Tips to make teen more comfortable with trying to use a tampon

[Anonymous]

DD is scared to try tampons. Any tips? She is currently in her room crying because she got invited to the pool but is on her period. We have slim tampons she can use. She's terrified. She heard it can get stuck and lost. I assured her in my 30 years on a period that has never happened but she doesn't seem to accept that.

I thought about period swimsuits but it seems sort of gross to me and won't fix the issue at the moment. Also, no one makes period swim shorts for teens. If she wants to swim she needs to shave her bikini area, something she is also afraid to do. We fixed that issue with swim shorts and a bikini top, but again, no one makes swim period shorts. Any tips? Advice? She's 13 and has ASD (so sensory issues). She is high functioning and most people don't know she has ASD, but it does make her pretty rigid and it causes her to be sensitive to physical discomfort like tags on clothes, etc....

[Anonymous]

Would she be open to wearing a period suit with swim shorts? It won’t help today but could moving forward. I was going to suggest a menstrual cup, they mage ones for teens. They are more hands on but less intrusive - in case the tampon string bothers her.

[Anonymous]

Show her a diagram of the female body. It can't "get lost" because there's nowhere for it to go. And the whole purpose of the string is to keep it from getting stuck.

[Anonymous]

I have ASD also (and most people would also probably not guess, but I totally get the "stuck" mode). It would help me to speak to a trusted doctor about that - maybe it would help her too.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, everyone. All good tips!

[Anonymous]

I mean, she’s only 13. I didn’t use tampons at that age. It’s not a must.

Can she ask to go to the pool a different time?

[Anonymous]

Buy her a whole box or 2 with the glide applicator. Tell her that it's all about inserting on the correct angle. Show her a diagram of that angle. Discuss the angle, etc. Then leave the room and tell her to practice. Tell her it's ok if she uses the whole box trying. No pressure with that. Also, as pp said, it can't go up and get lost in her body. And, reassure her that we all go through this into womanhood. What she is feeling is natural. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Lube. That was the answer for me (not ASD, but generally squeamish) at the ripe old age of 19. After the first successful insert, it was no longer needed.

[Anonymous]

I sympathize. My almost-13 year old was able to successfully insert a tampon once last summer, but was apparently so traumatized or grossed out it by it that she refuses to try again and just opts out of swimming when she has her period. It’s frustrating, but it’s her decision. Hoping eventually she’ll realize it’s nbd.

[Anonymous]

Relevant advice/learning it's not going to come from you, a parent. It's going to come from her peers. She will listen to them. When she is ready. She will seek them out, not you.

[Anonymous]

I hated tampons (still do) and at that age I would have preferred not going to the pool and staying home than having a tampon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sympathize. My almost-13 year old was able to successfully insert a tampon once last summer, but was apparently so traumatized or grossed out it by it that she refuses to try again and just opts out of swimming when she has her period. It’s frustrating, but it’s her decision. Hoping eventually she’ll realize it’s nbd.

My 14 year old is exactly the same. She says “I’ll never wear a tampon.”

[Anonymous]

Just to add - I didn’t start wearing a tampon until after I lost my virginity at 19. And that was back when pads were as thick as diapers. 😁

[Anonymous]

Demonstrate with an empty water bottle. Helps with understanding the angle. Also, explain that the applicator comes back and doesn’t stay! Small detail I forgot to be clear about that my kid was totally ok once she understood.

[Anonymous]

I tried as a teen and couldn’t do it until I was 17 and had had sex. Putting Vaseline on it helps