Benefits Of Swimming During Your Period
Not only is it safe to go swimming during your period, but it is also a good idea. Staying active has been shown to help ease the cramping and fatigue that some people experience during their monthly period.
Swimming, in particular, can be very helpful. Since your body is buoyant in the water, you may not notice the discomfort of the bloating that you may have during your period. Gentle nonswimming aquatic exercise has also been shown to be very helpful in managing painful periods.
Swimming or other aquatic exercises might be a great way to get pain and stress relief during your period. Even if you are simply wading at the beach, dont let your period stop you from enjoying a nice day in the sun. Just dont forget to pack a few extra tampons along with your sunscreen.
Be Prepared For Action
That said, you must use the proper supplies while swimming during your period. Be sure to tuck extra tampons or a menstrual cup in your swim bag. If you wear a menstrual pad while swimming, the pool water will cause the pad to become wet and soggy. Along with making the pad less absorbent, it could also allow your blood to leak into the pool water. Instead, use a tampon or menstrual cup to catch your blood while you’re swimming. A tampon is a cylinder of soft cotton that is inserted into the vagina. Once inserted, the tampon absorbs blood and blocks it from exiting your body. A small string attached to the end of the tampon hangs out of your vagina, allowing for easy removal. When wearing a bathing suit, simply tuck this string inside the crotch area of the suit. If you dont like tampons, consider using a menstrual cup. Typically made of rubber or silicone, these small cups are also inserted into the vagina during your period. Rather than absorbing blood like a tampon, the cup simply catches the blood. Depending on your blood flow, menstrual cups can typically be worn for 6 to 12 hours before needing to be emptied, although more frequent emptying can prevent overflow.
Menstrual Cups For Swimming
If period swimwear is not really your thing, or youd prefer just to use period swimwear as a back-up, then you may like to try a menstrual cup.
What I love about menstrual cups is they can be worn for a long time, up to 8-12 hours, depending on your flow and the specific cup guidelines.
This is really perfect for long days at the beach, the lake, by the pool or on a boat
There are so many menstrual cups on the market at the moment, it can be a little overwhelming. And I dont have one brand of menstrual cup that I recommend, because menstrual cups can vary in their length, firmeness, capacity and more. What might work for me, or your best friend, might not be right for you and your body. We all have a unique anatomy that needs to be taken into account when choosing a menstrual cup.
If youd like to learn more about how to choose a menstrual cup thats right for you, you can read my free Guide to Choosing Your Best Menstrual Cup. Its worth a read before you decide which menstrual cup to invest in! Just enter your details below and I will send the guide direct to your inbox:
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When Do Most Girls Get Their Period
Most girls get their first period when they’re around 12. But getting it any time between age 10 and 15 is OK. Every girl’s body has its own schedule.
There isn’t one right age for a girl to get her period. But there are some clues that it will start soon:
- Most of the time, a girl gets her period about 2 years after her breasts start to develop.
- Another sign is vaginal discharge fluid that a girl might see or feel on her underwear. This discharge usually begins about 6 months to a year before a girl gets her first period.
In Other Words: You Still Need Protection To Prevent Leakage
Just because your period isnt quite as active while youre in the water doesnt mean its going to stop completely especially if youre frequently moving in and out of the water.
If youre worried about someone noticing that youre on your period , try not to stress. You definitely dont have to avoid the water altogether.
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Sodoes Your Period Actually Stop In Water Even Just A Little
First, let it be known that water itself will never make your period disappear. It doesnt matter if youre in water or on the top of a mountain or in a ditch, your period still comes, says Michele Haughton, MD, an ob-gyn at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian.
Basically, barring any medical problems like hormonal disorders that can make you skip periods, your uterus will keep on shedding its lining whether you dive into the ocean or not, says Dr. Haughton. So, spending a week in your bathtub isnt an effective way to skip out on your monthly visit. Womp.
But getting into the water can make it seem like your period goes away. That’s all thanks to the pressure of the water surrounding your vaginait can counteract the force of gravity that helps blood flow out of your body. Theres no biological magic going on here, its all physics. When youre in water theres some opposite pressure happening, says Dr. Haughton.
Think back to your high school physics class for a sec: You may remember the word buoyancy. Buoyancy, also known as upthrust, is the upward force a liquid exerts to counter the weight of an object . Water has way more resistance than air, says Dr. Haughton. So water can counteract the blood flowing out of the vagina.
Essentially, the water doesn’t make your period stop, so to speak, but it can block the exit.
Swimming On Your Period Myth Or Fact
Truth: Nope. The blood may not flow outside the vagina due to the counter pressure of the pool water, but it definitely does not stop.
Truth: Again, no. A tampon will absorb the blood, so therell be no red tail swimming behind you.
Truth: Contrary to popular belief, sharks wont smell the blood and decide youre dinner.
Truth: Definitely false. Light exercise such as swimming can actually help relieve period pain.
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Could I Get An Infection From Swimming On My Period
Swimming on your period is completely safe and wont increase your risk of getting a vaginal infection. However, pools with chlorine might irritate your vagina, which could cause you to develop a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis . To reduce your risk of this as much as you can, make sure you take a shower and change into clean, dry clothes as soon as you can to avoid prolonged exposure to the chemicals. If anything seems out of the ordinary for your body or if theres something youre concerned about, be sure to book an appointment to see your doctor.
Can I Go Swimming During My Period
Swimming during your period isn’t a problem. However, you will want to use a tampon when swimming so you don’t bleed on your swimsuit. Pads won’t work and will just fill with water. The tampon won’t fall out if it is inserted correctly, so go ahead and make a splash!
Tampons also can be helpful for girls who exercise or play sports during their periods. Pads will work, but can feel uncomfortable during sports.
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What If You Go Swimming On Your Period Without Any Feminine Care Products
If you’ve ever tried swimming while on your period without wearing any feminine care products, you’ve likely noticed your period may seem to temporarily stop when you’re in the water. And there’s some legitimate science behind it.
“Blood typically flows out from the uterus into the vagina through the cervix because of gravity, and the water pressure can decrease the flow while swimming,” says Ho.
So it can slow your flow but it doesn’t totally stop your flow from happening.
“Water pressure may temporarily stop the flow of your period while in the water, but coughing, sneezing, laughing, big movements may override this,” says Dr. Leah Millheiser, MD, OB-GYN and director of the Female Sexual Medicine Program at Stanford Health Care.
Will Period Blood Attract Sharks
Fair question and the simple answer is no, period blood does not attract sharks. So, breathe a sigh of relief, your beach vacation that perfectly falls on your period can go on! No worries and no shark attacks! While a lot of people like to joke about this, the science behind it proves that thereâs no correlation between menstruating people and an increase in shark attacks. The amount of blood lost throughout an entire period cycle is merely 6 tablespoons, so the small trace amount lost during an ocean swim would be very low and unlikely to send nearby sharks into attack mode.
There you have it. Your answers and guide to can you go swimming on your period. Plus, youâll get some peace of mind the next time you swim in the ocean on your period.
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Old Wives’ Tales About Your Menstrual Cycle That Are Actually True
If you have a period, or even if you don’t, chances are, growing up, you heard a lot of different facts, myths, stories, old wives’ tales, and more about your menstrual cycle. And while you’ve probably since learned that many of them are completely untrue, there are some old wives’ tales about your menstrual cycle that are actually true, or, at least partially true, and you may not even realize it.
Some old wives’ tales sound pretty far-fetched and it can be more than a little puzzling as to how they’ve lasted as long as they have . Others, however, have at least a kernel of truth to them, when you get down to it. Sorting out fact from fiction and determining where the snippets of truth may lie can help you learn new things about your body and its processes, even when you think you know all there is to know, period-wise. From if your period really can sync up with others’ close to you to the kinds of exercise you should or shouldn’t do when it’s that time of the month, here’s what you need to know about the truth behind some of the old wives’ tales about your menstrual cycle that you’ve been hearing for years.
How Can You Go Swimming On Your Period
As with all period related problems, I like to think there is a solution. Swimming on your period is no different!
There are two reusable period product solutions for swimming on your period. You can either use a menstrual cup or you can try period-proof swimwear.
Period-proof swimwear will allow you to swim on your period, without any other form of protection. Yep thats right, you wont need a pad, a tampon or a cup.
Period swimwear is designed to absorb your flow, giving you the freedom to live your best life and go swimming regardless what time of the month it is!
A menstrual cup will also allow you to swim on your period without any other form of protection. A menstrual cup will sit inside, just below the cervix where it will collect your menstrual flow.
Menstrual cups can be worn for up to 8-12 hours, so are a great option if you find yourself at the water all day!
You can read more about menstrual cups later in this article.
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Is It Unhygienic To Swim While Menstruating
In 2016, a fitness center in thecountry of Georgia made headlines when they posted a sign in the womenâs lockerroomsaying âDear ladies! Do not go into the pool during periods.â They claimed thiswas to protect other swimmers after someone âcontaminatedâ the pool withmenstrual blood, but thereâs nothing unhygienic about swimming during yourperiod. If you use a tampon or menstrual cup, itâs unlikely that any blood wouldbe released into the water while you swim. Even if your period started while youwere swimming and a small amount of blood came out, this would be diluted by thewater.
Swimming pools contain small amounts of bodily fluids like urine andsweat, but the water is usually treated with chlorine to prevent the spread ofdisease. In other words, you are not endangering anyoneâs health by swimmingduring your period.
How Do I Tell My Mom Or Dad That I Got My First Period
It’s normal to feel a little shy about sharing this bit of news. In some families, talking about body stuff might seem like no big deal. With this kind of family, they might take you out to dinner to celebrate your period!
Other families might be more private, so it can be hard to know exactly what to say or whom to tell.
But this news needs to be shared, at least with one grown-up in the family. You might just pull the person aside and say it clearly, like this: “I got my first period today. Do you think you can help me get some supplies?”
If brothers and sisters find out, they might tease you a bit. Just tell them that it means you’re getting older.
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How Does Period Swimwear Work
Modibodi patent-pending swimwear technology is designed for protection from periods and light bladder leaks.
With protection from their super slim swimwear technology, your period wont keep you out of the water! Hit the pool or the beach and be protected with the period swimwear able to hold up to 10ml or 2 tampons worth of fluid.
The absorbent technology contains two layers:
1. TOP LAYER
Made from a sporty mesh which is fast-drying, antimicrobial, anti-odour and backed with a breathable, waterproof layer.
2. BOTTOM LAYER
The bottom layer is the outer fabric of the swimwear a recycled nylon which is chlorine resistant, UV50+ rated, water repellent, and dries 3x faster than regular swimwear.
Things To Remember When Your Girl Is On Her Period
via yavengers.com
You all must have heard about ‘that time of the month talks women have when they get all cranky, moody and basically an emotional casserole. It can get difficult at times and you might misunderstand her behaviour for something else. So before you pull you hair out, here’s a list of things you should remember, do or avoid while your girl is menstruating.
via thebritishgirlblog.com
1. Remember it is a normal, natural phenomenon of life not a disease.2. Exercise helps to alleviate pain. Motivate her to exercise from the second or third day of the period.3. Limit her caffeine intake.
via syllirium.deviantart.com
4. If menstruation is too heavy and painful, please ask for medical help.5. She doesn’t mean all the mean things she says, its just her hormones talking.
via thoughtcatalog.com
6. Never point out her junk food eating habits when she is chomping on potato chips or gulping down a tub full of ice cream. It’s her time, please let her be, you can take her for a run later.7. Be patient.8. If menstruation is very irregular, scanty and associated with obesity, it may be indication of some underlying disease.
via youthconnect.in
9. Bloating is common during periods.10. Hot water bottle and heat pads are a great comfort to relieve pains as they increase blood circulation and lead to flush of cramp hormone prostaglandin.11. Always remember, normal amount of blood is few spoons to half a cup. More than this is considered heavy bleeding.
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