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Especially after strenuous physical activity, you may feel that your tampon has disappeared. Fortunately, a tampon cannot actually get lost inside your body.
Tampon disappeared – first steps to take
Sometimes the tampon slips so far down that you can’t feel the string or locate the tampon right away.
- Try to relax. If your vaginal muscles are tense, the tampon may simply be stuck. Take a deep breath and find a room where you will not be disturbed. A warm bath or shower may also help.
- Check again carefully to see if you can find the string or if you have simply forgotten that you have already removed the tampon.
- Work with your menstrual flow. Dry tampons are more likely to get stuck than saturated ones. Wait a little longer to see if the tampon becomes visible when it is no longer dry.
- If that doesn’t help, wash your hands thoroughly. If you have artificial or long fingernails, you should cut them first to reduce the risk of injury.
- Sit or squat down. First, try to push the tampon out as if you were giving birth or doing a pelvic floor exercise. Even if the tampon probably won’t come out, it may slip into a better position so that you can remove it more easily.
- As you exhale, try inserting just one finger as deep as possible. Once you have located the tampon, use a second finger to help you pull out the tampon itself, not the string.
- Tip: To avoid injury, you can use a lubricant to help.
The tampon is stuck for a long time
If you have not been able to remove the tampon using the previous tips, you should act quickly, but do not panic.
- Never use a foreign object (tweezers or similar) to remove the tampon. This is unhygienic and can make the problem worse. It also increases the risk of injury.
- If you feel uncomfortable visiting the doctor, you can also ask your partner or a good friend to help you. The other person should wear gloves to prevent infection.
- A tampon should never remain in the vagina for longer than eight hours. If the tampon remains in the body for longer, inflammation or toxic shock syndrome may occur.
- A foul, fishy odor, dizziness, vaginal discharge, pain, a feeling of pressure in the pelvic area, or abdominal pain should prompt you to see a doctor immediately.
