Is my vagina being unreasonable?

[PleaseUseTheSanitaryBinsProvided]

Posting here for traffic

I haven’t been able to use tampons for the past 6 months ish. I get them in the right place, but they end up ‘sliding’ down (can’t think of how else to describe) to a place where I can feel them/is uncomfortable/painful. So I have to remove them. It feels like my vagina is expelling tampons. Has anyone ever experienced this?? Found a solution? Has any advice??

For context, I have an 18 month old, born via c section, no birth injuries sustained. I’m 37. I noticed at some point in the last year that I was clenching my pelvic floor muscles almost all of the time. I now make a concerted effort to release the muscles, and I do pelvic floor exercises when I remember.
Have tried to change my position/technique when inserting tampon, situation has improved but it doesn’t last long.
No pain or discomfort during intercourse.

I absolutely hate using only pads/having to witness the carnage and live with that sensation of being wet and the fear I may leak on clothes, seats, etc

Tried cup before and it didn’t suit me so not an option.

help!!

Tampax with applicator fine. Lil let’s were always felt as you describe.

Go for a mooncup. Love them. No leaks, no movement and environmentally friendly

I wouldn't discount cups after trying one as there are so many different shapes and sizes. The one you tried may just not have been right fit you. There's a quiz called Put a Cup in IT which you can do online which recommends the right one for your size/shape/flow etc. It's with another try. Good luck!

I couldn't use tampax after dd1. So I used lillets. Then after dd2 I had a tear that didn't get stitched so couldn't use any tampons. But I'll try the non applicator ones. Unless the falling out feeling is from the tear not being fixed.

Lil lets expand width ways and have always worked for me through horrific periods.

Alas they don't do the plastic applicator ones anymore but do have a reusable applicator which is a faff but worth it to stay with lil lets.

For period pants, I've just discovered cheeky wipes - the pants aren't that bulky, mesh at the sides so don't feel too warm and (most importantly) you just wash in a normal cool wash, no bloody (!) hand washing or rinsing out first! They had an offer on, 3 for £30 which I thought was pretty reasonable.

Definitely agree that non applicator (Lilets) are way more comfortable than applicator ones. Applicator ones expand lengthways and kind of stab whereas the others stay put.

Had to change to none applicator as they were fatter and stayed put. I gave up and got mirena which has been brilliant and used as part of hrt when I got in my 40s

Lil let's where better fir me after giving birth.

I've just bought primark period knickers, think they are about £16 for a set of 3. Up to now been impressed.

LTV

I recommend period pants. Get lots of them and you'll be ready for peri menopause in your 40s, when your periods show up whenever they damn well please, and stay as long as they like.

Mine are already starting to change a bit, was always 30 days. Now down to 26 lol. But never surprised with it.

Anyways I am unsure about period pants as I can be extremely heavy the first 2 days. And have to change my pad more often those days.

I was post 4 dc and found I had issues. My solution was to insert the tampon and then do some kegel style clenching, then insert a finger and clench and push it back up a bit past the clenchy bit. It then seemed to acquiesce and stay in place. I ended up having a hysterectomy for endo..so no need for anything anymore..bliss

My dd uses modibodi. Not the cheapest but they seem thicker than primark or M&S.

yeah - period pants can't cope with my first 2 days either - in fact I use incontinence pads because they have no bloody wings, and much better absorbancy so it doesn't feel horrible and wet all the time.

I've read there's a different type of cup called a disc that's better in some ways - I haven't tried it yet, but it might be worth a go if you didn't like the whole cup experience before.

I've never been able to use tampons for this reason. Even late teens they'd be there half an hour then I slowly gave birth to them. Tried all sorts, all brands.
Nothing stays put so I gave up.

Funnily enough I had this problem before kids (to the extent I mostly wore pads) but find it easier now. I have a tilted cervix if that is relevant . I did wonder if it had moved post birth

Oh me too! Have never been able to use them, pre- or post- DC and CSs.

Mine spits them out in a fury and then sulks.

M&S period pants have been an absolute godsend for me. Not had any leakage problems and those super high-waist stretchy knickers are about the most comfortable thing I've ever worn

Have you tried the mini-pill for contraception? I'm on Cerazatte and it completely stopped my periods within a few months.

I would second this! Don’t know why that aren’t suggested more. Went after gyno surgery and it’s helped more than anything else

I much prefer non applicator ones, supermarket own brand are cheap too. Never found the applicator ones comfortable

I found similar with tampax. I prefer an applicator, but sadly Lilets stopped doing applicator tampons.

Now use a reusable applicator with lilets. Applicator was TOTM but I don't know if they still make them.

Same issue here. FYI though, not everyone's period stops or gets lighter with Mirena. I've had two Mirenas (both in for 5 years) and my periods didn't change at all. I'm definitely in the minority with this but it can happen.

It's a shame the voting options don't reflect the thread title.

Period pants! Tampons are harsh on all of our unreasonable vaginas. I like the m&s heavy duty ones.

I had the copper could for years as I wanted a non hormonal option. I had incredibly heavy periods and horrendous period pain. But I just got on with it, as we women so often just do when it comes to our bodies. I know that my usual periods are very light, so this was a big change for me.

The doctor convinced me to get the Mirena coil when I last went to have it changed. No periods at all now. Occasionally, I might see some brown, like old blood, when I wipe after going to the toilet, so I assume that's around the time I'd normally have a period.

You can get 5 year Mirena coils and also have them taken out anytime. I had a copper one put back in about 2 months after DC1 was born. I had it removed 7 months later so we could try for DC2.