If your tampon won't go in- vaginismus could be why

If your tampon is hitting a brick wall, feels like it won't fit, or causes you significant pain upon insertion attempts, you could be dealing with something called vaginismus. Vaginismus is a pelvic floor muscle disorder characterized by significant pelvic floor muscle tightness and usually some fear of pain or fear of vaginal insertion. Without sufficient pelvic floor muscle relaxation through pelvic floor exercises or hands on treatment, you may experience painful tampon insertion, impossible pap smears that cause pain, or even inability to insert a finger. But, there's help! Vaginismus is curable!

Is some pain with tampons normal and should you feel tampons inside while wearing them?

Tampons should never be painful with insertion, while wearing them, or when removing them. You may feel some pressure or minimal discomfort when inserting them but once they are inside, they should not cause any pain at all and you should not even feel them! Once you begin walking around, it should feel like nothing at all! As long as you're not having period cramps, you should be able to walk, run, skip or jump without any worry about your tampon. We'll discuss below what to do if you suspect pelvic floor muscle tightness or vaginismus behind your tampon difficulties.

How do you put in a tampon? What's the easiest way to put a tampon in?

To put your tampon inside, you want to ensure you are in a comfortable position and that you're relaxing the muscles around your vagina to prevent any clenching that could make it more difficult for your tampon to go in. Sitting over the toilet is a great position because it encourages your muscles to relax as we generally have to relax our pelvic floor muscles to pee and poop. You can also put your tampon in while standing and slightly bending your knees. After choosing the position that's right for you- then make sure that your tampon is angled towards your tailbone or backside. Avoid inserting your tampon straight up and down because your vagina slants backward towards your low back. Keep your pelvic floor muscles relaxed like you want to pass gas while inserting your tampon about half an inch, slant it slightly backwards, and then push the end all the way up so that the only thing hanging out is a string. Then throw away the plastic remains! You should change your tampon every 3-6 hours depending on the flow.

If tampons still won't go in, what do I do? Getting pelvic floor treatment.

If you have always struggled with painful tampon insertion, the inability to insert tampons at all, or you have a fear of tampons, toxic shock, or a fear of damaging your vagina- you are dealing with symptoms of vaginismus. 

When the pelvic floor muscles become so tight that insertion is painful or impossible, this means that you need help relaxing the muscles and retraining your neuro-muscular system. By relaxing the muscles around your vagina, you can increase your pelvic floor muscle flexibility! This will then allow you to achieve pain free tampon insertion, pain free pap smears, and even pain free intercourse or PIV. Schedule a free consultation if you are interested in working with one of our doctors for vaginismus or pelvic floor muscle dysfunction or click here to read the testimonials of our past clients who are now vaginismus free!

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