How to Remove a Stuck Tampon

Tampons can get "stuck" inside the vagina for a number of reasons. The tampon string can break. You might slip a new tampon in without taking the old one out. Or you might forget to remove a tampon before sex. However it might happen, it can feel as if the tampon is out of reach or lost.

The simple fact is that you cannot "lose" a tampon in your vagina. What can happen is that the tampon has moved so far into the vaginal canal that it is hard to locate or grasp.

This article guides you through the delicate process of finding and removing a tampon that seems "stuck" or is hard to reach. It also explains when it is time to seek medical assistance.

Why You Can’t Find the String

The vagina is an enclosed organ about four inches long and two inches wide. It is very elastic and can stretch wide enough to allow a newborn baby to pass through.

Most tampons are a little less than two inches long and, after insertion, are easily removed by gently pulling the string attached to one end.

It is possible for a tampon to move up to the top or back of the vagina. If this happens, you may not be able to see the string.

There are several reasons why this might occur:

• The vaginal canal may be longer in some people—up to six inches—making it easier for the tampon to move deeper into the vagina.
• You may forget you have a tampon in you and insert another one on top, propelling the first one to the top or back of the vagina.
• You might have vaginal intercourse with a tampon still inside you. The erect penis can easily push the tampon and string deeper into the canal.
  

The important thing to remember is that the tampon is not "lost." It may have moved farther up into the vaginal canal but cannot go beyond the cervix (the tiny opening of the uterus, or womb).

How to Find the Tampon

If you cannot find the tampon string or think that the tampon is "stuck," you can try bearing down like you would for a bowel movement. This helps contract the walls of the vagina and may propel the tampon closer to the opening where you can find the string.

If that doesn't work you may be able to manually remove the tampon with two clean fingers.

Here's how:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
2. Sit on the toilet with your knees a little more than hip-width apart.
3. Squeeze your pelvic floor muscles, bearing down as if you were trying to urinate.
4. Gently insert your index and middle fingers into your vagina.
5. Sweep your fingers around the vagina, feeling your way toward the top and back.
6. If you can find the tampon, grasp it between your fingers and gently pull it out.
7. If you can’t find the tampon, you may still be able to find the string. If you do, use your fingers to gently fish the string out and then pull the string until the tampon is removed.

What to Do If You Can’t Find the Tampon

If you cannot get the tampon out after several tries, take a break, wait for a while, and give it another go. This gives your vaginal muscles time to relax. Trying too hard or prodding too aggressively can cause vaginal redness, swelling, and tenderness.

It is also important to note that dry tampons can get "stuck" quite easily and, by waiting, you may find that it is easier to remove with your menstrual flow.

You can also try squatting, following the same steps described above. Squatting pushes the vagina into a more forward and downward position.

If you try all of these things and still cannot find or "unstick" the tampon, see your gynecologist. The gynecologist can seat you on an examination chair and remove the tampon with a small clamp used for surgical sponges. The procedure may be uncomfortable but should not cause pain.

Summary

You can't lose a tampon inside your vagina. If a tampon moves to the top or back end of the vagina, you may lose sight of the strings, but the tampon is still there.

If a tampon is "stuck," sit on a toilet with your knees apart and bear down as if you were peeing or having a bowel movement. You can then use two fingers to sweep inside the vagina until you find the string or the tampon.

If this doesn't work, call your gynecologist to have the tampon removed. Leaving a tampon in too long can cause an infection and, in rare cases, a potentially deadly condition called toxic shock syndrome.