How to Avoid Peeing on the Tampon String

Co-authored by Rebecca Levy-Gantt, MPT, DO

Last Updated: January 12, 2023 Approved

Tampons are a convenient way to have your period and continue swimming, playing sports, and going about your daily life, without even noticing you're wearing protection. But what do you do when it comes time to use the bathroom? How do you pee without getting the string all wet, or do you need to change the tampon every time? Learn the quick and simple solution for keeping your tampon string clean, and when it's necessary to use a fresh one.

Section 1 of 3:

Can you pee with a tampon in?

Yes, absolutely! Because urine and period blood come out of different holes (urine comes out of your urethra, while period blood comes out of your vagina), a tampon will in no way hinder your ability to pee. With that said, the string at the end of your tampon can get in the way and end up soaked with pee, which can be kind of annoying. Fortunately, a wet string won't cause any health issues, and there are some ways you can avoid getting the string wet in the first place (more on that below!).^{[1]
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Section 2 of 3:

Moving the String to the Side

1
Sit on the toilet seat, but don't pee yet. If you are using a public toilet, you may wish to squat above the toilet, without actually resting on the seat. Otherwise, you can use a seat-liner or tear several strips of toilet paper, lay them on the toilet seat, and sit.
- Make sure you have pulled down your pants and underwear or lifted your dress or skirt before sitting down.
- Squeeze the muscles around your urethra (the opening through which urine exits your body). You only have to do this for a moment, but squeeze tight so you don't start peeing as soon as you sit down.
2
Reach your hand between your legs and pull the tampon string to the side. Hold the string against your thigh, and it should be out of the way when you pee.^{[2]
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- You may also want to reach behind and pull the string back, toward your anus. Only do this if you aren't also going to defecate, and be sure the string doesn't actually touch your anus.^{[3]
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3
Lean forward a bit and begin to urinate. Keep your hand and the string out of the way as you urinate.
4
Wipe as normal. Continue to hold the string off to the side, using your free hand to tear off some toilet paper and wipe yourself from front to back.
- Flush, pull up your pants, and remember to wash your hands.

Section 3 of 3:

Addressing Common Problems

1
Don't worry if your tampon string gets wet. There shouldn't be any health repercussions if you accidentally pee on the string.^{[4]
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Trustworthy Source
Go Ask Alice
Medical advice site with content written by health promotion specialists affiliated with Columbia University
Go to source} You can squeeze the string with a piece of toilet paper to dry it off before pulling up your pants.^{[5]
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- It's really a matter of preference--if you are uncomfortable with the feeling of a wet string, or worry about smell, you can change your tampon if you wish.
- There has never been a documented case of infection due to urinating while wearing a tampon.^{[6]
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  Go Ask Alice
  Medical advice site with content written by health promotion specialists affiliated with Columbia University
  Go to source}
2
Change your tampon if the tampon itself gets wet. If the actual tampon gets wet, it means it wasn't inserted properly and should be changed. Your tampon should be inserted far enough into your vagina so no part of the tampon itself is showing (the absorbent part), only the string.^{[7]
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- It is not necessary to change your tampon every time you urinate. Change your tampon based on how long you've had it in (never over eight hours) or if your tampon is leaking or "full."
- If your tampon isn't ready to be changed, you will meet some resistance when you pull on the string.
- Always try to match your tampon to your flow--don't wear a super-absorbent tampon on a day when your flow is light. This can make removing the tampon uncomfortable.
3
Hold your tampon string to the side or front if you are defecating. While it's fine to get urine on your tampon string, feces contains tons of bacteria that can lead to infection.^{[8]
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- If you do get feces on your tampon string, use a wad of toilet paper to remove the tampon and throw it away.
- Make sure your hands are clean before attempting to insert another tampon--if there is feces on your hands, you could spread an infection to your urinary tract or vagina.
4
Don't be afraid to urinate while wearing a tampon. Before trying tampons, some girls are unsure if it's even possible to wear a tampon and urinate. This can keep some girls from using tampons, since they don't want to change it every time they pee or somehow harm themselves or disrupt their periods.^{[9]
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- A woman's body has an opening specifically for urine--the urethra. Feces comes through the anus. Your menstrual blood comes out of your vagina, which is located between your urethra and anus.^{[10]
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