I’ve just birthed a fossilised tampon...what do I do?!

[MedicinalGin]

Hello.
I’m so embarrassed about this. Have had loads of weird discharge for the past few days and was getting really worried- suddenly this happened. I feel quite well and everything but could I now have an infection or something? It must have been in there for two weeks.

Do I just presume I will now be fine or should I seek official advice (seriously hoping I don’t have to).

Excuse me while I now go and 🤢

TheWiseWomansFear

Just during my normal shower, insert a finger and remove any discharge? I'm not scrubbing it with a sponge or using soap or anything - I honestly thought this was a normal thing to do. As I said earlier, it has the benefit of letting me know within a day if there's anything up there that shouldn't be!

Don't wash inside. Plain water is mainly recommended for the outside (vulva). Putting things inside your vag is a one way ticket to infectionville

That said, cleaning your vulva should take at least a minute or two and you can use a gentle soap

I don't get thrush. Honestly don't see why water and a quick rinse would do any harm to my vagina?

I honestly don’t understand how this happens. Something to do with vagina length?
When I have a tampon in I’m very aware of it and can feel it in there

Cleaning inside your vagina is pretty likely to give you an infection too.

Yes I’ve always been taught that my foof is self-cleaning, just like my halogen oven. The thing is, when it came out, there was no string. Lord knows where the string has ended up - I’m hoping it is long gone by now. I still feel quite sick btw.

@SpidersDarkedOnMyWashing what you think is 'discharge' in your vagina is probably its way of lubricating and self cleaning?

That said, cleaning your vulva should take at least a minute or two and you can use a gentle soap

2 minutes? What are you doing for 2 minutes?

How long do you reckon it was there??? If you're feeling at all unwell I'd advise a trip to the GP.

Those that just leave their vagina's to their own devices as "it's self cleaning". I give up!

Sometimes the string can come out, that's happened to me. Its not disgusting at all, these things happen and its common!
I'd ring the G.P tomorrow and ask if you need antibiotics OP.

Sorry for derailing the thread!

Of course I understand discharge is part of the cleaning process for the vagina, and I don't think it's a bad thing. But I still feel cleaner having a quick once-over!

This hapened to me too but horrifically the nurse found it during a smear.
She had to go and get the female Doctor to retrieve it with forceps.
OMG the smell.
The nurse physically baulked.
The doctor gave me very strong anti-biotics the ones you cant drink with - so strong

Those that just leave their vagina's to their own devices as "it's self cleaning". I give up!

It IS self cleaning FFS. Ask your Dr before "giving up" on people who clearly know better than you.

Well the NHS seems to agree with those people, VladmirsPoutine...

www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/keeping-your-vagina-clean-and-healthy/

The vagina will clean itself inside your body with natural vaginal secretions (discharge)

I'd book in with the nurse and get a swab, OP, just to rule out infection or thrush.
Sometimes infections can be quite unremarkable and benign, leaving you unaware of their existence.

Well to each, their own. I'm not going to police what you, or rather don't do, with your vagina. I just know I could not leave mine to its own devices in all good, decent consciousness.

Those that just leave their vagina's to their own devices as "it's self cleaning". I give up!

Well I don't know about the rest of you, but I use something like this and a bottle of Fairy liquid to clean mine.

I remember Just 17 and all the scare about tampons getting lost! I think that magazine is responsible for why I cannot bear to have anything up there now!

OP, without wishing to sound insensitive, at least it wasn't the dread sootikin! (Although I still think that must be a google urban legend. I don't believe a word of it myself)

Yes, each to their own. Some people take medical, expert advice and some don’t.

Well I don't know about the rest of you, but I use something like this and a bottle of Fairy liquid to clean mine.

That's a bit risky. Surely Zoflora or bleach would be better, just to be on the safe side?

There are good bacteria (lactobacilli) inside the vagina - you need those, they aren’t that robust and prone to being washed away from cleaning the vagina.

That’s why the advice is to clean the vulva only and not to wash inside the vagina, even with water but particularly not with soaps. And definitely avoid feminine hygiene products!

@Asleepallday

no, it's teeth you should be cleaning for 2 minutes, TEETH.

This thread is batshit hilarious

(apologies OP. I have lost a tampon before and it's surprisingly easily done - the actual vaginal tunnel has very few nerve endings, so for those who can feel their tampons, I would suggest you're not pushing them up quite far enough)

shirleyphallus I did exactly the same when I was drunk once. So I removed the second one, but didn’t realise there was another one up there. I went to the doctor because there was starting to be a dreadful smell. She had a good root around and pulled it out. Good god, the smell when it came out. I was mortified!! She also gave me a course of antibiotics in case of infection. I no longer use tampons!!

bingeeatingdisorder101

Haha just read up about the sootikin (not envy).