Lost tampon

[BossMami]

This is really embarrassing!  I'll start by saying I haven't had regular periods for nearly two years, but I NEVER thought I'd lose track of putting on tampon or taking it out.  Needless to say, I forgot, for over a month and a half! I started noticing a really bad odor after having sex with my husband.  In the last year I started getting yeast infections more regularly than I'd like so I thought maybe its a yeast infection no big deal.  I bought probiotics, yogurt, made sure I'm wearing cotton underwear, watch my diet, and keep away from sexual activity for as long as possible.  However when I would have sex my husband would say something wasn't right.  Due to insurance reasons I was trying to put off going to the doctor but finally gave in when nothing was working.  I'm very comfortable with my body and have an awesome husband who is just as comfortable.  Well, I decided to check myself while in the shower to feel if there was anything different inside my vagina and unbeknownst to me I could feel something that wasn't normal.  I immediately call my husband to check me but he told me it would be better for him to check me if I was lying down, so I did.  He felt the same thing I felt and I told him what I thought it could be, a tampon.  Well the great man that he is he took it out.  I went back to look at when I last had a period (sometimes just spot, or they last for a day or two tops) and it was the first week of December 2013!  My doctors appointment isn't for another two weeks and now that I know what cause was for the foul smell I'm nervous about a bacterial infection or toxic shock syndrome.  Any advice?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Lost tampon often carries the risk of pelvic infection and pelvic inflammatory disease. Hence get an ultrasound uterus done first as sometimes pelvic examination may displace the tampon further. It will also rule out other causes. If tampon is confirmed then it can be removed by an ultrasound guided D+C.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[AnnieBrooke]

Don't worry about TSS, you would certainly know if you had it (fever, passing out).  There is a possibility of infection, but luckily the vagina is a pretty clean environment.  Ask the doctor if you can get an earlier appointment, though.