How to safely remove a tampon stuck in the vagina & bull; hello healthy

Apart from sanitary napkins, tampons are an alternative for women that can be used to collect menstrual blood. These days, tampons are quite popular because they are considered more "friendly" to the environment. Therefore, nowadays some women switch to using tampons. However, for those of you who are beginners, you must know very well how to use tampons. The reason is, tampons can get stuck in the vagina, you know.

Tampons, another alternative during menstruation

Apart from pads, there are several other health products that you can use during menstruation, one of which is tampons.

Slightly different from pads, tampons are cylindrical. This object is made of soft cotton that can be inserted into the vagina to absorb the blood flow that comes out while you are menstruating. If pads are used to collect the blood that comes out of the vagina, tampons actually clog the vagina and absorb menstrual blood.

The cylindrical tampon is very easy to insert into the vagina, moreover, it also comes with an applicator which makes it easier to insert the tampon through the vaginal opening. This small object is also accompanied by a thread at the bottom, making it easier for you to remove it from the vagina.

Unfortunately, when used, there is a possibility or reason that the tampon gets stuck in your vagina.

Why do tampons get stuck? A stuck tampon in the vagina can occur if:

You forgot to take out the tampon that was already in your vagina, but added a new one, so the first tampon went deeper.
The tampon has loose threads, making it difficult for you to remove any tampon that is already inside your vagina

The stuck tampon must be removed, but this is not a dangerous thing, because your vagina is only up to a maximum of 10 cm deep. So, even if it gets stuck, it is still in the vagina, not into your body and getting stuck in other parts of your body.

What are the signs of a tampon stuck in the vagina?

A stuck tampon can be indicated by the following:

If the color is vaginal discharge, the natural discharge from the vagina, turns brown, dark yellow, pink, or gray
Leucorrhoea becomes foul smelling
The vagina has a foul odor
The inside of the veins or the area around the vagina and urethra feels itchy
A rash and redness appears on the vagina
Feel sick and uncomfortable when urinating
Pelvic pain
Swelling on and around the vagina
Fever up to 40 degrees Celsius

These symptoms occur because tampons that are stuck in the vagina for too long cause infection. If this is the case, you are not advised to remove the tampon yourself and immediately contact the Emergency Room at the nearest hospital.

How to remove a stuck tampon

If you don't have any symptoms of the infection but you notice a tampon stuck in your vagina, you can still remove it yourself. However, before doing so, make sure your nails have been trimmed so that you don't injure your own vagina.

Before you start removing the tampon, make sure your hands are clean too. If you are unsure, wash them with warm water and soap to ensure their hands are more clean. Wrap the wound on the hand (if applicable) with a bandage.

Follow these steps to locate the tampon in the vagina:

Lie down or sit on the toilet sitting with your feet resting on an object. You can also try standing on one leg with the other on the toilet.
Try to push hard as if you are having a bowel movement. In certain cases, when you push the tampon it will come out on its own.
If the tampon doesn't come out, or you can't feel the tampon itself, take a deep breath and relax your muscles.
Insert one finger into your vagina, then rotate your finger in a sweeping motion on the inside of your vagina to find the tampon. Try to insert your finger deep enough to make the tampon easier to find.

Use your own hands and avoid using other objects such as tweezers to pull the tampon into your vagina. Once you know the location of the tampon, follow these steps to remove it:

As much as possible, try to relax your pelvic muscles.
Insert two fingers into the vagina to hold the tampon or tampon string from inside the vagina. If you have trouble or feel uncomfortable, you can use lubricants to make the process easier.
Gently pull the tampon out of the vagina.
If it has been successfully removed, check the tampon and make sure that no parts of the tampon are left in the vagina.

However, if you are still having trouble getting a tampon out of your vagina on your own, or if you think a part of the tampon is still in your vagina, don't hesitate to ask your doctor for help to remove it. Because, if not removed immediately, a tampon stuck in the vagina can cause a life-threatening infection.