Why Does My Tampon Feel Like It’s Going to Shoot Out of Me Like a Rocket When I Exercise on My Period?

If you’re an individual with a interval and a penchant for train, odds are you’ve questioned: Are there any dangers to figuring out with a tampon?

The brief reply is that it’s protected to train with a tampon in, and it shouldn’t fall out—so long as you insert the tampon appropriately and change it out usually sufficient, that’s. In any other case, there are uncommon cases when the menstrual product may shoot out of your coochie sooner than soda out of a Coca-Cola bottle throughout a baking soda experiment.

We spoke to a workforce of obstetrics-gynecology and pelvic ground specialists to reply your questions on carrying a tampon whilst you train. Forward, what each individual with a month-to-month gymnasium membership and menstrual cycle must know.

First up: Is it protected to put on a tampon whilst you train?

This previous summer season, fear-mongering headlines about “toxins” in tampons had been as rampant as lime inexperienced manicures (case and level), main many individuals with durations to surprise if their go-to menstrual product is protected to put on in or out of the gymnasium. Regardless of clickbait on the contrary, “tampons are protected,” says double board-certified obstetrics-gynecologist and urogynecologist Aldene Zeno MD, FACOG, proprietor of and surgeon at Essence Well being and Urogynecology in Los Angeles.

An August 2024 examine¹ revealed in Atmosphere Worldwide reported hint quantities of arsenic, lead, mercury, nickel, copper, and iron in tampons. Nonetheless, “issues concerning the quantity of poisons discovered had been exaggerated by the media,” says licensed psychologist and AASECT-certified intercourse therapist Shannon Chavez, PsyD, CST.

The degrees of those metals measured within the 24 examined tampons had been minuscule. “The quantity of hint metals discovered within the tampons is a fraction of what’s permitted by the Environmental Safety Company,” says Dr. Zeno. To not point out, the degrees aren’t larger than the hint quantities of metals present in our faucet water, bottled water, inexperienced and black tea, most meals, and even our air, she says.

“This examine additionally did not check for the flexibility of those metals to leach into the physique’s circulation, and in accordance with the examine authors, no research have assessed danger of vaginal publicity to metals,” says Dr. Zeno. That means, there isn’t any proof that the chemical compounds really make their manner into your system by way of your vagina.

All that stated, “sure, it’s protected to train whereas carrying a tampon,” says Dr. Chavez. Thus far, there isn’t any scientific proof suggesting any danger from carrying one throughout train, she says. Past simply being protected, when worn appropriately, tampons will help a person really feel safe, low-stress, and supported whereas exercising, says Dr. Chavez. That is necessary as a result of “the advantages of train whereas menstruating are well-documented²,” says Dr. Zeno.

Fears of your tampon security or safety shouldn’t maintain you from the gymnasium.

So… can a tampon fall out throughout train?

No, it shouldn’t. “Tampons are designed to remain in place when your physique strikes, together with throughout intense motion and train,” says Dr. Chavez. So, whether or not you’re lifting weights or doing cardio, figuring out on land or in water, at low or excessive intensities, your tampon ought to keep put, she says.

That stated, there are just a few uncommon cases when a tampon may fall out throughout train. Listed here are 4 causes a tampon may fall out whilst you train.

1. The tampon isn’t inserted appropriately

The commonest purpose for a tampon to fall out throughout train is that it wasn’t inserted appropriately, in accordance with Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, a pelvic ground therapist who focuses on incontinence and dyspareunia and the founding father of Fusion Wellness & Bodily Remedy in Los Angeles.

When inserted correctly, a tampon will relaxation within the higher third portion of the vaginal cavity in order that the highest finish of the product is close to the cervix, says Dr. Zeno. “The vagina is formed like an upside-down hockey stick, so this high portion of the vaginal canal is definitely at a 45-degree angle to the ground when in a standing place, which helps maintain it in place,” she explains. With that, “not inserting the tampon applicator deep sufficient into the vaginal canal earlier than utilizing the plunger to push it inside your physique could lead on the tampon to fall out throughout train,” says Dr. Jeffcoat.

The excellent news: When a tampon is positioned too low, you’ll be capable to really feel it, because the decrease third is rather more delicate, says Dr. Zeno.“When it’s in the precise place, you’ll be able to’t really feel it in any respect.”

2. The tampon is simply too saturated

Usually, tampons enlarge after they take up fluid, which really helps them keep in place, in accordance with Dr. Zeno. Nonetheless, in the event that they develop into overly saturated, they will shift or fall out, she says.

To be clear, that doesn’t imply that it is advisable forgo train altogether in case your movement is heavier than Ilona Maher’s deadlift. However “you might not be capable to take part in an prolonged period of train with out stopping to interchange your tampon because of saturation,” says Dr. Jeffcoat.

If stopping to interchange and eliminate your tampon mid-workout isn’t possible for you—as an example, since you’re an endurance occasion athlete going for gold—you would possibly think about a menstrual cup or interval panties, which may maintain 3 to 12 occasions greater than a daily tampon, respectively.

3. You’ve an underlying pelvic ground difficulty

The pelvic ground muscle tissue are a posh community of muscle tissue on the base of the pelvis that help bladder, uterus, vagina, and bowel (pelvic organs) placement and performance. When these muscle tissue are functioning optimally, they will contract and calm down very like some other muscle within the physique. However when there’s an underlying difficulty, tampon placement, location, and safety can all be affected.

Having overactive pelvic ground muscle tissue—which primarily means having pelvic ground muscle tissue which can be “locked” right into a contracted place—could make inserting a tampon tough, says Dr. Jeffcoat. Attributable to issues like persistent stress, pelvic ground damage, or trauma (e.g., following childbirth or a automobile accident), habitually poor posture, or one other pain-causing situation (e.g., endometriosis), having overactive muscle tissue can lead people to position the tampon within the front-half of the vagina, which may result in expulsion, she explains.

Pelvic ground muscle weak point may lead tampons to fall out, in accordance with Dr. Chavez. Often, when that is the underlying trigger, a person will expertise further signs corresponding to leaking urine, problem controlling the bladder, or a sense of heaviness within the pelvis, says Dr. Chavez.

In each instances, working with a pelvic ground therapist will help. Probably, they are going to counsel a sequence of at-home pelvic ground workouts and diaphragmatic respiratory, which may help muscle tone and enhance consolation with utilizing a tampon throughout train, says Dr. Chavez.

4. You’re bearing down whilst you carry

From higher steadiness to boosted bone well being, higher confidence to improved cardiovascular perform, there’s little question that power coaching gives tons of well being advantages. Sadly, lifting with improper kind can brief you of these perks—and, sure, in sure cases, even trigger your tampon to fall out.

Whether or not you’re bleeding or not, one of many riskiest issues to do whereas lifting heavy weights is to bear down, or forcefully contract your stomach, diaphragm, and pelvic ground muscle tissue whereas holding your breath. This places undue strain in your again and pelvic ground muscle tissue and by the way trigger your tampon to shoot out, says Dr. Zeno. (FYI: The strain brought on by bearing down may even result in hemorrhoids and anal fissures).

Broadly talking, somewhat than bearing down whilst you carry, specialists counsel bracing your core. This lets you interact all of these muscle tissue and defend your backbone with out compromising your again, pelvic ground, or tampon place. As a result of bracing your midline whilst you carry requires complicated coordinated muscle actions, Dr. Zeno recommends working with a health skilled to learn to carry appropriately. “I extremely advocate working with pelvic physiotherapists for those who’re experiencing tampons falling out whilst you carry,” she says.

“I extremely advocate working with pelvic physiotherapists for those who’reexperiencing tampons falling out whilst you carry.” —Aldene Zeno, MD, FACOG

Do I ever have to keep away from exercising whereas carrying a tampon?

Fears of your tampon security or safety shouldn’t maintain you from the gymnasium. Nonetheless, there are occasions when your menstrual signs can (or ought to!) sideline you out of your exercise, in accordance with says board-certified obstetrics-gynecologist Sherry A. Ross, MD, FACOG, co-founder of Oneself & the Girls’s Well being & Wellness College on the Mproov app and creator of She-ology and The She-quel.

Whereas exercising in your interval can normally assist signs, for those who’re experiencing breast tenderness, complications, painful cramps, or your movement is heavy and also you’re passing clots, it’s necessary to hearken to your physique, she says. In the meantime, it may be downright harmful in case your interval is inflicting you to really feel weak, drained, nauseous, or dizzy, as exercising safely requires power, steadiness, and focus, she says.

The takeaway

On the finish of the day, there is no such thing as a purpose to keep away from exercising whereas carrying a tampon as doing so is protected, and the chance of expulsion is sort of low. Simply you should definitely insert the tampon correctly and alter it repeatedly. In case you’re fighting tampon ejection, seek the advice of a pelvic ground therapist who will help suss out any underlying dysfunction, in addition to counsel pelvic ground workouts and stretches, and different way of life interventions that may enable you.