Tampon
Hear this word Tampon
Image description: A drawing of a tampon inside of a vagina.
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What Is It?
A tampon is a firm roll of absorbent cotton that goes inside the vagina to absorb menstrual blood. Once it is removed, it can be thrown in the trash. Tampons come in different sizes.
Change tampons every 4-6 hours or more often depending on menstrual flow. Leaving a tampon in for too many hours can make a person sick.
An Example
When Zoe is menstruating, she inserts a tampon into her vagina to absorb the blood.
What to Know
Every glossary word connects to different parts of the Sexuality Wheel. Explore the information below to learn more.
- There are many different brands and types of tampons. Some tampons include an applicator for easy insertion, and some do not need an applicator. Some tampons are for heavy flow days and others are for light flow days. Always use the tampon type that matches menstrual flow. Do not use a higher absorbency than is necessary, because this can lead to irritation or sickness.
- If a tampon is inserted correctly, the person wearing the tampon should not feel it inside their vagina.
- Tampons usually have a string hanging from them to help with easy removal from the vagina. Change tampons every 4-6 hours or more often depending on menstrual flow.
- Some people may like to use a thin pad or menstrual underwear as back up for tampons. Some people use tampons all the time while some only use tampons during specific activities, such as sports or swimming.
- Some people do not like to use tampons. Some people choose to use other menstrual products during their period, and this is okay!
Think about
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What did you learn about tampons?
To learn more, explore websites, books, and other resources in the Resource Hub or visit other parts of Your Sexual Health Toolkit like our online game, Our Stories, Our Journeys: A Sexual Health Game!
What questions do you have?
Write down or record an audio note with any questions you have to ask someone you trust. You may also find answers to your questions by using websites, books, and other resources in the Resource Hub.