Dear mcxballin,

Tampons fit into most women's vaginas, but sometimes girls who are first beginning to use them have trouble inserting them. It's easier to insert a tampon when you are relaxed. It's also helpful to remember that the vagina doesn't go straight up into the body — usually it angles toward the small of the back. So, when a girl inserts a tampon, it's best for her to relax her vaginal muscles and angle the tampon a little bit toward the small of her back to make insertion easier.

There are also two somewhat rare medical conditions that make using tampons difficult and even impossible for some girls. One of these is called vulvar vestibulitis, which is when the tissue of the entrance of the vagina is inflamed and painful. Another medical condition some girls and women suffer from is called vaginismus, when vaginal muscles contract involuntarily when insertion is attempted. The causes of vaginismus are usually psychological.

If a woman thinks she may have vulvar vestibulitis, vagninismus, or a vaginal infection, she should have a gynecological visit with her health care provider. For more information or to set up an appointment, call 1-800-230-PLAN for the nearest Planned Parenthood health center.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.