When you hear stories of vagina-owners getting tampons stuck inside their body, it's easy to assume it would never happen to you. After all, you've been using them for ages without any issues. But just because you've become a veritable feminine product pro since first learning how to use them at sleepaway camp doesn't mean you're exempt from the possibility of a stuck tampon.
Having sex with a tampon inserted could also get it good and stuck, as it pushes the tampon further back into the vagina, says Christine Greves, M.D., a board-certified ob-gyn at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. And in some cases, the tampon string could break or move up into the vagina, making it even easier to forget that you put one in earlier.
Whatever the reason you’re tampon got stuck inside you, know this: It’s not gone forever and, no, it cannot get lost inside you. The only other opening is through your cervix at the top of your vagina, which is too small for a tampon to pass through, according to the U.K. National Health Service.
Signs or Symptoms of a Stuck Tampon
It's entirely possible to have a tampon stuck up there and not realize it, but doctors say you should start to suspect a stuck tampon situation if you notice one of the following signs:
A foul order. Dried blood and bacteria can collect around the tampon, creating a not-so-pleasant scent that's best described as intense and musty and fills up a room, says Dr. Streicher.
Discolored and/or bad-smelling discharge. If it's watery and brown — and, added bonus, bad-smelling — it's quite possible you have a stuck tampon, says Dr. Streicher.
Pain or itching. It’s possible to have a tampon stuck up there and not really feel anything, says Dr. Greves. But you might also feel some vaginal itchiness or even soreness (think: pelvic cramping).
Fever. A high temperature alongside these symptoms can hint not only at a stuck tampon but also infection, such as toxic shock syndrome (TSS) — although it's "extremely rare," notes Dr. Minkin.
ICYDK, toxic shock syndrome is a “bacterial infection that can cause severe illness due to toxins that enter the bloodstream and lead to inflammation,” Jessica Shepherd, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.O.G., previously told Shape. Essentially, any product that collects menstrual blood, including tampons, could allow TSS-causing bacteria to grow if left too in the vagina, according to the University of Washington Medicine. From there, the bacteria — commonly Staphylococcus aureus — can enter the bloodstream through tiny tears in the vagina caused by, yup, stuck tampons.
Symptoms of TSS can include:
TSS can progress to shock, kidney failure, and even death, so if you develop any of these symptoms, you’ll want to get to the ER ASAP, says Dr. Minkin. Again, though, TSS is very rare. It impacts less than one out of every 100,000 people in the U.S., according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and those numbers include people who develop TSS from other causes, too, including cuts and burns, surgery, and viral infections. (BTW, can you sleep with a tampon in?)
How to Remove a Stuck Tampon
If you realize you have a tampon stuck in your vaginal canal, don't panic. "It is not an emergency," says Dr. Minkin. But once you come to this realization, you are going to want to get it out, asap.
So how do you remove a stuck tampon? For starters, head to the bathroom and wash your hands thoroughly. Sit on the toilet and elevate your feet, propping them up on something such as a stool. "Try to push down a little bit like you're having a bowel movement," she says. Then, place a finger or two inside your vagina and see if you can feel the tampon or a string.
If it feels uncomfortable when you place your fingers in there, Dr. Greves recommends using some lubrication. Once you feel the stuck tampon, scoop your fingers around it and pull it down, says Dr. Streicher. "Nine times out of 10, this will do the trick."
No dice? If you don't feel anything when you reach up in there or you're not 100-percent sure you actually have a tampon stuck inside you, it's time to call your doctor. By the way, this is more of a see your regular physician vs. going to the ER kind of thing. "Don't go to the ER for this — that's overkill," says Dr. Streicher.
At your doctor's office, they'll often use a speculum to see inside your vagina and can usually remove the tampon pretty easily, says Dr. Greves. And Dr. Streicher agrees: "It takes literally five seconds for a doctor to get it out."
What to Do After a Stuck Tampon Is Removed
As for aftercare, doctors say it's not a terrible idea to wash yourself out down there. "This is probably one of the few times I do encourage women to do a douche," says Dr. Minkin. "It will help clear out remnants if the tampon has partially fallen apart."
It's also a good idea to use an odor-eliminating gel in your vagina to help acidify it and get rid of the smell, adds Dr. Streicher. "Generally, if you have an odor, it's because your vaginal pH is off," she explains. "A couple of doses of RepHresh gel will help."
Overall, though, ob-gyns stress that you should not feel weird about reaching out for help when it comes to a stuck tampon. "Don't be embarrassed about it," says Dr. Greves. "We see this kind of thing all the time."
