How do I actually insert a tampon/menstrual cup the right way without it hurting (and how do I know it’s in correctly)?
Q: How do I actually insert a tampon/menstrual cup the right way without it hurting (and how do I know it’s in correctly)?A: Tampons and cups shouldn’t feel like punishment. If it hurts going in, something’s off—usually angle, dryness, or size. Wash your hands, relax your pelvic floor (deep belly breaths), and aim *back* toward your tailbone, not straight up. For tampons, insert the applicator or tampon as far as it comfortably goes, then push the plunger (for applicators) or your finger (for non-applicator) until the bulky part is fully inside. You should barely feel it—just the string at the entrance.For menstrual cups, fold (C-fold or punch-down), insert the rim first angled back, let it open, then gently rotate or tug to create a seal. When it’s in right: no sharp pain, minimal awareness, and no leaking after a few test squats or coughs.Want to sanity-check what you’re feeling right now? Chat it out with Gush and walk through your cycle, symptoms, and sensations in real time.
How to insert a tampon or menstrual cup without pain
First, a reality check: your vagina isn’t the problem
If inserting tampons or a menstrual cup hurts, your body isn’t “broken.” You were probably never given decent instructions—because apparently thorough period education is too much to ask.Pain usually comes from:- Wrong angle (straight up instead of toward your lower back)- Too dry (low arousal, light flow, or certain birth control)- Size mismatch (super tampon in a light-flow vagina = sandpaper)- Tensing your muscles from anxiety or bad past experiencesYour vagina is a muscular tube tilted back, not a vertical tunnel. Respect the angle, and half the battle is won.
Step-by-step: tampon insertion that doesn’t feel like sandpaper
1. **Wash your hands.** Basic, but also: your vagina is not a hand sanitizer dispenser.2. **Choose the right absorbency.**- Light days: light or regular.- Heavy days: regular or super.Using a super on a light day is how you get dryness, micro-tears, and discomfort.3. **Get into position.**- Sit on the toilet with knees apart.- Or stand with one foot on the tub.- Or squat if that feels more natural.4. **Relax your pelvic floor.**- Deep breath in, slowly exhale.- Drop your shoulders and unclench your butt. Your vagina follows your stress levels.5. **Angle matters.**- Hold the tampon at the middle of the applicator.- Gently place the tip at your vaginal opening.- Aim **toward your tailbone**, not straight up.6. **Insert and release.**- Slide the applicator in until your fingers touch your vulva.- Use your index finger to push the inner tube all the way in.- Pull the plastic/paper out and toss. The cotton part stays inside, string hanging out.For **non-applicator tampons**:- Use a finger to push the tampon in as far as it comfortably goes.- The thicker part should be fully inside; only the string should remain outside.
How to know your tampon is in correctly
You’ll know it’s right when:- You **can’t really feel it** once you stand and walk.- There’s **no sharp or pinching pain**—a tiny bit of awareness at first is okay.- It doesn’t slip out when you bear down or cough.- It isn’t leaking within an hour (if it is, you might need a higher absorbency or different angle).Red flags:- Hurts when you sit down → it’s probably too shallow. Remove and try again.- Feels like stabbing → wrong angle or partially in your vaginal wall. Remove.- Won’t go in at all → you may be clenching or dealing with vaginismus; that deserves support, not shame.If you want to talk through exactly what you’re feeling ("is this pinchy or just weird-new?"), Gush can help you sort through sensations, cycle changes, and when to get things checked out.
Menstrual cup insertion: folds, angles, and getting a good seal
Cups are more awkward at first, but once you get the rhythm, they’re low-maintenance and TSS risk is lower than tampons.**1. Pick a fold**- **C-fold:** Fold the cup in half to make a “C.”- **Punch-down fold:** Push one side of the rim down into the cup and pinch—this makes a smaller tip and is gentler for beginners.**2. Lube is not cheating**- Rinse the cup in warm water.- Or use a tiny bit of **water-based lube** on the rim if you’re dry (common on birth control or in your luteal phase).**3. Insert with the right angle**- Get comfy: sit on the toilet, stand with one leg up, or squat.- Spread your labia with one hand.- With the other, insert the folded cup **toward your tailbone**, not straight up.**4. Let it open and check the seal**- Once the cup is fully inside (stem just inside or barely peeking), let it pop open.- Gently twist the base or run a finger around it:- It should feel mostly round, not squished.- A light tug should meet resistance (that’s the seal).**5. Signs your cup is in correctly**- You don’t feel any sharp edges.- You can walk, sit, and squat without feeling it nagging.- Minimal or no leaking after a few test movements.
Removing tampons and cups safely
- **Tampons:** Pull the string out at a slight angle toward the back. If it feels stuck and dry, next time use lower absorbency or change later.- **Cups:**- Pinch the base to break the seal (do *not* just yank the stem).- Wiggle it side to side while gently pulling down.- Empty, rinse with mild, unscented soap and water, reinsert.
Hormones, your menstrual cycle, and why some days hurt more
Your cycle phases change how easy insertion feels:- **Menstrual phase (bleeding, low estrogen + progesterone):**- More blood = more natural lubrication.- Cervix is usually a bit lower and softer.- Tampons/cups often slide in easier.- **Follicular phase (after your period, rising estrogen):**- Vaginal tissue plumps up and gets more elastic.- Natural lubrication increases.- Insertion (cups, tampons, toys) tends to feel more comfortable.- **Ovulation (estrogen peaks, luteinizing hormone surge):**- Cervical mucus is stretchy and slippery—fertility apps love this, and so do tampons.- Many people feel more turned on and sensitive in a good way.- **Luteal phase (after ovulation, high progesterone):**- Progesterone can make mucus thicker and decrease natural lubrication.- Bloating and tenderness can make insertion feel more noticeable or uncomfortable.Birth control that flattens estrogen peaks (like many combined pills) can keep you slightly drier overall, so tampons and cups may feel draggy without extra moisture.
Irregular cycles, pain, and when to see a doctor
You deserve answers if things feel off. Pay attention if:- Insertion *always* hurts, no matter how gentle or lubricated you are.- You feel intense burning, stabbing, or like you’re “hitting a wall.”- You notice foul-smelling discharge, itching, or pelvic pain.- You suddenly can’t find a tampon string or cup stem.Possible causes range from infections (yeast, BV, STIs) to conditions like vaginismus, endometriosis, or pelvic floor dysfunction. None of that is a moral failing—it’s just biology demanding proper care.- **See a provider or gynecologist** if pain is severe or persistent.- If a tampon or cup is stuck, **don’t panic**—squatting and bearing down usually lowers it enough to reach. If not, urgent care or a gyn can remove it.Your body is not “too much” because tampons or cups feel tricky. You just weren’t given the manual. Now you have one—and if you want a co-pilot, Gush can walk through your specific cycle, products, and pain level with you, zero shame attached.
