A properly inserted tampon should be completely unnoticeable, regardless of your body position or activity. Feeling the tampon, especially when sitting down, indicates the absorbent material is positioned too low in the vaginal canal, near the opening. Comfortable use requires placing the product high enough to rest in an area with fewer nerve endings.
What Proper Tampon Placement Feels Like
When a tampon is correctly placed, it should be entirely comfortable and feel like nothing at all. The vagina angles upward and backward, and the upper two-thirds of the canal has significantly fewer sensory nerve endings than the lower third, near the opening. Correct insertion ensures the tampon sits high in this less sensitive area, often called the vaginal vault.
The discomfort when sitting results from the tampon being in the lower, more sensitive portion. When you sit, the muscles and tissues around the vaginal opening compress, causing the low-sitting tampon to press against this densely innervated area. This pressure creates the distinct feeling of presence or poking that should not occur.
Troubleshooting Insertion Depth
The most frequent cause of feeling a tampon is insufficient insertion depth or insertion at an incorrect angle. The vaginal canal angles back toward the lower spine, so the applicator must be pointed in this direction, roughly at a 45-degree angle, to follow the natural curve of the body. Aiming straight up will cause the tampon to catch on the front wall of the vagina, leading to awkward and low placement.
For applicators, insert the barrel until your fingers holding the grip reach the vaginal opening before pushing the plunger to release the tampon. If you still feel the tampon after removing the applicator, it is likely sitting too low. You can wash your hands and use a clean finger to gently push the tampon further up until the sensation disappears. If repositioning does not resolve the discomfort, remove the tampon and try again with a fresh one, ensuring you aim backward and insert the applicator fully.
Matching Tampon Size to Flow
Discomfort can also arise from using a tampon with an absorbency level that is too high for your current menstrual flow. Tampons expand as they absorb fluid, but if the flow is light, a highly absorbent product will not become saturated enough. This lack of saturation means the tampon remains relatively dry and can cause friction against the vaginal walls.
A dry tampon can be difficult or uncomfortable to remove and may create a feeling of dryness or scraping when you move or sit down. To prevent this, always select the lowest absorbency necessary to manage your flow, switching to lighter absorbencies as your period tapers off. If you remove a tampon after four to eight hours and white, unabsorbed portions are still visible, switch to a lower absorbency for your next use.