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Stuck tampon or menstrual cup? Fret not, here’s the right way to remove it

It is pretty common to have a stuck tampon or menstrual cup in your vagina, but you must know the right way to remove it.
Do not panic if your menstrual cup or tampon gets stuck inside the vagina. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Geetika Sachdev Published: 22 Oct 2021, 19:52 pm IST

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For the longest time, most of us have been accustomed to using sanitary napkins. With a surge in menstrual hygiene products, there are multiple options available today that are worth a try. Tampons and menstrual cups feature at the top of the list, but it is important to be mindful while using them. What does that mean? That it should not stay inside your vagina for hours at a stretch because if it does, there can be serious consequences.

According to Dr Rajeswari Pawar, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Motherhood Hospital, Pune, your tampon or menstrual cup should not stay for more than 24 hours because they can lead to the growth of bacteria in the vagina. Also, these pathogens get the perfect biomes there and multiply even faster.

“If the flow is heavy, make sure to change the tampon multiple times a day. You should at least change your tampon 2-3 times a day,” she shared with HealthShots.

A stuck tampon can be scary! Image courtesy: Shutterstock

But what if your tampon or menstrual cup is stuck inside your vagina? How can you remove it?

This can happen, but you need not be scared at all. It just means that you might have possibly inserted it the wrong way. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, and are scared about what to do, Dr Tanaya Narendra (also known as dr_cuterus on Instagram) has the perfect solution for you.

“In the case of a menstrual cup, use your fingers to pinch the bottom of the cup. Make sure to use the stem as a guide to find the bottom of the cup. Pinching will help release the vacuum from the air holes on your cup,” she had earlier shared in an Instagram post.

Check out the post for yourself

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Try to squeeze the base of the cup, but using consistent pressure. For those who use a tampon and think it’s similar, well that’s not really the case. It might take a little longer, so have some patience.

A word of advice

Dr Narendra says that the process may take longer for those who are first-time menstrual cup users. Here’s what she says, “Squat on the floor (this relaxes your pelvic muscles, so they let go of the cup. Try to give birth to the cup, put pressure the same way as if you were pooping the cup out.” Also, if you’ve been trying to remove it for a while, and your vagina feels swollen and heavily stressed, please take a break.

And in case none of these tips help, make sure to go to a doctor. No, they won’t judge you in any way! Instead, you’ll feel a lot more relieved.

Geetika Sachdev

An independent writer and journalist, Geetika loves sharp and fresh humour, just like her coffee! If not writing, you'll find her cafe-hopping and raiding the best book stores in town. ...Read More

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