A non-applicator tampon, often called a digital tampon, is simply the absorbent core inserted directly using a finger instead of a plastic or cardboard tube. Many choose this method because the tampons are smaller and more discreet, making them easier to carry than their applicator counterparts. Eliminating the applicator also significantly reduces waste, appealing to those seeking more environmentally friendly menstrual products. Furthermore, inserting the tampon digitally allows for greater control over the final placement, which many users find results in a more comfortable fit.
Essential Preparation and Positioning
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling the tampon to prevent introducing bacteria into the vaginal canal. Once clean, unwrap the tampon from its packaging, being careful to touch only the base and the string. Tug the removal string gently from side to side to ensure it is securely attached and to create a small indentation at the base for your finger.
The orientation of the vaginal canal is not straight up and down, but rather angles back toward the lower spine, which makes proper positioning necessary for easy insertion. You can achieve this alignment by sitting on a toilet with your knees spread wide, standing with one foot elevated on a stable surface like a bathtub edge, or squatting slightly. These postures naturally shorten and widen the vaginal canal, making the path of insertion more direct and less likely to meet resistance.
Locating the vaginal opening is the next step and may be aided by gently spreading the outer labia with your non-dominant hand. The vaginal opening is a soft, oval-shaped slit situated between the urethra, where urine exits, and the anus. Understanding this relative positioning ensures the tampon is directed correctly, as the urethral opening is far too small for a tampon to enter.
Step-by-Step Insertion Technique
Hold the tampon at its base with your thumb and middle finger, placing your index finger directly on the center of the base where the string knot is located. Relax the pelvic floor muscles, as tension can tighten the vaginal opening and make insertion uncomfortable or difficult. Taking a slow, deep breath just before attempting insertion can help relax these muscles.
Gently guide the tip of the tampon into the vaginal opening, using your index finger to push the tampon inward. Instead of pushing straight upward, aim the tampon at approximately a 45-degree angle, pointing back toward your tailbone. If you encounter resistance, slightly change the angle of your push, remembering that the vagina is a muscular tube, not a rigid pipe.
Continue pushing the tampon with your index finger until the entire absorbent cotton cylinder is completely inside the body. For proper placement, your fingertip should reach the end of the tampon’s length, pushing the tampon into the upper third of the vaginal canal. The tampon is correctly positioned when your index finger is inserted up to its second knuckle or deeper.
Once you have pushed the tampon in as far as comfortably possible, withdraw your index finger. The absorbent part of the tampon is now situated in the wider, less sensitive upper region of the vagina, and only the withdrawal string should remain outside the body. If the tampon is correctly placed, you should not be able to feel its presence at all during movement, sitting, or standing.
Addressing Common Concerns and Troubleshooting
If you feel any sensation of the tampon while walking or sitting, it indicates that the tampon has not been pushed in far enough. Simply remove the tampon and try again with a new one, ensuring you push it deeper toward the upper vagina. Adjusting your posture, such as a deep squat, can also help achieve the necessary depth for proper placement.
If initial attempts at insertion are uncomfortable or consistently difficult, consider switching to a smaller size or a lower absorbency product. A smaller tampon is easier to insert and may be a better option until you become more familiar with the digital insertion method. Remember that the tampon cannot get lost inside the body, as the vaginal canal ends at the cervix, which has a small opening too narrow for the tampon to pass through.
For removal, you should first wash your hands, then get into a comfortable position, such as sitting on the toilet. Gently pull the withdrawal string in the same general direction as the angle of insertion. If the tampon has been in for the recommended time and has absorbed menstrual fluid, it will slide out easily.