Why does it hurt to use a tampon?
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Using tampons or menstrual cups shouldn’t be painful. Period. (pun intended)
If you have pain every time you try to insert menstrual products, read on for some reasons why it may be painful and how to fix it.
First, if you have pain and difficulty inserting menstrual products, do not force them in! This can cause more pain and difficulty with using menstrual products. Seek out medical help from a gynecologist, urogynecologist, and/or pelvic health physical therapist to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. The following list includes the more common reasons why you may be having pain and how to fix it.
Vaginismus
This condition is characterized by pain and the lower part of the vaginal muscles involuntarily tightening up when something is being inserted. This can include inserting menstrual products, toys, your partner, or speculums for pelvic exams. Since the muscles involuntarily contract, it can feel like you have no control over them and cause anxiety or other negative feelings.
To manage vaginismus, you will need to work with a medical provider – sometimes several. Often, working on relaxing the nervous system and pelvic floor muscles can help with decreasing pain. A useful tool for this is diaphragmatic breathing (slowly and fully breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth). I will instruct people to do diaphragmatic breathing while inserting a small-sized tampon to work on keeping the muscles relaxed and have less pain. Additionally, using vaginal trainers, like the ones from Intimate Rose, can help retrain the muscles and tissues so you have less pain. A pelvic health physical therapist can instruct you on how to use vaginal trainers.
Bonus! Use code ALEXANDRA for $5 off at Intimate Rose
Vulvodynia or Vestibulodynia
If you have burning pain at the vaginal opening when you insert a tampon, you may have vulvodynia. This condition is characterized by pain at the vulva and vaginal opening when provoked by touch or penetration.
To manage vulvodynia and vestibulodynia, medications may be recommended to help relieve the pain. Working with a pelvic health therapist can also be very beneficial. Physical therapy treatment may include biofeedback to relax and retrain the pelvic floor muscles, and they may also instruct you on how to use vaginal trainers.
Important: maintain good vulvar health by wearing cotton underwear and avoid douching and scrubbing the area with harsh soaps.
Vaginal dryness
If the vaginal opening is too dry when you insert or remove a tampon, the friction can cause pain. Try using a smaller-sized tampon, especially if you’re experiencing pain on lighter days during your cycle, or switch to a pad or liner. You can also apply a very small amount (just a dab!) of lubricant to the plastic tampon applicator to make it easier to insert. I love Good Clean Love lubricant because it doesn’t dry out the vaginal tissues.
Important: If your vaginal dryness is chronic and not getting better, it could be a sign of something else underlying and a check-up with your medical provider is warranted.
Vaginitis
This condition is characterized by inflammation of the vagina that can result in itching, discharge, and pain. The cause of this is usually a change in the balance of vaginal bacteria or an infection. If you have these symptoms, see your medical provider for treatment and resolve the inflammation and/or infection.
These are just a few of the common reasons you may be experiencing pain with inserting menstrual products (or anything else). Just know that you are not alone and your symptoms can be treated! Learn more about what to expect in pelvic health physical therapy – and how to find one – in the blog post, “Pelvic Health Physical Therapy 101”.
