It’s important to know that you can’t actually “lose” a tampon in your vagina. It is possible for a tampon to move so far into your vagina that it’s hard to grasp. And tampons that stay in your vagina too long are a health risk. Your risk of menstrual toxic shock syndrome (MTSS) triples when you leave a tampon in place longer than eight hours.
This article guides you through the delicate process of finding and removing a tampon that’s hard to reach or “stuck.”
Where a Tampon Can Go
Your vagina is a closed space. Once you put in a tampon, it will stay in the vagina until you take it out.
Think of your vagina as a pouch with one opening at the lower end. At the upper end or top of the pouch is the cervix, which is connected to the uterus. The cervix also has an opening, but it is so small that a tampon would never fit through it.
Why You Can’t Find the String
Your vagina is bigger than a tampon. The average vagina is about four inches long and about two inches wide. Two inches wide may seem narrow, but remember that the walls of your vagina are very elastic. They can stretch wide enough to let a newborn baby pass through.
A tampon applicator can easily fit into your vagina. And your vagina can expand as a tampon absorbs blood and becomes wider.
Most tampons are a little less than two inches long. It’s possible for a tampon to move up to the top or back of the vagina. If that happens, you might not be able to see the string.
Remain Calm
It’s really common to feel stressed or panicky if you can’t see or feel tampon strings. Still, it’s important to keep calm. When you get anxious or stressed, you can contract or clench different muscles in your body.
If you are upset about the “lost” tampon, you may tighten the muscles around your vagina. That could make it even harder to locate and remove the tampon.
How to Find the Tampon
First, take a deep breath and relax. The tampon is exactly where you put it—still in your vagina. You can take these steps to find it:
Wash your hands well with soap and water. Sit on the toilet with your legs open a bit more than hip-width apart. Squeeze or press with the muscles in your vagina to try and push the tampon. If you are having a hard time squeezing the muscles of your pelvic floor, gently bear down as if you are starting to urinate. Gently insert two fingers into your vagina. Sweep your fingers around the inside of your vagina trying to feel your way toward the top and back of your vagina. If you can feel the tampon, grab it between your fingers and slowly pull it out. If you can’t feel the tampon, you may at least be able to locate the strings. If you do, pull the tampon out by the strings.
If You Can’t Find the Tampon
Give yourself time to follow the steps described above. After a couple of tries, you will probably be able to find and take out the tampon. If not, call your gynecologist or a healthcare professional. You can make an appointment to have it removed.
If you’re feeling embarrassed about asking for help, that’s okay. You’re not the only person to need help taking out a tampon that’s moved way up inside the vagina.
Summary
You can’t lose a tampon inside your vagina. That’s because there is only one opening large enough to fit a tampon. If a tampon moves to the upper end of your vagina, you may lose sight of the strings, but the tampon is still there.
To find it, sit on a toilet and move your legs apart. Using two fingers, gently sweep from side to side inside your vagina until you feel the strings or the tampon. Clamp the tampon between your fingers and slowly remove it. If you don’t find it at first, breathe deeply, stay calm, and try again.
If you can’t find the tampon, it’s important to call your doctor or a healthcare professional to have it removed. Leaving a tampon in too long can cause an infection.
A Word From Verywell
There are many myths about menstruation. Lots of women don’t know the facts. If you have questions, it’s okay to ask them. The more you know about the anatomy of your vagina, the better prepared you will be to handle situations like a “lost” tampon.
You can try to push the tampon down the vaginal canal by bearing down like you would for a bowel movement. Then insert two clean fingers while bearing down. It may take several tries to reach the tampon and pull it out.
