wait a little longer and try to remove it later, as a dry sanitary pad can get stuck more easily while menstrual flow can simplify the extraction.
- First, try to remove it yourself - it should be easy enough - but if you can't, you need to contact your gynecologist as soon as possible. This concept is never repeated enough: keeping a tampon in the vagina for too long can be very dangerous indeed.
Step 2. Relax
If you are tense, you make the situation worse. Are you really sure the tampon is still inside or you just didn't remember taking it off? If you are sure you have forgotten it, know that it is not actually "stuck", but it is the muscles of the vagina that hold it in place until you remove it.
- Don't panic. The vagina is a relatively small enclosed space and it is not possible to lose something inside it forever. It's an "accident" that has happened to many other women and you have no reason to fret.
- You can take a warm shower or bath to try to relax before attempting to remove it. Also take deep breaths; if you are very tense, you will probably contract your muscles, making it more difficult to extract.
Step 3. Wash your hands
They need to be clean for this operation, because you don't have to introduce germs into the vaginal cavity. Proper hygiene avoids infections, further complications and problems.
- You should also trim your nails, as you have to insert your fingers into the vagina to get the tampon out and you need to make the process as painless as possible.
- Find an intimate space (the bathroom is probably best for hygienic reasons) and take off the undergarments to make the procedure easier.
Part 2 of 3: Remove the Stuck Tampon
Step 1. Grab the lanyard
If you can see it and it's not stuck, pull it lightly as you squat with your feet and knees apart, but not to the point of sitting on the ground.
- Pull the cord lightly to see if the tampon comes out on its own, as this would be the easiest way. Usually, the cord sticks out 2-3 cm if the tampon is positioned correctly. Try different positions if he doesn't come out right away. Put your feet on some shelf and sit on the toilet or put one foot on the edge of the tub.
- However, the cord is often wedged inside the vagina along with the tampon. It may take a minute or two before you can get it out. If this is the case for you, proceed to the next step.
Step 2. Sit or squat
It is easier to remove the tampon in these positions; also try to push down to succeed. Try to change positions if you don't succeed right away.
- Rest your feet on the garbage can, tub, or squat on the toilet bowl for obvious hygienic reasons. You can also try lying on the bed with your legs spread and high, but generally squatting remains the best position.
- Push down as if you were going to evacuate or give birth or do the inverse Kegel exercises (which are performed in the opposite way to the traditional ones and which are used to learn how to relax the muscles). Sometimes this can force the tampon out. Pushing down helps you to better assume the position that makes it easier to reach the tampon. Remember to breathe deeply.
Step 3. Insert your finger as you exhale
You have to try to put it in the vagina as deep as possible. Make circular movements with your finger between the cervix and the vagina itself, which is the area where tampons most often get stuck. Sometimes, it may be necessary to use your index finger and thumb.
- Find the tampon and insert another finger if you only used one at first. Grab the cylindrical cotton swab and try to remove it. You will need to take out the entire pad and not just the lanyard. Do not panic; if you move too quickly, you risk moving the tampon further away. When you feel it, you simply have to take it off.
- Do not continue to look for the tampon with your fingers for more than about 10 minutes. If you can't take it off, don't worry, but contact your doctor. If you feel the string (which has somehow curled in the vagina) clamp it between your finger and the vaginal wall to slowly pull the tampon out.
- The procedure is probably easier if you use the longer finger, but every woman has a different vagina, so you may be able to use any other finger as well.
Part 3 of 3: Getting Help Extracting the tampon
Step 1. Try using a lubricant
You can put in a generous amount before reaching for the tampon with your fingers, to make the procedure less painful and easier.
- Do not put soap or water into the vaginal cavity, otherwise you could cause infections. Don't use any scented lotion either, as it may irritate the skin.
- If you wish, you can use a mirror to be able to better see the movements in the pelvic area. You can give it another try by urinating, as sometimes this natural action helps unblock the tampon.
Step 2. Use your fingers only
If they are not enough to solve the problem, you must absolutely avoid inserting any other foreign object, such as metal tweezers, into the vagina.
- It's worth repeating: you don't have to never using another object to remove a tampon can be extremely unhygienic and could get stuck as well.
- Foreign elements could scratch the vaginal walls; you have to remove the tampon so that it does not cause further problems.
Step 3. Call the doctor
If you can't find or retrieve the tampon, you need to go to the gynecologist as soon as possible. Leaving it inside can lead to infection and serious damage. You can also ask another person to try taking it off before you go to the doctor (for example your partner), but many women are too uncomfortable with the idea of asking others for help (if you decide to go to a third person, make sure he's wearing gloves).
- Your doctor may be able to remove the swab more easily. Do not feel embarrassed about this, you must understand that it is an episode that occurs with a certain frequency and the doctor will surely have already experienced other similar situations. You must never put your female health at risk.
- It may happen that some women forget the tampon inside and insert another one; in this way the former can get stuck. You should try to remember when you put it on, as leaving it too long can lead to serious infections. If you experience symptoms such as foul odor, vaginal discharge, pelvic pressure or pain, abdominal discomfort, you should call your gynecologist immediately.
Advice
- Try to move slowly and gently to make removing the tampon less painfully.
- Take it easy!
- Try using petroleum jelly or water to loosen the tampon.
