I forgot about an inserted tampon. I'm too old to be this much of an idiot.

You're not the first and won't be the last. I'm glad you caught it eventually.

This was how I, at 18 years old - two weeks after losing my virginity, found out the same at my first gyn appointment. I was so worried it was a consequence of sex.

The doctor said nothing during the exam, either. As the stink of me filled the room, she calls out "forceps!" and reached in to yank out (what felt like) my soul. It was so painful. You aren't alone! There are dozens of us :D

As a 46yo (47 tomorrow!) with ADHD, I reject shame or embarrassment about these kinds of things. Our brains can't keep track of everything.

Here's what works for me: there's a towel bar facing my toilet. I keep a little bracelet in the pouch that holds my diva cup. When I get my period, I hang the bracelet on the towel bar -- that's my visual reminder to empty my cup when I go to the bathroom.

I did that once - I forgot about it and was inserting new ones on top. It was a week past my period before I realized it was there.

I forgot my cup once for a few days. Found that out while trying to insert, well, something different. I'm glad you're ok and I feel that deep fear, too, now. What about smart tampons? Would be cool to receive a reminder on your phone.

I used to be the foreign body person at my old clinic, mostly lost tampons and condoms. it’s not uncommon and it’s nothing to be ashamed of! we’ve all got a lot going on these days. glad you got it out :)

Been there. I had to go to the walk-in centre to have 2 nurses remove it 😂

🤣 happens to the best of us!

Former Planned Parenthood employee here.

I promise you this was a near weekly occurrence. Super common. You are not alone!!

Different end of this, but once I didn't realize that I did not actually have a tampon in, and almost pulled my iud out.

I've always used pads just because of an incident I once had in my early 20s. I had used a tampon and forgot about it. I was just assuming it fell out eventually while peeing but until this day I don't know 😂 I didn't have any infections so I'm pretty sure it just fell out eventually 😆😅 but after that incident I went back to pads until now 😂

I’ve done this too. Had sex even. Didn’t realize it for three days. I have no clue how o forgot. Had to take meds to clear up the infection

Damn 3 weeks?! So glad you didn't get TSS or something! Glad ur alright 💜

I once moved countries with a tampon in and totally forgot about it. Had a similar experience with "what's that smell?" except I was in my first days in a new country and had no idea what to do if I had a real medical problem. I found the tampon after it had been in for 4 or 5 days, took it out, felt really stupid, never told anyone, and was lucky that it didn't cause any further problems. It's kinda nice to be able to share that story, lol.

This is a giant fear of mine and it’s exactly why every time i’m on my period and i insert a tampon, i set myself a timer on my phone so i know when i need to change it and also so i never forget it insides myself 😂. its actually super helpful

This happened to me too. Every time I coughed or sneezed I’d feel pressure. I piddled a lot. One morning I felt like something was there, and out came a blackened tampon. It had to be 3 weeks old as well. I’m also in my 40’s and thought I must have dementia. It happens. I’m far less afraid of TSS now.

Well that’s enough internet for today. Glad you’re okay

41 years old and I did this for the first time ever last month. Luckily only in for 3 days and while it was gross I didn't get an infection. But yeah, mortifying and not pleasant.

This happened to me when it moved & I couldn't get the string. I had to wait a couple of days before I could get the urgent care. I felt like a moron cuz I'm a grown ass woman.

I also did this one time, I was pretty horrified because i've always tried to be careful about this. I put in a new one... when I was already wearing one.. how??? I was extremely fortunate that when I pulled out the new one later on, the old one had stuck to it and came out as well. I too was embarrassed, and only me and the bathroom have known this secret until now.

I did this before.  I had no idea it was in there. At the time I did not have insurance, but I was feeling so cruddy that I went to planned parenthood. The nurse who reached in there and pulled it out….. I will never ever forget the look on her face. 

This happened to me 15 years ago and to this day I make a point to reach in and check in the shower after my period is over to make sure there's nothing forgotten there.

I’m so glad you’re ok but man do I have questions lol. Do you not feel the tampon? I only use pads so I have no idea what tampon use is like. I always imagined it would be uncomfortable to always feel something inside, especially when you’re walking/exercising.

I don’t use tampons but don’t they have a long string? Where did it go? Lol I’m so sorry this happened to you but I’m glad you’re ok!

Like 30ish years ago, a lot of fighting had to happen to come up with a strict tampon/pad reform to stop a bunch of deaths occurring from wearing them too long. There were alot of women dropping dead from TSS back then. granted, a lot of it had to do with companies like pumping them with extra absorbent chemicals whiiiich… I think we don’t use anymore, If we do, it’s a very small amount or a safer version of it. They also put alot of uniformity standards in place, like blasting warning signs on the package, putting instructions that state wearing them as little as possible, and uniform sizing when it has to do with absorption capacities. But man, if this was 1987 and not 2024 that could have went real real bad. Glad you made it out with nothing more than embarrassment

Okay, I gasped when it got to how long it was in, and thank god for the antibiotics...but don't be so ashamed. There's no need. I've done it. My sister did once; we've all cringed together sharing stories and discussing the extent of the odor. And we laugh, too, because my god, isn't it gross?? Is there no end to the indignities of womanhood?? No! There is no end.

I guarantee your husband cares a hell of a lot more about your health than this fairly common stinky misadventure you've had. You've got a pretty great gross story!! When misadventures of this kind befall me (unladylike, gross, super-weird, or very off-putting) they haven't even finished occurring, usually, before I'm mentally composing the epic tale and thinking of who best to regale with it. So in this same spirit, I have to say that 3 weeks is the longest I think I've heard (unless you tied with my little sis, I'm not certain) but honestly, respect!! You lived to tell the tale!

I mean, you're made of strong stuff. If you survived the tampon, you can survive the embarrassment. I think I've done several things as embarrassing as that in just the last year. I accidentally cultivated a situation so gross that I now use it from time to soothe my anxious ADHD client whose apartment I clean.

Just for you, I will tell this anecdote. I went out of the country for a week and paid a friend to come regularly and care for my cat. In a hurry in the last minutes before I left I showered, peed in the shower because I had to go and was about to run late. My shower sometimes has a bit of a drainage issue. Yeah. So the title of this story is "Pee Bath"; my client tells me she's sick with anxiety over how messy and or filthy her place has become and I just respond, "hey! Don't worry! Remember pee bath?" It comforts her to know that I came back to a special stench and the realization that my lovely, kind, sort of new friend/neighbor had come into this foul odor every day of a week and experienced it's unique development. I survived that shame and laugh.

So don't be so upset with yourself. It's not so very terrible. I mean...pee bath!

Just a quick note of support, a woman is never too old for almost anything! Ha

I’ve done it twice. The first time it happened I didn’t realize until a week later when I smelled HORRIBLE. I’m just glad I didn’t get sick.

I swear I started using tampons and the first story my mom told me was how my grandma went to the doctor because it hurt trying to put one in and they looked up and found the old one.

I'm on Mirena now, so no bleeding. But before I was always really happy that I never forgot. I just kinda assumed my mom was telling me because it was super common.

When I was a teen, I left a contraceptive sponge in for over a week. I found out when it fell out in the toilet.

I am a porn creator and I put cotton when I film a video.

I forgot about it, and I noticed brown discharge for a week, I went to a Dr, they prescribed some medication to insert in me. They didn’t check inside.

A few days later, when I peed, something came out of me. It was cotton I had in there for a week.

I've got ye olde adhd and my longest is 4 days, but I bleed like a stuck pig since I got slapped into perimenopause. My mom had a friend that forgot one and left it in for TWO. MONTHS. Because she had irregular periods. She was ok, but I cannot even imagine how scary that would be.

I once lost a menstrual cup, had to go buy a replacement, and then found the original cup when I went to put the new one in. Yes, I am single. No, there were absolutely no adverse effects aside from acute embarrassment

Keep in mind that perimenopause starts around 35 to 40 years. It affects your memory. Vitamin D3 can help with concentration, memory, and sleep. You can safely take 5,000 I.U. daily. It also helps in the absorption of calcium, which needs to be the form of Calcium Citrate to be absorbed by the body.

Are y'all using non-applicator tampons?

Bcoz the string... surely, when you pee or clean yourself in the shower, you're likely to see or feel it.

Glad you got away with all your limbs!

Thank God you didn't develop TSS. Just wow.

Happen to me once. It was in the shower while I was washing, felt something weird and it fell right out. Best part was I was showering with my partner at the time! Haven’t worn tampons since.

I made it all the way to 39 before this happened to me and then it happened exactly 1 year later so I gave up tampons for the most part. I am very dramatic about poking around my vagina. Squeamish. Like, I was crying and video blogging my will because I preferred to just die of toxic shock than to go to the hospital for help.

First I was sure I had an std and I never have before so of course I choose to investigate online rather than just go to planned parenthood. I had just finished my period and noticed a faint smell that was not pleasant. Admittedly, not as horrifying as I would expect though. And every time I peed and wiped there was a hint of the darker blood. Somehow I realized I had left a tampon in and the string color was how I knew it was the previous month. I had to buy a brand new box this time.

Obviously I survived and my period is about 1.5 days shorter without tampons. But the thing that sticks with me the most is this story I ran into somewhere online, as I researched how my death would be and what to expect, this woman had left a tampon in for like 6 months and she stood in the shower with chopsticks to remove it and I just need to share that I have made urp sounds like 33 times just trying to type this run-on sentence. It was the most … I mean the way she mentioned having to “fish it out” with chopsticks and in little pieces it had basically denigrated (my fucking phone won’t spell correct that goddamn word and I have made the urp sound and body hairball lurch another 15 times trying so)

Anyway. I’m not talking shit on that poor woman just telling you I relate and I am extra weird about going in.

Omg I did this once. Only I forgot it was in (it was towards the end of my cycle), went out with a guy and we ended up having sex. I had to go to the ER to get it removed 🫠🫠🫠 worst thing in my life

Heyyyy I did this when I met my now-partner! We had a few wines in our first week of dating and had sex. I forgot I had a tampon in and it got smooshed in there.

Cue 3 days later, we had sex again and it smelled. We thought it was an STI, or BV or something idk. We were going for a hike and sporadically I could smell it.

We both went to the STI clinic and got the all good, which actually only compounded my misery. So I went home and in my frustration used the jet function to attempt to wash the smell away. I felt a mass protruding from my vagina and thought fuck, my vagina had gone inside out. Just what I need, hey? But on further inspection, a revolting wad of nasty old tampon flops into the shower floor. It had been there for 2 weeks.

That emotion you described? It is REAL. I'm so glad that I'm not the only one.

I had to call the guy and explain it all. He bought me a bubble tea. We're still together 3 years later.

Anyways, guess where the first place I came to see if anyone else had experienced this horror? That's right, r/twoxchromosomes 😄 congratulations babe.

Happened to me too. Had sex and everything! Went to the gyno and she was like don’t worry, it happens way more than you’d think. Super embarrassing. I think maybe one of the worse ways that my ADHD has impacted me lol

I will never understand how this happens 🙈

I had an ex who thought it was no biggie to let me penetrate her without her removing her tampon first. I assured her it was not. So don't feel too bad.

Thanks for reminding me why I only use pads

My friend left a grocery bag with ??? More than 10 less than 50, I didn't count used tampons under my bathroom sink. 

I hope you're ok!

This is one of my fears. In fact, I think I'll just start setting myself alarms when using them so I don't forget.

Did yours turn a weird color.. I say this because .. well mine did!

Wow, you're really fortunate you didn't develop toxic shock syndrome 😰

Add that to the list of reasons I choose not to menstruate

Happy you avoided toxic shock syndrome!

Sorry I get it it’s embarrassing but we are only human. I also forgot or before but it was only a day or 2 luckily. Then it happened again a few years later, also only a few days but after that I stopped wearing tampons because of my adhd executive dysfunction etc I keep forgetting so it’s best I just stick with pads

One time I pulled my tampon out and I still felt something up there so I tugged and another came out. I was bewildered and have no idea when I put the first one in😀I triple check every time now

I don't think this could happen with me. Mine would have exited out on its own within a day or so.

I stopped using tampons because of this.

I’m a women’s health nurse practitioner (CNM) and this happens more commonly than you’d think. Don’t be embarrassed! I’m glad you’d got antibiotics already, but depending on which prescription you were sent, they may need to change them. Like someone said, you’re not the first and won’t be the last, and your provider is not going to judge you!

You are extremely fortunate that you didn’t come down with toxic shock syndrome, which can be fatal. Diligence my dear, diligence.

That’s one of the scariest things ever for me, that’s why I always use pads

Thanks for this. Came to this sub for other reasons and am leaving a better person from seeing your post.

I don't understand how this happens. I only use tampons for swimming and I can feel it the whole time and hate the sensation of it being in there.

My ADHD self wud do this all the time if i had to deal with smth like that; honestly thats relatedly part of why i dont want full surgery down below... A hole wud be harder to maintain for me and id totes end up gettin infections i wudnt with an outie down there instd

A little different but around 30, when I was visiting my parents, I had to use the batheoom and saw an orange bottle with oranges on it, looking real good. So I slammed it back, thinking it was mouth wash. It was not. I threw up immediately and noticed in fine print it said disinfectant cleaner. My teeth felt weird for 2 weeks. It's different, but we all do dumb shit.