Why do tampons hurt to put in? What to try

Author: Aunt Vadge
Qualified Naturopath | BHSc(N)

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Dear Aunt Vadge,

I find it quite sore and uncomfortable to put in tampons. I have tried a few times, but before I get it up there, it’s like a barrier that is quite tough to get through. Is it just because I’m not used to it? I’ve never worn a tampon for long, only had one in for five minutes because it got too uncomfortable.

Should I try to keep it in there and force it up? What should I do about tampons?

A concerned girl

Hello, and thank you for writing in.

Short answer first: no, please don’t force it. Tampons hurting to put in is really common when you’re starting out, and it usually comes down to one of a few simple things – tense muscles, a bit of dryness, the wrong angle, or a snug hymen. None of these mean anything is wrong with you, and most of them settle with a little know-how. That ‘tough barrier’ you can feel is almost always your hymen (a normal ring of tissue just inside the entrance) or your pelvic-floor muscles tightening up because your body is bracing. Forcing past either one just hurts more and makes the muscles guard harder next time.

When to get it checked

Most tampon trouble is nothing to worry about, but a few things are worth having a doctor or nurse look at. It’s a quick, ordinary thing for them to check. See someone if:

you genuinely cannot get a tampon in at all, no matter how relaxed you are;
you get a tampon in but then can’t get it out, or you think one is stuck;
the pain is severe, or there’s bleeding that isn’t your period;
you have a fever, feel unwell, or have bad-smelling discharge alongside it.

If you’d feel more comfortable, take someone with you – but a GP or a sexual health clinic sees this all the time and won’t make it weird. If you can get to a confidential service they’ll keep it private, and if there’s nothing easy to reach, your regular doctor can help just as well.

Why tampons hurt to put in

There are a handful of usual reasons, and they often overlap.

Your muscles are tensing up

The ring of muscle around the vaginal entrance – your pelvic floor – tightens automatically when you’re nervous or expecting pain.¹ That’s the ‘tough barrier’ feeling for a lot of people. The fix isn’t force, it’s the opposite: slow down, breathe out, and let everything go soft. When tensing becomes a strong, involuntary clamp that makes any insertion painful, that has a name – vaginismus – and it’s real and very treatable, usually with a pelvic-floor physiotherapist² rather than anything scary. (We don’t do internal exams at My Vagina, so that’s the right person to see.)

It’s too dry

A dry tampon dragging against dry skin is genuinely uncomfortable. Tampons are meant to go in on a day when you’re actually bleeding, so there’s moisture to help them slide. If you’re practising on a light day or between periods, it’ll feel like sandpaper. A little natural dryness is normal too.

The angle is off

The vagina doesn’t go straight up – it angles back towards your lower back. If you aim a tampon straight up, it bumps the front wall and stops, which feels exactly like hitting a wall. Aim it towards the small of your back instead and it usually glides. The step-by-step in how to put in a tampon and these tampon tips and tricks walk you through it.

Your hymen

The hymen is a thin rim of tissue just inside the entrance, and it comes in lots of normal shapes. Some are stretchy, some are firmer, and a few have a thicker band or an extra fold that can make a tampon feel like it’s catching on something.³ This is a normal variation, not a fault – but if a tampon truly won’t pass no matter how relaxed and lubricated you are, it’s worth a doctor having a quick look, because occasionally a firmer hymen is easy to help.

What to try

Give yourself a calm, unhurried go on a bleeding day. Get comfortable – sitting on the loo, or with one foot up on the edge of the bath. Take a slow breath out, and as you breathe out, gently guide the tampon in aiming towards your lower back, not straight up. If it won’t go, stop, relax, and try again another time. There’s no prize for pushing through pain, and nothing bad happens if tampons aren’t for you yet – pads or period pants work perfectly well in the meantime. Plenty of people take a while to get the hang of it, and some find a slimmer tampon much easier to start with.

Have a look at the anatomy diagrams in vag basics too, so you can picture where everything sits – it makes the whole thing far less mysterious. And if pain during insertion sticks around, or ever comes up with other kinds of pressure or discomfort, that’s worth looking into properly rather than putting up with.

Be kind to yourself while you figure it out. You’re not doing anything wrong – bodies just need a bit of patience.

Warmest regards,
Aunt Vadge

This is general information, not a substitute for personalised medical advice. If tampon pain persists or you’re worried, please see a doctor or nurse.

Frequently asked questions

Why does it feel like there’s a barrier when I put a tampon in?

That ‘barrier’ is usually one of two normal things: your pelvic-floor muscles tightening because your body is bracing for discomfort, or your hymen, a normal rim of tissue just inside the entrance. Aiming towards your lower back rather than straight up, and letting the muscles relax on a slow breath out, gets most people past it. Forcing through it just makes the muscles guard harder.

Should I force a tampon in if it hurts?

No. Pain is a signal to stop, relax and try again another time, not to push harder. Tampons that are put in correctly can’t really be felt at all. If it hurts, something simple is usually off – dryness, angle, or tense muscles – and forcing it only makes the next try worse.

Is it normal for tampons to hurt the first few times?

Very. Learning to use tampons takes a bit of practice, and early discomfort is common. Use them on a day you’re actually bleeding, try a slimmer size, aim towards your lower back, and don’t rush. If they’re just not working yet, pads or period pants are completely fine while you get the hang of it.