Pain inserting and removing tampon 5 months after having a baby

[WTS2020]

Had a baby mid February via planned c-section. Exclusively breastfeeding but my periods have recently returned. I reached for the tampons as have always used them and it went in fairly ok but pulling the tampon out was really painful and felt like I was pulling against its will. I’ve not had sex yet so that’s the first thing in there in nearly a year!
Is this normal? I thought with the c-section that I’d have no issues down there but this is concerning as fearful of sex now

Yes, breastfeeding can do that to you. Bloody hormones! Maybe stick to pads for now until your hormones settle down. Or lube might be helpful for both tampons and for sex when you are ready.

I've just been diagnosed with vaginismus 2 years after giving birth. I was absolutely fine before, never had a problem with smears, etc, but after an uneventful vaginal birth, which I felt completely UNtraumatised by, I had problems with penetration and inserting/removing tampons/menstrual cup.

I finally saw the gynecologist about it recently as I was about to give birth again and was worried about being examined, etc and she said it was vaginismus caused by birth trauma (totally subconscious, I might add!). I also wasn't at all anxious about resuming sex with my DH but it just clamped shut down there and sex was very uncomfortable.

If they can't find any other reason like a prolapse, it might be worth looking into it.

Btw, breastfeeding can cause dryness but in my case it wasn't dry at all so it wasn't due to that.

I'd speak to the GP although they may want you to wait slightly longer. I first went 3 months PP and they advised watchful waiting until at least 6 months PP. I had an instrumental delivery with an episiotomy and had pain using tampons, pain doing pelvic floor exercises and sometimes just general soreness around my vaginal area often linked to wearing tight clothing or doing lots of walking. I was examined by the GP at 7 months PP and she couldn't see anything wrong but noted my episiotomy scar site was very painful even though it looked fine so she referred me to gynae for review. Gynae tried to diagnose me with vaginismus and said my pelvic floor muscles were strong which was a total fob off and I knew it. I pushed for referral to pelvic floor physio which he reluctantly did. Started that at 9 months PP, physio confirmed my pelvic floor muscles were week and helped me with exercises and assessment. Returned 8 weeks later and already no longer had pain using tampons and never had since - try my best to keep up with the PFEs although am a bit irregular like. You may need physio. Pregnancy puts a lot of strain on the pelvic floor itself even without vaginal birth.

Alternatively have you tried using smaller/less absorbent tampons? Could you be getting too dry? I think breastfeeding hormones make your vagina drier and that could affect tampon use too.