Tampons are pressed cotton cylinders used internally to collect menstrual flow. Many women prefer to use tampons because they are less messy and more discreet than pads.
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Tampons have been around in one form or another for centuries. Today, tampons generally contain two parts, an applicator and the tampon itself. Women have many options to choose from, including plastic or cardboard applicators, applicator-free tampons, sport tampons, and a variety of sizes designed for light to very heavy flow.
The first few times you insert a tampon may be awkward, but when placed properly, tampons provide comfort and security aboutmenstrual hygiene. Some women also use a pad, pantyliner, orabsorbent period underwearalong with a tampon for extra protection against leaks.
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Before you insert a tampon, wash your hands to prevent any harmful bacteria that may be present on your hands from entering your vagina.
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Frequently Asked Questions
No, a tampon will not get lost inside you, even if the string breaks. Tampons are held in the vagina. At the top of the vaginal canal is the cervix, which blocks the entrance to the uterus. While a tampon may get pushed up closer to the cervix, it will not go past it. In the very rare event that you can’t remove a tampon, see your healthcare provider who can use a special tool to retrieve it.Learn MoreHow to Remove a Stuck Tampon
No, a tampon will not get lost inside you, even if the string breaks. Tampons are held in the vagina. At the top of the vaginal canal is the cervix, which blocks the entrance to the uterus. While a tampon may get pushed up closer to the cervix, it will not go past it. In the very rare event that you can’t remove a tampon, see your healthcare provider who can use a special tool to retrieve it.
Learn MoreHow to Remove a Stuck Tampon
Tampons should be changed every two to six hours, depending on howheavy your flowis. While you can use tampons overnight, they should not be left in for more than eight hours. Leaving a tampon in for too long increases the risk of toxic shock syndrome.Learn MoreHow Often Should I Change a Tampon?
Tampons should be changed every two to six hours, depending on howheavy your flowis. While you can use tampons overnight, they should not be left in for more than eight hours. Leaving a tampon in for too long increases the risk of toxic shock syndrome.
Learn MoreHow Often Should I Change a Tampon?
Every box of tampons comes with an insert warning about TSS, or toxic shock syndrome.TSS is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection associated with tampon use. Symptoms include:Sudden fever, usually 102 degrees or higherDiarrheaVomitingFaintingDizzinessSunburn-like rashIf you experience any of these symptoms, remove the tampon immediately and seek medical help.Learn MoreLower Your Risk of TSS
Every box of tampons comes with an insert warning about TSS, or toxic shock syndrome.TSS is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection associated with tampon use. Symptoms include:Sudden fever, usually 102 degrees or higherDiarrheaVomitingFaintingDizzinessSunburn-like rashIf you experience any of these symptoms, remove the tampon immediately and seek medical help.
Every box of tampons comes with an insert warning about TSS, or toxic shock syndrome.TSS is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection associated with tampon use. Symptoms include:
If you experience any of these symptoms, remove the tampon immediately and seek medical help.
Learn MoreLower Your Risk of TSS
When you first start using tampons, it may be more comfortable to start with a light or regular tampon, which is more slender. Once inserted, a tampon should last for at least two hours without leaks. If you find you are leaking sooner than two hours, try a larger size.If you soak through super-plus or ultra-sized tampons repeatedly in under two hours, that is considered a very heavy flow and you should speak to your healthcare provider. Most women need different sizes for different days of their period, such as regular at the beginning and end of their period and super or super-plus on heavier flow days.Learn MoreWhat Do Tampon Absorbency Ratings Mean?
When you first start using tampons, it may be more comfortable to start with a light or regular tampon, which is more slender. Once inserted, a tampon should last for at least two hours without leaks. If you find you are leaking sooner than two hours, try a larger size.If you soak through super-plus or ultra-sized tampons repeatedly in under two hours, that is considered a very heavy flow and you should speak to your healthcare provider. Most women need different sizes for different days of their period, such as regular at the beginning and end of their period and super or super-plus on heavier flow days.
When you first start using tampons, it may be more comfortable to start with a light or regular tampon, which is more slender. Once inserted, a tampon should last for at least two hours without leaks. If you find you are leaking sooner than two hours, try a larger size.
If you soak through super-plus or ultra-sized tampons repeatedly in under two hours, that is considered a very heavy flow and you should speak to your healthcare provider. Most women need different sizes for different days of their period, such as regular at the beginning and end of their period and super or super-plus on heavier flow days.
Learn MoreWhat Do Tampon Absorbency Ratings Mean?
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The Cleveland Clinic.Toxic shock syndrome.Inokuchi R, Ueda Y, Sonoo T, Yahagi N.Toxic shock syndrome.BMJ Case Rep.2015;2015. doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-209635
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The Cleveland Clinic.Toxic shock syndrome.Inokuchi R, Ueda Y, Sonoo T, Yahagi N.Toxic shock syndrome.BMJ Case Rep.2015;2015. doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-209635
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
The Cleveland Clinic.Toxic shock syndrome.Inokuchi R, Ueda Y, Sonoo T, Yahagi N.Toxic shock syndrome.BMJ Case Rep.2015;2015. doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-209635
The Cleveland Clinic.Toxic shock syndrome.
Inokuchi R, Ueda Y, Sonoo T, Yahagi N.Toxic shock syndrome.BMJ Case Rep.2015;2015. doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-209635
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