Please help this 30yo work out why tampons are so uncomfortable!

[user1491810905]

So I've got to mid thirties and just never really used tampons. Never liked them as a teen, went on the pill and then got pregnant etc so never really been an issue. But I'm now not on the pill and so everything back to normal.

I normally wear period pants or pads. I'm not that heavy so it works fine and is comfortable.

But we are on a very waited for summer holiday and my period has come early. The only way to make the most of it is to use tampons. I am a 35 yo woman and I've birthed two kids. Should be fine!

Jesus christ they are so friggin uncomfortable. If I put them in they feel all wooly and rough like friggin sandpaper. They drop down and seem to go to the right of my vagina. If I pee they basically fall out. Even if I push them really quite far up they still feel like they are falling out. I can feel it every time I walk. It's not unbearable but it's not at all comfortable and I cannot believe other women would choose to feel this way so I conclude I must be doing something wrong.

At my last smear I did have to tilt my pelvis up for her to get to my cervix. Is it possible everything is just a bit wonky up there?

I won't let it stop me swimming and enjoying the pool with my DC but I would love to improve it!

Just sat down and it felt like I birthed the bloody thing. Clearly I'm doing something very wrong.

I just wanted to say I'm exactly the same. I've tried different angles too and last time when I thought I'd cracked it, I sat down on a bench and oh my goodness it was so painful around the entrance.
I'm clearly doing something wrong!

I don't have any answers but I have the same problem! Im 33, same issue. Birthed one child, assisted birth, tears from one end to the other, the same before and after. I've been significantly overweight, I've been a healthy weight, none of it has made any difference.

I'm also very tall (over 6ft) so I'd expect everything to be long in there, but it feels like I have a very short vagina!

Same here, end up with sore entrance to my vagina. Flippin' hate them.

(My solution was a mirena coil, problem solved!)

I have to push far up and then to the right for mine to go in properly. It ends up almost at a 90 degree angle. If I don’t it starts to work it’s way back down and is very uncomfortable and would undoubtedly fall out if I tried to swim.

Same here, I've given birth 8 times! I should be able to use a bloody tampon. Even with applicator tampons they just don't seem to go in the right place, and feel really rough and uncomfortable.

I could only use tampons when I had a mid/heavy flow, so uncomfortable and not that great,
Lilets were better as they expanded widthways as were the plastic applicators.
However since I discovered mooncups I've not bought anymore and wish they'd been around sooner!

Me too! Always thought it was just me.

I had an event in May which I had bought lovely but very fitted dress for and my period showed up early about an hour before we were due to leave the house. I didn't want to wear my usual period pants as they give major vpl so went and bought some tampons but omg it was so uncomfortable.

I've never got on with them. Have always been able to feel them digging in me inside. I have a retroverted uterus so that may be the reason why.

Agree with @Ollybob , Lilets are better because of the way they expand. Lilets with plastic applicators work best for me but they're nigh on impossible to find nowadays, think they've been discontinued sadly.

I hate the fuckers ( no pun intended)

Seriously though I put a tampon in; then it somehow work its way down and yes I have put it as far as it will go.

I also have to do the same for smears, but am ok with tampons if:

1- they are non applicator (eg Lillets)
2 - they are moderate flow

I have to do the whole foot on the side of the bath thing, and it's all fine. Have to angle the tampon a bit.

In any other circumstances, it feels like I am sandpapering my insides.

I feel like this thread was meant for me!

29, started having periods at 11, hormonal birth control until 27 with very light periods so only used panty liners. Literally TODAY decided to try tampons for the first time since I was about 15 because I’m convinced I’m getting thrush from sanitary towels and wanted to invest in a moon cup but didn’t want to spend £25 and not be able to get it in. Lasted all of half an hour.

going to try again when flow is probably heavier 😩

I’m past that now, but when I still had periods, I had the very same problem! I didn’t bother to even try the last ten years or so before menopause.

You might have scar tissue internally that makes it uncomfortable?

Try a cup they are bigger but softer I find.

If they or the string is anywhere near the entrance then it is uncomfortable. I have to push them up and to the right, 90 degree angle or they fall out. I have a low cervix and retroverted uterus so assume it is to do with them. If they are in the right place I can't feel them at all.

Which ones are you using? Tampax always feel very uncomfortable but Lillets are better. Because they don't have an applicator, you can get them in so they're comfortable, also they expand widthways rather than lengthways, so no leaks or falling out feeling.

You're not alone! I've never liked them either. I can feel them in there and even the super ones seem to absorb absolutely eff all.

Menstrual cups all the way! Fiddly at first but so much more comfortable in my case.

I feel exactly the same. They just don't seem to go 'up' far enough. I always thought I was faulty in some way.

Incidentally, mooncups didn't work for me either - again, they didn't seem to go up enough, and I could always feel the stem thing, even when I'd cut nearly all of it off.

Yes, littlebluetrain my DGD (16) has just started using a moon cup.
She get’s on really well with it, and like most teenager’s she is into saving the environment.

I think everyone's body is different, that's all. I personally love tampons as I could put it in and then forget about it (and I actually did forget completely on a couple of occasions!). Applicator tampons are much easier I find. It would only get uncomfortable like what you talk about if it either was too close to the entrance or too dry, theyre best on heavy days. They never fell out but I haven't given birth like you! However, I cannot stand the feeling of pads bunching up and struggle with a mooncup so we all have our preferences.

Yes exactly the same. Once properly in I wouldn’t even know they’re there.

I have to use tampons with a long applicator and push it up quite far so there's only a tiny bit of string hanging out. Sometimes I put a bit of Vaseline on the applicator to help slide it in the right position.

Which ones are you using? Tampax always feel very uncomfortable but Lillets are better.

@VioletCharlotte My thoughts would be totally the opposite so my advice to you @user1491810905 is to make sure that you have tried

• both applicator tampons (tampax) and non-applicator - because different people find different ones easier. I much prefer applicators because I think the applicator is designed to help you get it into the right place and the smooth ones are easier to insert.

*different sizes. When I was young and struggled to get them in I used the ultra slim pink tampax applicator ones. They won't work long with a heavy flow if that's what you need but it may help you get used to placement and insertion in a way that suits you.

*make sure you get it up high enough. You shouldn't be able to feel the tampon once it's in. if you can feel it sitting low or if you can touch it from the outside or just inside, it's too low. This becomes really uncomfortable because it sort of rubs.

and finally my top tip which really helped me when I was young & couldn't get one in comfortably was

*try inserting one lying down on the bed on your back with your knees bent up. For some reason it helps to tilt your pelvis correctly and really helps insertion in the correct place. It's also much easier to make sure it's up far enough with an applicator.