It happens. You’re busy, you’re tired, or maybe you just got distracted by a chaotic Slack notification while in the bathroom. Suddenly, you can't remember if you actually took that last one out before putting a new one in. Or maybe the string is just… gone. If you’re currently spiraling, take a breath. You aren't "broken," and honestly, this is one of the most common reasons people visit the gynecologist or urgent care.
The anatomy of the vagina makes it physically impossible for a tampon to get "lost" inside your body. It isn't a bottomless pit. Your cervix—the small, donut-shaped opening to your uterus—acts as a literal dead end. A tampon can’t travel into your abdomen or get stuck in your lungs. It’s just hanging out in a very small, very flexible muscular tube.
But figuring out how to know if you have a stuck tampon is mostly about trusting your senses and knowing what to look for when things feel "off."
The Most Obvious Red Flags
The nose knows. Usually, the first sign that something is wrong isn't pain. It’s the smell. We’re not talking about the typical "period smell" that comes from blood hitting the air. This is different. It’s a pungent, decaying, or extremely sour odor that doesn't go away after you shower. This happens because the tampon is sitting there collecting bacteria and old blood, which starts to decompose. If you catch a whiff of something that smells like a "dead mouse" or rotting meat, there is a very high chance something is left behind.
Discharge is the next big clue. Your body is smart. When it detects a foreign object that shouldn't be there, it tries to flush it out. You might notice a sudden increase in vaginal discharge that looks thin, watery, and often takes on a gray, brown, or even greenish hue. It might be slightly bloody, even if your period ended days ago.
Then there’s the physical discomfort. You shouldn't feel a tampon when it's placed correctly. If you have a "stuck" one, you might feel a weird sense of pressure or a dull ache in your pelvic region. Sometimes it causes sharp pain during sex or when you’re sitting down a certain way.
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Checking for Yourself (The "Self-Exam")
Before you freak out, try to find it. Wash your hands thoroughly. Like, surgeon-level clean. Long nails can be a problem here, so be careful not to scratch yourself.
Find a position where your vaginal canal is shortened. Squatting over a mirror or propping one leg up on the edge of the bathtub usually works best. It helps to bear down—the same way you would if you were trying to have a bowel movement. This naturally pushes the contents of the vagina lower toward the opening.
Insert one finger and sweep it around in a circular motion. You're feeling for something that feels like firm cotton or a bunch of wet fabric. Remember, it might have shifted horizontally or tucked itself behind the cervix. It won't feel like "body parts." If you feel something soft and squishy that isn't your own tissue, you've probably found it.
Why the String Disappears
Strings move. They get tucked inside during a bowel movement or migrate during exercise. Sometimes, the string actually breaks, though that's rare with modern manufacturing standards. More often, people accidentally "double-up." You forget one is in, you insert a second one, and the second one pushes the first one way back and off to the side, causing the string of the first one to get lost in the shuffle.
If you find two strings, don't just pull one. Slow down. Make sure you're removing both.
The Reality of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: TSS. It's rare. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), the incidence of TSS is roughly 0.8 to 3.4 per 100,000 people in the U.S. It’s not an immediate death sentence the second a tampon stays in for nine hours.
However, a "stuck" or forgotten tampon is a prime environment for Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes to grow. If you have a stuck tampon and you start feeling like you have the worst flu of your life, stop reading this and go to the ER.
Watch for these specific TSS symptoms:
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- A sudden high fever (usually over 102°F).
- A rash that looks exactly like a sunburn, especially on your palms or the soles of your feet.
- Dizziness, fainting, or a massive drop in blood pressure.
- Vomiting or intense diarrhea.
- Muscle aches and redness of the eyes or throat.
When to See a Doctor
If you’ve gone "fishing" and can’t find anything but the smell persists, you need a professional. If you did find it but it's stuck so high you can't get a grip on it, stop. Over-trying can cause vaginal tearing or push the object further into the "fornix" (the little pockets around the cervix).
A doctor or nurse practitioner uses a speculum. This is the same tool used during a Pap smear. It opens the vaginal walls so they can actually see what’s going on. With a pair of long forceps, they can grab the tampon and remove it in about five seconds. It’s embarrassing for you, but for them, it’s just Tuesday. They've seen it a thousand times.
Taking Action After Removal
Once the tampon is out, the odor usually lingers for a bit. Don't douche. Douching is terrible for your vaginal microbiome and can lead to a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis (BV). Your vagina is a self-cleaning oven. Just wash the outside with warm water and mild, unscented soap.
If you had a tampon in for a long time, your doctor might suggest a round of antibiotics if they see signs of infection or if your vaginal walls look particularly irritated.
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Next Steps for Peace of Mind:
- Track your cycles: Use an app like Clue or Flo. Many of these have "tampon reminders" to alert you to change or remove them.
- Switch it up: If you're prone to forgetting, try a menstrual cup or disc. These can stay in longer (up to 12 hours) and are physically harder to "forget" because of their size and the way they sit.
- The "Final Day" Rule: On the last day of your period, when the flow is very light, switch to a pad or period underwear. Forgotten tampons often happen at the very end of the cycle when you aren't thinking about it as much.
- Verify the smell: If the tampon is out but the "dead" smell remains after 24 hours, see a doctor. You might have developed BV from the bacterial shift.
Trust your gut. If you feel like something is there, it probably is. If you've checked and find nothing, but you still feel "full" or have strange discharge, it's worth a quick trip to a clinic to rule out other issues like a lost condom or a localized infection.