# another TMI thread: women, please help me with this tampon problem **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 3, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950 "2010-08-03T00:17:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Notchimine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bcef8e/32.png) [@Notchimine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Notchimine)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/21 "2010-08-03T22:18:16Z")
I’ve used tampons for 30 years and I have never had this problem. The only thing I can think of is you’re not inserting them in far enough. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/22 "2010-08-03T23:22:47Z")
Playtex works best for me. O.B. was always hit or miss on placement and Tampax just expand the wrong way. I tried using the cup but my cup runneth over frequently. For me, peri-menopause means tampon plus pad due to heaviness of flow. But hey, it ends quicker than it used to. ---
**Author:** ![trapezoidal\_jellyfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@trapezoidal\_jellyfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trapezoidal_jellyfish)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/23 "2010-08-04T05:34:58Z")
I’ve been using Tampax Gentle Glide. I checked the box, and it seems they are Slender. I probably picked those at the store because, well, nothing besides a tampon has ever been in that particular place. I’ll try another brand, and not slender. Also, maybe I do need to put them in farther, but I then have another problem. If the applicator itself is too far in, I can’t get a good enough grip on it to pull it off. That limits how far in the tampon can go. How do you deal with that? ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/24 "2010-08-04T05:49:23Z")
I swear to God that the _ahem_ issue during one’s period has a mind of its own. It can evilly miss all proper products put in its way, and still end up in your underwear. I’ve used those overnight napkins that basically extend from waistband to waist band and legband to legband, and the darned stuff STILL ends up at some point on my underwear not covered by a feminine product. This is why I have a week’s worth of “junk” panties as my Hawaiian friends call them. But yes, as others have said use the supers, they seem to work best for that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/25 "2010-08-04T05:58:16Z")
You may be pulling the outer tube out of your vagina as you push the inner tube in. I used to do that without realizing it. Now when I put in the applicator I leave just enough out to grip, then I push the plunger and it goes where it needs to be. [This video](http://www.beinggirl.com/en_US/yourperiod_inserttampon.jsp) (it’s aimed at teens, but the images are what’s important) shows what I mean. As long as you hold the grippy part snugly against your vaginal opening, when you push the plunger it will send the tampon on home. Oh, and I also use Super Duper Twinkie Sized, or whatever they’re called. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/26 "2010-08-04T07:32:37Z")
Holy shit did I wander into the wrong thread! I’ll just see myself out ladies, no need to get up. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/27 "2010-08-04T14:05:02Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > Holy shit did I wander into the wrong thread! I’ll just see myself out ladies, no need to get up. Yeah, wads of cotton and vaginas are pretty scary. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/28 "2010-08-04T15:54:16Z")
Prince Charles, now there’s a man with no fears of lady talk. After all he wanted to be Camilla’s tampon. I bet the ears would help prevent leakage. Disclaimer: I do not recommend inserting Prince Charles into your vagina. As to the OP, panty liners are your friend. I’ve never had a tampon not leak in the first couple days of my period. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/29 "2010-08-04T16:47:14Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > > [@EvilTOJ](#): > > > > Holy shit did I wander into the wrong thread! I’ll just see myself out ladies, no need to get up. > > Yeah, wads of cotton and vaginas are pretty scary. He might want to seek some therapy after having to actually witness discussion of a natural female biological function and the ways in which women deal with it. Poor guy. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/30 "2010-08-04T18:40:42Z")
For an instructive experiment, run a few brands of tampons under water and see how they’re shaped when they expand. OB–Fat cylinder Tampax Pearl–Sort of like a bat. The winged kind, not the kind you hit a baseball with. Regular Tampax–Rectangle It makes perfect sense that different shapes suit different women. So try some other brand. FWIW, I like OB best, but the no applicator thing is annoying. I, too, was heartbroken when they discontinued those. Tampax Pearl is second best for me. Well, that all is irrelevant now anyway because I’m a happy DivaCup user. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/31 "2010-08-04T18:55:52Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Disclaimer: I do not recommend inserting Prince Charles into your vagina. This is \*sooo \*begging to be used as a sig line. Or band name, whichever. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/32 "2010-08-05T04:42:36Z")
> [@trapezoidal\_jellyfish](#): > > I’ve been using Tampax Gentle Glide. I checked the box, and it seems they are Slender. I probably picked those at the store because, well, nothing besides a tampon has ever been in that particular place. I’ll try another brand, and not slender. You mean Playtex, they are the ones with the Gentle Glide branding. They open in a 360 degree way so I’m surprised you’re having this problem. I agree they might not be in all the way. If you’re not planning on going swimming, wear a panty liner as well so if there are any leaks they don’t go through to clothing. Also you can try a larger size, the slender Playtex Gentle Glides are \*very \*slender. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/33 "2010-08-05T05:53:17Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > > [@Wile\_E](#): > > > > Disclaimer: I do not recommend inserting Prince Charles into your vagina. > > This is \*sooo \*begging to be used as a sig line. Or band name, whichever. Gee, a quote of mine has never been recommended for a sig line. And it has to be about Prince Charles and vaginas.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/34 "2010-08-05T14:22:04Z")
It is not for us to decide when the gods smile upon us. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/35 "2010-08-05T14:46:02Z")
**niblet\_head** , you kill me. I’m sitting here in Barnes & Noble damn near in tears. Thank you, thank you! **Susie Derkin** and **Wile E** can also be blamed for creating unwanted attention for me. By virtue of this post, I’m bookmarking this thread so I can return when I’m in need a good giggle. ETA: o.b. user here. Same problem. Wears a pantyliner first couple of day. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/36 "2010-08-05T16:44:24Z")
Allegedly Playtex open up into a calla lily type shape, which may help catch more stuff. Putting a leg up on something can work, but it can also make it hard to relax enough to get the things in properly. Sitting spread eagle on the toilet can work. Also, make sure you aim at your sacrum area (there’s a reason they say tramp stamps are like a target) - we tend to think of the vagina as going up and down, but it’s more “back” than “up.” After having my babies, I started tucking the string in so it’s bunched up at the bottom of the tampon. I did it because my tissues couldn’t tolerate the friction of the string anymore, but it does also eliminate wicking. But you have to be comfortable going in after it with at least two fingers. Bearing down helps a lot. But if you’re a virgin, I don’t know what your comfort level is. After childbirth, I know that I could stick a whole hand up there to retrieve it if I needed to! ---
**Author:** ![be\_bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@be\_bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/be_bright)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/37 "2010-08-08T00:54:47Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > I swear to God that the _ahem_ issue during one’s period has a mind of its own. It can evilly miss all proper products put in its way, and still end up in your underwear. I’ve used those overnight napkins that basically extend from waistband to waist band and legband to legband, and the darned stuff STILL ends up at some point on my underwear not covered by a feminine product. This is why I have a week’s worth of “junk” panties as my Hawaiian friends call them. But yes, as others have said use the supers, they seem to work best for that sort of thing. I used to bleed like a manic, too, and had intense cramps to match. I actually thought leaking was normal because it happened to me at least once every period… So I use the pill now. No more leaks! I actually went to a Planned Parenthood to get the free years’ supply. REALLY long wait, but I guess it was worth it. PPs are actually quite intimidating. > [@trapezoidal\_jellyfish](#): > > I’ve been using Tampax Gentle Glide. I checked the box, and it seems they are Slender. I probably picked those at the store because, well, nothing besides a tampon has ever been in that particular place. I’ll try another brand, and not slender. > > Also, maybe I do need to put them in farther, but I then have another problem. If the applicator itself is too far in, I can’t get a good enough grip on it to pull it off. That limits how far in the tampon can go. How do you deal with that? Jellyfish: get the multipacks! Unless your period is always heavy all the way through. I like Tampax Pearl a lot better than Playtex and Kotex because the string is thicker (so it feels more secure when pulling the Tampon out). Do you keep your thumb and middle finger on the bottom part of the applicator when inserting the tampon? By doing this you should be able to feel when you’re supposed to stop–all that should remain outside is the bottom so you can push the tampon itself in. ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/38 "2010-08-08T01:07:10Z")
Try Playtex Sport. I don’t know why, but they’re less leaky than all the others. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/39 "2010-08-10T21:18:57Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > This coupled with the fact that my already rotten cramps get that much more rotten when I try to use tampons Mine too - what is up with that? I don’t have the string issue, but I get another issue in that sometimes the tampon just won’t insert correctly and it sits almost sideways once I plunge down the applicator. Hurts a bit and by that point I’m too dry to pull it out and reinsert with a new one so I deal, but I don’t understand why this happens. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950/40 "2010-08-10T22:06:04Z")
> [@trapezoidal\_jellyfish](#): > > I’ve been using Tampax Gentle Glide. I checked the box, and it seems they are Slender. I probably picked those at the store because, well, nothing besides a tampon has ever been in that particular place. I’ll try another brand, and not slender. Regular shouldn’t be a problem for an adult, even if a virgin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tmi-thread-women-please-help-me-with-this-tampon-problem/548950.md?page=3)