An applicator for a tampon comprising an inner tube slideable within an outer tube is provided. A plurality of protrusions is provided on the outer surface of the inner tube at its forward end and a plurality of spikes is provided on the inner surface of the outer tube at its forward end. The applicator has one or more of these features: i) the same or different number of protrusions and spikes； ii) one or more of the protrusions are arranged in an asymmetric manner around the outer surface of the inner tube such that the distance between two adjacent protrusions is not the same for all adjacent pairs of protrusions； iii) one or more of the spikes are arranged in an asymmetric manner around the inner surface of the outer tube such that the distance between two adjacent spikes is not the same for all adjacent pairs of spikes.
