Dear Alice,
I had in a tampon, and now I can't find it. It was there. I tried to find it,
but I can't. Is that possible? I am really worried about it. It was in for
about one day. Please help.
Dear Reader,
A tampon cannot get lost in your body. The vagina is a potential space that can expand, and the tampon can get lodged near the back. It will remain there until you find it. It seems as though the string may have become twisted behind the tampon, or pushed way back in the vagina, making it difficult to reach.
When this happens, it takes some time for the vagina to relax and change position so that the tampon will return to its usual place, or at least to a more accessible location. Try "fishing around" for the tampon or string with your clean index finger. If you're not able to find it, try asking a partner.
Otherwise, see your health care provider. Explain the situation, and tell her/him that you are concerned about the loss, the odor, and toxic shock syndrome (TSS) [see postscript below for more information]. As a last resort, you can go to the emergency room. It is important to do this not only to regain peace of mind, but because the tampon will begin to smell bad, and, ultimately, because there may be a small risk of infection, including TSS.
September 3, 2009
To the reader,
Yes, it's embarassing. I've done it too, had sex with a tampon in and "lost it." My partner was unimpressed that I had to enlist assistance to remove it, but we got past...
To the reader,
Yes, it's embarassing. I've done it too, had sex with a tampon in and "lost it." My partner was unimpressed that I had to enlist assistance to remove it, but we got past it. In a way, that experience in the first 6 months we were together has made it easier to get past the pleathora of unpleasant bodily fucntions and dysfunctions each of us has gotten though in the 7 years since. Many "uhm I think something might be wrong with me, but I can't see/reach it for myself" problems can be quickly overcome by soliciting the help of your partner. It's not easy early on the the relationship, but in the years we've been together it's been a great help in determining that a doctors visit is either entirely unncessessary or that a trip the the ER should be in our immediate future.
A partner worth keeping long term will understand, help you out, and won't mention the situation again — unless they need similarly icky help from you.
July 21, 2009
To the reader,
I went into the ER for the same thing. They couldn't find anything, and I was so humiliated that I stopped using tampons. 5 months later, at my next annual, it was found in my...
To the reader,
I went into the ER for the same thing. They couldn't find anything, and I was so humiliated that I stopped using tampons. 5 months later, at my next annual, it was found in my posterior fornix. Very uncool.
So just because you can't "find it" doesn't mean it hasn't been misplaced. Squat when you "look" for it. Apparently, that helps. If you're still not sure, go to Planned Parenthood.
July 28, 2008
To the reader:
I too have just returned from my doctor and she found a tampon up inside me. It has been there over a week. Ewwww! I was so embarrased, she said not to be, that she had seen...
To the reader:
I too have just returned from my doctor and she found a tampon up inside me. It has been there over a week. Ewwww! I was so embarrased, she said not to be, that she had seen it many times before. The smell was very bad. The weird smelly discharge had lessened but I still knew something wasn't right. I blows my mind and I feel totally humiliated. I should feel glad that it was nothing worse. I...
June 6, 2006
Dear Alice,
Well, you can imagine my immense relief when it turned out all it was WAS a lost tampon. I work in a very public facing industry and was mortified by the odor - I had no...
Dear Alice,
Well, you can imagine my immense relief when it turned out all it was WAS a lost tampon. I work in a very public facing industry and was mortified by the odor - I had no discharge or discomfort, but could not for the life of me figure out what that odor was. I am glad this site encourages women to know their bodies and what is normal for them so they are aware when something is "not right...
August 31, 2004
Hi Alice,
I just retuned from the doctor's office and he found the problem of my odor...
Hi Alice,
I just retuned from the doctor's office and he found the problem of my odor...
July 22, 2004
Dear Alice,
Thank you very much for having this information posted. I recently started having the most offensive odor and had NO idea what was going on. I looked on several sites searching for...
Dear Alice,
Thank you very much for having this information posted. I recently started having the most offensive odor and had NO idea what was going on. I looked on several sites searching for vaginal odor/dark discharge and could not find anything that fit my symptoms. I was at such a loss I even went as far as to check out STD symptoms even though I am in a monogamous (sp) relationship with my husband whom I...
May 9, 2004
Dear Alice,
Newly—wedded, my husband and I were hosting our first big party and ended up drinking all night... when everyone left, we decided to make love. However, me, the absent-minded drunk,...
Dear Alice,
Newly—wedded, my husband and I were hosting our first big party and ended up drinking all night... when everyone left, we decided to make love. However, me, the absent-minded drunk, forgot to take out my tampon. I didn't find the disgusting thing until five days later... I literally thought something crawled inside of me and died. Thank, God, I came across your web site. I was about to call my OB/GYN, and...
February 11, 2000
Dear Alice,
Thank you for helping us solve the lost tampon mystery. After making love with my sweetheart, she realized she had forgotten to take out her tampon beforehand. And where was it now? She...
Dear Alice,
Thank you for helping us solve the lost tampon mystery. After making love with my sweetheart, she realized she had forgotten to take out her tampon beforehand. And where was it now? She convinced me that it was still there, somewhere, but where? We searched on the web and found your advice. After washing my hands thoroughly, with her guidance, I searched and finally found the lost tampon. Thank you, thank...
