Swollen inside vagina

[noel02]

i am 25 years old and sexually active with my bf of 3 years. I used to be able to wear tampons and over the past year or more I haven't been able to wear them.  It is painful to insert them adn it always feels that something is blocking it from going all the way in.  I use the smallest tampons possible and they still don't go in.  I had a PAP smear last August and everything was fine.  I am currently on the NuvaRing and I have been having trouble inserting it and having it stay in.  I have been on it for about 5 years now and I am recently having trouble with it.  I feel like I can't push it all the way in.  It is supposed to stay inside with your vagina muscles, but I find myself always having to push it back in.  I have a history of ovarian cysts, that is why i was put on NuvaRing.  I have my yearly check up next month, i was just wondering if i should go in now to get checked out, just worried and uncomfortable.  I dread having periods adn now I want to switch my birth control.  Any advice would be helpful---thanks!

[lce3202]

I used Nuvaring for one month and it made me miss my period that month.  I started spotting on day 26 and started having severe cramps.  I inserted the new ring on day 28 and got to where the cramps were unbearable and I was bleeding more.  I removed the ring and started flowing heavy so I tried to insert a tampon but it wouldn't go in.  Never had that problem before while flowing heavy like I was.  Today is day 34 (5 days after removing the nuvaring) and am still flowing heavy and am finally able to use a tampon.  I also was cramping badly after trying to insert the tampon. I would say it's related to the nuvaring and would mention it to your doctor.  They may want you to come early to be checked out.

[hopeshell]

You should ask your gyn about it at your regular appointment and he may have solutions.  A couple of things come to mind...either dryness or tensing your muscles may be the problem.  An OTC lubricant like Astroglide put on the tampon may help you insert it more deeply.  Also, sometimes in a standing or squatting position it is hard to fully relax the muscles enough.  Sitting reclined or slightly laying back helps.   It doesn't sound like anything serious to me and I don't think it is related to the ovarian cyst.  I have had trouble like that before too.  Sometimes, when you are in a hurry, you don't realize that you are tensing your muscles.  Hope that helps!