During normal exploration of the body, young girls may put a foreign object in their vaginas. Common objects are toilet tissue, a crayon, or a bead. The objects must be removed to prevent a vaginal infection. Often they are not discovered until the girl is brought to see a health care provider because she has developed a vaginal discharge.

The most common foreign body in young girls is toilet tissue. Teach your daughter to pat her vulva dry after going to the bathroom rather than rubbing it with tissue. Rubbing causes balls of tissue to break off and become lodged in the vagina.

NOTE: DO NOT try to remove the object yourself. This almost always pushes the object in farther and makes removal by your child's health care provider very difficult. Watch your child closely to make sure that she doesn't push the object in.

When should I call my child's health care provider?

Call immediately if you think your child has a foreign body in her vagina.