vaginapagina | Tampon using help

Tampon using help

Oh, right. I'm a month-over-14 year old girl.

Um, I'm going to a four-day camp on Monday, and I'm excepting my period to still be here when we go [I got it on Monday, last week, but mine always last awhile, and right now it seems like it's still going to be here..] and we're going to be swimming a lot..

..And my problem, I guess, is that I've never used a tampon before.. and I've tired to use them before.. and I can't. Is there anything I can try doing? Something I'm doing wrong, perhaps?

Any type of help, or anything, would be appreaciated..

Edit I've read all the comments, and I wouldn't know what to say to most of you, other then thank you. I think my first problem trying to use one, was not talking to my mom, or anything, first, and just stealing one from her, and trying to do it. Haha. But, thank you all for your comments, and they are VERY appreaciated.

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I would also try some lubricant on the applicator, if you can get ahold of some petroleum jelly (vaseline) that would work fine! If you can't manage to get it in, I always just take my pad off before swimming and just go. Tampons will absorb the water in the pool while you're swimming, so I don't really see the difference! Then I just slip a pad without wings on after I get out, no big deal :) but I can see how that would be annoying if you're getting in and out, etc.

Tampons will absorb the water in the pool while you're swimming, so I don't really see the difference!

Tampons don't absorb the water, since they're inside rather than outside. This is why lots of people prefer using tampons when they're swimming, etc.

Agreed!

Really? I didn't know that, I was just guessing.. I know some water usually gets up there while I'm swimming, so I just assumed the tampon would get wet too ;)

I always just take my pad off before swimming and just go.

That's not an option for some of us, we just bleed too damn much :) and tampons don't generally fill with water, most menstruating women use them for swimming.

Really? I was just hypothesizing, I've never swum with a tampon before :)

Yeah, I just generally have a medium flow, so I tend to be okay. Nothing running down my leg when I get out, so I'm pretty much cool, lol.

Well, do you find yourself filling with water inside when you go swimming? no? there you go then :)

And hah, oh, to live like that! I'd get blood on my legs/in the pool within ten minutes. It's fine, that's what the Mooncup is for...

You know, I was thinking of buying a cup just for swimming.. it would be really nice and convenient :)

They have a bit of a steep learning curve, but once you get the hang of them they're invaluable :) good luck if you do.

But, if your bleeding, won't it get in the water? And especially if your swimming with other people.. wouldn't that be, erm.. discusting? In a sort of way? Although, I see if your not bleeding a lot, it would be okay.. but it was like huge globs on blood.. -no sence-..

We're swimming in a lake, which was discrubed as 'black' [the water colour] so, I don't think that would matter much.. but still. I wouldn't want anyone to noice.

Well, you actually bleed very little on your period, less than you would think! (of course this varies person to person, but still.)

I've gone swimming in very clear water, and I was totally fine.. I wasn't leaving a little trail of blood behind me like you might think, lol! As for it being "gross", menstrual blood is completely sanitary, and you're in a huge lake, so it would be diluted so much that it wouldn't even matter :)

Petroleum jelly is probably not the best thing to use for lubrication. It's very greasy, and just not something I'd want near my vagina. KY jelly and other lubes are designed for that purpose, and they are available at any grocery store.

OP: You've gotten so much great advice. Best of luck!

Well, vaseline is sort of a household item.. I assumed since she's fourteen she most likely dosen't have a job or transportation to get to a store to buy 'proper' lubricant. Better than nothing at all, it was just a suggestion :)

I wouldn't recommend vaseline, but something water based -- ky or other lube would be better.

Well, yes, but since she's fourteen and most likely dosen't have a job or transportaion, I assumed she'd need to improvise a bit :) for anyone who can get to a better lubricant, though, this is good info.

KY is pretty cheap, and available in grocery stores. It's something her folks may even have around the house -- nip a bit for tampon use if you can't talk to mom.

However, maybe she can talk to mom (unlike me at that age!!!) -- it's a lot less embarrassing to ask mom for KY to help insert tampons than to ask for a trip to the doctor for a bacterial infection caused by vaseline.

Another alternative is to not wipe all of your natural lubrication away when using the bathroom, and rub the tip of the tampon in it to slick it up. I use ob, and have done this occassionally when I'd be too dry otherwise to comfortably insert.

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Tampon using help

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no to vaseline

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Re: no to vaseline