I am having a hard time putting on a tampon.

[Amarande]

   I am 13 years old, and was unfortunate enough to begin puberty at 8. I have always included sports in my life, but with spandex, I can't really wear a pad, and it's extremely difficult and uncomfortable to wear one. I can't determine whether I am putting it on right, because whenever I try, it presses on my vaginal muscle, and hurts so much I could cry.
   I have been searching forever for this and no matter how I'm explained, it's never right. Is there a way so it doesn't hurt so bad, otherwise please explain more precise? I'm tired of trying and trying for five years, and would greatly appreciateanyone's help. Thank you!

[CassCore]

I remember how scared I was the first time I tried to use a tampon. I'm a volleyball player so I understand your trouble with the spandex and pads! Try using the smallest tampon there is at first...the "light" kind. Your vagina is made to stretch so you just have to believe you will be okay. Try putting it in after you shower because your body is typically pretty relaxed at that point. Breathe and relax, if you are nervous and scared it tightens up the muscles and makes it harder for you to put in. Try to think about something else, something relaxing or funny. It takes practice and even at 22 sometimes I have a hard time getting it to work right. I believe you can do it! Read the little information that comes with the tampons...it explains how to put them in the best way. Good luck!!!!

[AnnieBrooke]

When I was first learning to use a tampon after several years limited to only being able to wear pads, a few things helped.  Some things, you won't need to do for long after you get used to putting tampons in, but they help at the beginning.

Use the kind of tampons (probably Tampax is the brand I'm thinking of) that have an applicator, not the kind you push in with your finger, despite the fact that they are a bit larger to carry around in your bag.  (After you get used to the drill, you can use the short ones that you just pop in with an index finger, but at first it helps to have that applicator, and the smooth, white cardboard ones on Tampax are the mildest; i.e., not scratchy hard plastic.)  

Tampax come in smaller sizes and larger sizes, indicating absorbency and also their size around.  They have a tiny one that is not much bigger around than a pencil -- it's a good one to start with because it's easier to insert.  (It used to be called "Junior" size, maybe they've upgraded the name by now. )  Just remember the correlation between size and absorbency, and be sure to change the Juniors pretty often until you figure out how fast your flow comes down.

Pick up a tube of KY Jelly when you are at the drugstore, too.  When you are just starting out (you won't need to do this too long, but you'll appreciate it at first), put some KY Jelly on the end of the tampon and applicator before you get ready to put it in.  It will smooth the way past the tight muscles at the entrance of the vagina.

The applicator is a smaller tube inside a just slightly larger tube, where pushing on the string end pushes the tampon out the other end.  Use a sort of "giving a shot" motion when pressing the tampon out of the applicator, and keep pushing until your pushing thumb meets your holding fingers.  You need to push until both tubes are one inside the other entirely, (without losing your grip on the outer tube so you can pull it out once you've shot the tampon into your vagina).

It is not possible to push a tampon in too far unless you totally bury the string, but it is painful and very noticeable if you do not push it in far enough.  The muscles at the vaginal opening are quite tight, even if the vagina itself relaxes and accepts a tampon with no problem.  (That's why tampons don't fall out.)  You have to get past that tighter ring of muscles.  Sometimes, when using the non-applicator kind that you push in with your fingertip, you basically just shove the darn thing in.  But it's easier to learn what feels normal about this by using the applicator type of tampons first.

When you are first getting used to the pace of your period flow in relation to how many tampon changes you need in a day, wear a pad also.  (For example, for some people it might come fast and hard the first or second day, lighten up the third day, increase again the fourth day and taper off on the fifth.  It helps to know this because you can plan how often to change the tampon.)  You don't always feel leaks when a tampon is in, since the fluid coming out is at body temperature, and probably every woman's most embarrassing life moment has to do with having white pants or shorts on in public and having a tampon overflow.  After you get used to the normal pace of your flow, you might just wear a stick-in pantiliner (not bulky or with wings) to catch the odd drip.