BURSTFor many people who get a period, tampons can make life so much better. They’re fairly easy to use and allow you to go about your day without worrying about leaking blood or streaking your underwear. The best part? You can do most things while you wear one. Take peeing, for example. You actually don’t need to change your tampon every time you use the toilet. That’s because a tampon’s job is to absorb menstrual blood from your vagina, so it doesn’t get in the way of pee, which comes out another hole (more on this later).
OK, but is it safe or sanitary? Keep reading to hear what our expert says.
Why you can pee with a tampon in
It’s physically possible to pee and wear a tampon at the same time. That’s largely due to your body’s natural design. In case you’re a little rusty on Anatomy 101, here’s a quick refresher: your pee comes out of your urethra (the hollow tube that connects to your bladder and releases urine from your body), whereas your period blood comes out of your vagina. In other words, they’re two different holes. So inserting a tampon into your vagina won’t affect your ability to pee.
Still, peeing with a tampon is totally up to you. If you’re not into it, simply take out the old tampon and insert a fresh one after you pee.
Is it safe or sanitary to pee with a tampon in?
Even if you can anatomically do it, you might be wondering if it’s sanitary to pee with a tampon in. Our expert chimes in. “It is safe and sanitary to pee with a tampon,” says Sheryl A. Ross, MD, OB/GYN and author of She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women’s Intimate Health. Period. That’s because urine is pretty clean, she says. Though it’s not 100 percent sterile, pee typically contains low levels of bacteria even in healthy people. In fact, newer evidence suggests that the microbiome of your bladder may share similar bugs to that of your vagina, according to a March 2022 study in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.
All this to say, even if you get a little pee on your tampon string, it’s NBD. This “should not cause an infection,” Dr. Ross says. But, if you don’t love the idea of a wet string in your underwear, Dr. Ross recommends moving the string to the side while you urinate.
However, in some cases, you may want to use caution when peeing with a tampon. For example, “if you have signs and symptoms of a urinary tract or vaginal infection, including vaginal discharge, odor, pain, urgency, or frequency of urination, you may want to avoid using a tampon [altogether] until you have been treated by your healthcare provider,” Dr. Ross says.
Well, what about poop?
We know it’s fine to pee with a tampon on in. But can you poop, too? The short answer: yes. Anatomically, your vagina and anus are two distinct holes, so it is physically possible to poop while wearing a tampon. That said, there are a few hygiene-related things to consider if you go number two with a tampon in.
First, the strain of pushing out poop can slightly dislodge your tampon. While your vagina and butthole are separate, they’re still neighbors. The vaginal and anal canals are located on top of each other. So when you push during a bowel movement, the force of the pressure can also partially push out your tampon (though it’s unlikely that it’ll fall out completely).
Secondly, if you get poop on the string, it may contain harmful bacteria like E. coli. If these bacteria travel into the vagina (or urethra), they can cause a urinary tract infection, per Johns Hopkins Medicine.
If you prefer to poop with a tampon in, you can keep it sanitary by:
- Tucking the string forward to avoid getting poop on it
- Washing your hands after you poop and before you insert a new tampon
- Changing your tampon if you get poop on the string
Hygiene tips to follow while using tampons
While it’s generally safe to pee while wearing a tampon, taking a few precautions to be sanitary is still a smart idea. Here are Dr. Ross’ top hygiene tips for tampon-wearers:
- Practice good hand hygiene: Germs can hitch a ride from your hands to your vagina (or urethra), so it’s best to keep your hands clean when you’re handling a tampon. “As long as you are washing your hands … before and after inserting a tampon, you will have a minimal risk of infections,” Dr. Ross says.
- Change your tampon frequently: Aim to change your tampon every four to six hours. Wearing your tampon for too long (generally, more than eight hours) can raise your risk of bacterial or yeast infections and toxic shock syndrome (TSS), Dr. Ross says. Being too lax about how long you leave your tampon in can also lead to inflammation of your vulva (aka the outer part of your genitals, including your inner and outer labia).
- Choose the correct absorbency. “It’s also key to select the right size of tampon depending on your blood flow,” Dr. Ross says. “If you have a light flow, select a smaller tampon; if you are bleeding heavily, use a super-absorbent tampon,” she adds.
The bottom line
Peeing with a tampon is totally safe and sanitary (as long as you take a few simple precautions like washing your hands whenever you touch your tampon). Even if you wet the string with urine, it should not increase your risk of infections. However, if you already have an infection, like a UTI or a yeast infection, it’s probably best to stop using tampons (temporarily) until your symptoms clear.
At the end of the day, whether you choose to tinkle with a tampon is a matter of preference. If you feel comfortable, go for it. If not, take your tampon out and put a new one in post-pee. Not a fan of tampons to begin with? “There are many ways to collect blood during a menstrual period,” from maxi pads to reusable period underwear and menstrual cups, Dr. Ross says. “Empower and educate yourself on all the feminine hygiene options” to find the best one for you, she adds.