Tampon Instructions for First Time Users

Using a tampon for the first time may feel intimidating. But as soon as you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder what all the fuss was about. It’s super simple. We promise. Inside your TAMPAX box, you’ll find a pamphlet with tampon instructions and other useful information. If you can’t find it or are out and about (or if you simply prefer to read stuff online) we’ve put together a set of tampon instructions and tips for you.

The best tampon tip is to relax. Practice makes perfect and there’s nothing to be nervous about. Follow these tampon instructions and you’ll do just great.

1. First, wash your hands. This is super important because you’ll be getting your hands up close and personal with your lady parts. Your hands come in contact with lots of stuff in the world, and you don’t want any germs getting in there.


2. Next, unwrap the tampon from its wrapper. Toss the wrapper in the bin.


3. Using your thumb and middle finger, hold the applicator in the middle where the inner tube meets the outer tube. There’s a special textured grip mark, so it’s easy to hold. For Tampax Compak, you simply need to pull out the applicator until it clicks.


4. Find your vagina. It’s the opening in the middle – the bigger one. It’s between your urethra, where your pee comes out, and your anus, where your poop comes out. Check out this video here for a visualization of how to find your vagina.


5. Spread your legs so they’re about shoulder width apart. Insert the thick end of the tampon into your vagina. Angle the tampon slightly toward your back. That’s how your vagina is angled, so this will make it slide in more easily. Some tampons, like TAMPAX Pearl Compak have a rounded tip that makes the insertion super comfortable. Click here for a fun video explanation of this process.
   
   A tampon tip for easy insertion: If you’re tensing up, take a few deep breaths and then insert. This will help your muscles relax.
   
   Another tampon training tip: Some girls find it easier to insert their tampon by putting one leg up on the toilet seat. You may want to try that too!


6. Make sure you’ve slid the tampon in far enough. Keep going until your fingers holding the grip come in contact with your skin. If they don’t touch, the tampon isn’t in far enough.


7. Still holding the grips with your middle finger and thumb, use your index finger to push the inner tube of the applicator up into the outer tube that is now in your vagina. This will release the tampon from the applicator into your vagina. Gently pull the applicator out, leaving just the tampon string hanging outside your body.
   
   At this point, you shouldn’t feel the tampon. If you do, it’s probably not in far enough. Use your finger to push it in further or take it out and try again with a new tampon.


8. Bin it. Toss the applicator in the bin – never flush it! Flushing an applicator could clog the toilet.


9. Wash your hands afterwards, too.

Want some more tampon tips? Read on.

• Be sure to use the right absorbency for your flow. The lowest possible absorbency is best. Learn more here.
• Be sure to change your tampon every 4 to 8 hours.
• Never wear your tampon for more than 8 hours
• When it’s time to remove your tampon, gently tug on the string hanging outside your body, and voila! Your tampon will slide out. Wrap it up and toss it in the bin.
• Your tampon can’t get lost inside of you. It’s medically impossible! The cervix, at the end of your vagina, has a very tiny opening that only lets semen and menstrual fluid through. Wanna know more? Learn more here.
• Never use more than one tampon at a time. Before you insert a tampon, be sure that you’ve removed your old tampon, first. And at the end of your cycle, make sure you take the last tampon out.

With these tampon instructions in hand, feel free to tampon away! The more tampon training and practice you do, the more confident you’ll feel. And then go live your life and don’t let your period stop you from doing what you want.