OK, Serious Question: Can You Poop With a Tampon In?

If you are a tampon-wearer, it could really feel such as you’ve been utilizing these handy cotton contraptions for, properly, eons. But even in spite of everything these years, you should still have random questions on them—together with how and why they work. (Do not be embarrassed: We have all had these ideas. Plus, reproductive well being nonetheless is not talked about sufficient, so it is no marvel we’ve questions!)

Certain, you may Google these questions when you’ve them, however you might have to do some digging to separate truth from fiction. And even with out the web, who hasn’t heard a delusion or two about tampons over the course of their life—prefer it’ll stretch out your vagina, break your hymen, or make you a non-virgin? (These are all false, BTW.)

One main query is whether or not or not it is okay to poop with a tampon in. To resolve this (legitimate) question, we tapped an OB/GYN to share whether or not you may poop and pee with a tampon in. Learn on for the reply, together with the most effective hygiene tricks to maintain issues recent “down there” should you’re a tampon-wearer.

Are you able to poop with a tampon in?

You heard it right here: It’s very secure to empty your bowels whereas sporting a tampon. “The principle considerations are hygiene and luxury slightly than medical security,” says Stephanie Hack, MD, FACOG, a board-certified OB/GYN and founding father of Woman Elements Physician.

Which means, so long as you do not really feel ache, you are free to go quantity two as you please. The remaining concern, although, is your hygiene. In case your tampon string will get contaminated with poop, you may “switch micro organism from the rectal space to the vaginal or urethral areas, which might doubtlessly result in infections,” says Dr. Hack. Micro organism like E. coli, for instance, which may be present in stool, may cause a urinary tract an infection (UTI).

Can your tampon ever fall out if you poop? It is uncommon in your tampon to fully fall out if you poop, however there’s nonetheless an opportunity it might probably get barely dislodged if you pressure throughout a bowel motion. Mainly, it is potential to push your tampon out. That is largely because of anatomy, says Dr. Hack.

This occurs as a result of the vaginal and anal canals are roughly located on prime of one another, per the Cleveland Clinic¹. So the drive of pushing out your poop may also push out no matter’s within the neighboring canal, i.e., your tampon.

When this occurs, it’s often finest to vary your tampon, says Dr. Hack.

On a associated observe: Why does my interval make me poop extra?

In case you really feel such as you’re pooping greater than regular when Aunt Flo involves city, you are not imagining issues. “Interval poops” are actual, they usually may cause your tampon to really feel slightly dislodged should you’re straining typically.

“Your interval can have an effect on your digestive system due to the discharge of prostaglandins,” says Dr. Hack. These hormone-like substances “assist the uterus contract to shed its lining, however may also result in elevated bowel actions,” she explains.

Backside line: Pooping extra throughout your interval is regular, and the quantity/frequency you go will fluctuate from individual to individual. This additionally means you may probably be pooping with a tampon extra typically, too.

Are you able to pee with a tampon in?

If you are able to do quantity two with a tampon in, you’re most likely guessing that doing primary is okay, too. And also you’re one hundred pc appropriate. Because of your physique’s pure design, peeing with a tampon in is feasible.

“As a result of the urethra [where pee exits] and the vagina are separate, the tampon doesn’t block the circulate of urine,” says Dr. Hack. However as a result of these holes are tremendous shut to one another, your uncovered tampon string might get moist.

Not like poop, pee getting in your tampon string “is extra about private consolation than well being dangers,” says Dr. Hack. Whereas urine was as soon as regarded as sterile (i.e., don’t have any micro organism), present proof suggests the microbiome of your bladder could also be just like that of your vagina, and may very well be protecting of an infection, per a March 2022 examine in Frontiers in Mobile and An infection Microbiology.

Which means, even when your string will get soaked, it will not probably enhance your danger of an infection, per the Cleveland Clinic. You’ll be able to merely pat it dry and even go away it alone if it doesn’t trouble you, Dr. Hack says.

Hygiene ideas for tampon-wearers

Although it’s typically secure to poop whereas sporting a tampon, taking a number of precautions to be hygienic can assist defend your genital well being. Listed below are Dr. Hack’s restroom ideas, so you may poop like a professional with a tampon in:

• Wipe from entrance to again: This can aid you keep away from transferring micro organism from the rectal space to the urethra or vagina, which might trigger an an infection.
• Maintain the tampon string to the aspect if you poop (or pee): This can make sure that your string isn’t getting dirty with poop (or moist with urine).
• At all times use clear palms when dealing with a tampon: Don’t poop after which change your tampon proper after. You don’t need unhealthy micro organism out of your butthole hitching a journey to your urethra or vagina. To be secure, it’s finest to clean your palms earlier than (and after) touching a tampon.

If unsure, there is not any hurt in simply altering your tampon if that is what makes you’re feeling extra snug.

The underside line

It’s completely NBD to poop with a tampon in. As a result of there’s no medical motive to not, it’s actually a matter of non-public choice.

For cleanliness’ sake, although, it may be price it to take a number of easy precautions to stop poop from getting in your string. Past that, take into account this your inexperienced gentle to poop and pee as a lot as you want whereas sporting a tampon.

FAQ

What number of occasions are you able to pee with a tampon in?

Actually, it’s as much as you. “Altering your tampon extra often when urinating (or defecating) shouldn’t be essentially required except the tampon turns into dirty or dislodged,” says Dr. Hack. “The choice is extra about private hygiene preferences and making certain the tampon is functioning accurately to soak up menstrual blood.”

So, so long as you’re bodily snug, and also you’re not sporting a tampon for greater than eight hours, you’re golden to pee as many occasions as you need.

How do I do know my tampon is full?

“In case your tampon begins to really feel uncomfortable or begins to leak, it may be time for a change,” says Dr. Hack. “A lightweight tug on the string may also assist; if the tampon begins to return out simply, it’s probably full.”

Simply don’t go away in your tampon for greater than eight hours. Sporting it longer than that may enhance your danger of poisonous shock syndrome (TSS)—a uncommon however critical situation that occurs when sure strains of micro organism that produce toxins enter your bloodstream, based on the Cleveland Clinic³.

Being loosey-goosey about how lengthy you allow a tampon in may also result in different bacterial or yeast infections, in addition to irritation of your vulva (i.e., the outer a part of your genitals, together with your interior and outer labia and mons pubis, or the realm the place your pubes develop).

When your circulate is heavy, your tampon will get soaked shortly, so altering it extra often may be a good suggestion to keep away from potential well being considerations. (Your underwear will thanks, too.)

Can pulling out a dry tampon trigger harm?

Typically tugging out a dry tampon when your circulate is gentle may be downright uncomfortable. And in sure instances, it would even trigger “minor harm to the vaginal mucosa, because of friction,” says Dr. Hack. Ouch.

To keep away from this, “it’s finest to make use of the proper absorbency in your circulate,” she says. That means, keep on with smaller-size tampons when your circulate is gentle. On gentle days, you may even skip the tampon altogether and put on pantyliners or a pair of reusable interval underwear. And if conventional elements in tampons irritate your pores and skin, like rayon or sure fragrances, you may seek for different tampon manufacturers that use one hundred pc cotton or different pure elements.

—medically reviewed by Andrea Braden, MD, OB/GYN