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.
Does Your Period Stop When Youre In The Water
When you get into the water, your menstrual bleeding doesnt stop, but the blood doesnt flow out at the same rate either.
Why? This is because the water exerts pressure on your vagina, which counteracts the effect of gravity on your flow.
However, if you do something that exceeds the counterpressure of the water like sneezing or coughing some blood will get into the water.
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.
Recommended Reading: Can You Donate Plasma While On Your Period
Is It Unhygienic To Swim While On My Period
Having your period is not unhygienic, but how you manage your period can be. If you wear a tampon while swimming, some of the pool or ocean water can be absorbed by your tampon. Not ideal to get bacteria or chlorine in your body.
Luckily, menstrual cups do not absorb any water as they are designed to collect, not absorb your menstrual blood. As they are generally made out of medical grade silicone, they are very safe and hygienic for your body, as long as you regularly wash and clean your cup.
See How to Clean a Menstrual Cup?
Having Your Period Should Never Hold You Back From Doing The Things You Love Living Life To The Fullest And Having A Great Time
This includes going on vacation, visiting the beach, or having a pool party with friends. What about swimming on your period with a pad?
Can you go swimming with a pad?
Swimming on your period with a pad is not advised.
Pads are made out of absorbent material that soaks up liquids within seconds.
Submerged in water like a pool, a pad will completely fill with water, leaving no room for it to absorb your menstrual fluid. Plus, it may swell up into a big soppy mess. No fun.
Water can also make the sticky backing that keeps your pad in place ineffective. This is why itâs not a good idea to swim on your period with a pad.
However, if youâre just lounging poolside or sunbathing on the beach, feel free to wear a pad. You may want to wear a pair of shorts or a cover-up over your swim bottoms to make yourself more comfortable. However, if you plan on taking a dip in the water, itâs better to wear a tampon.
While weâre at it, letâs put your mind at ease about a few more things girls wonder about swimming while on their period:
BTW – getting your pad wet wonât cause you any harm. So, if your pad gets wet by accident, donât sweat about it.
You can swim with a pad from a physical standpoint. It wonât hurt you in any way. But from a protection standpoint â no, you canât swim with a pad.
If youâre comfortable using tampons, go ahead and put one in and dive right into the water.
You May Like: How Likely To Get Pregnant On Period
Q: I’m Feeling A Bit Low And Can’t Be Bothered To Get Involved With What’s Going On
A: First and foremost, the way you are feeling is completely normal! Being on your period messes with your hormones, so you might be feeling slightly more moody and agitated than normal. Combat these feelings by spending the first few days of your period relaxing. Sunbathe, read a good book or even go for a swim . Most importantly, if you don’t feel like doing something, don’t feel pressured to get involved if you’re not feeling up to it!
Will Swimming On My Period Attract Sharks
This question honestly makes me laugh, but its a serious concern for a lot of people! No need to worry though there are no reported incidents of a shark attacking someone who is menstruating, and there are plenty of divers who have entered the water on their period and made it out without being eaten by a shark.
In general, shark attacks are extremely rare. On average, there are only two fatalities caused by shark attacks every two years in the world. If youre super worried about it, I would recommend not taking any deep dives while menstruating!
You May Like: Can You Ovulate Before Your Period
Can You Go Swimming On Your Period Facts Options & Strategies
Swimming on your period can be stressful, but it doesnt have to be. As with anything in life, how you choose to deal with it is up to you! Its your body, your life, and your choice. And for the rest of the time, theres KT by Knix. Happy swimming!
Dealing with your period can always bring on a bit of anxiety, but swimming on your period can put you into full-on panic mode. Growing up, I was enrolled in swimming lessons year-round as I worked towards my lifeguarding certification. Like most young girls, I started out using pads to deal with period leakage, not tampons. Pads cant be worn in the water because they absorb water from the pool, instead of your period leakage. For about two years before I was comfortable using tampons, I would skip swimming lessons while on my period because I was afraid of leaking.
So, is it ok to swim on your period? Yes. Were going to go over some of the most common questions associated with swimming on your period and the best solutions if you want to hop in the water while Aunt Flo is in town.
Will Everyone Know I Have My Period What If I Stain My Bikini
Menstruationis a natural process. If youâre worried about stains or leaks, you could wear adark colored swimsuit or add an extra layer by wearing swim shorts. Ask a friendto alert you of any problems, or take a quick trip to the bathroom to checkâthis way you can relax and just have fun in the water.
If you want to go swimmingâor do anything for that matterâdonât let yourperiod stop you.
Track your cycle in Clue to betterunderstand your body and find out when your next period is due.
Let’s support one another.
Read Also: What Can I Drink To Stop My Periods
It’s Unhealthy To Skip Your Period
“There’s no medical reason why you need to get your period every month,” says Dr. Nucatola. “It’s fine to use hormonal birth control to lesson the bleeding or stop your period all together.” Some skip their periods for health problems, such as anemia or painful cramps, and others just don’t want to bleed that month and that’s okay. Just check with your doctor first. If you are sexually active and use birth control to skip your periods, it’s best to get routine pregnancy tests just in case.
When You Should Avoid Swimming While On Your Period
There are a few circumstances when you should avoid swimming.
“It is best to avoid swimming on your period if you have had a procedure recently in the vagina i.e. surgery, D& C for miscarriage, hysteroscopy, egg retrieval,” says. Ho. “It is also best to avoid swimming if you have delivered a baby recently, within a couple weeks, or are still bleeding after a miscarriage.”
The bottom line is, you are safe to swim during your period, and it may even help with cramps.
Recommended Reading: Can You Have Your Period And Still Be Pregnant
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.
Myth #: Periods Attract Sharks
Sharks have really good senses of smell, so they pick up on more than just blood in the water.
They also sense urine and other bodily fluids which they arent into that will deter even the most curious shark from trying to make you an afternoon snack.
Still worried? There isnt any research to suggest that periods increase the likelihood of a shark attack, so you really are in the clear.
Don’t Miss: Bleeding But Not On My Period
Change Your Pad Frequently
You’ll need to change your pad a little more often than you normally would, especially if you’re going in and out of the water. No matter how good your pad is, it’s eventually going to hold more water than it can absorb, and that can get uncomfortable. It may go without saying, but always change your pad once more when you’re done in the water for the day. A Ruby Love suit will prevent leaks, but no one wants to sit on a wet pad for the ride home.
Bonus Tip: I bring a zip-seal plastic bag in case there’s no safe disposal place for a used pad. Trust me when I say you don’t want to find yourself in a beach-side outhouse or pool locker room with a water-logged pad and nowhere to put it.
So feel free to swim on your period, and wear a pad if you want to. Just take these few precautions, go out, and enjoy!
Leak Proof & Absorbent Period Swimwear to make swimming on your period with or without a tampon easy. These swimsuits can be worn with a pad or tampon.
-
DISCREET
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Menstruation And Swimming But Were Afraid To Ask
Its a fact of life: Females of childbearing age typically menstruate for an average of four to eight days on a regular cycle of roughly every 28 days.
Its part of the reproductive cycle, The Office on Womens Health within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services explains: When you menstruate, your body discards the monthly buildup of the lining of your uterus . Menstrual blood and tissue flow from your uterus through the small opening in your cervix and pass out of your body through your vagina.
This happens like clockwork for some, less consistently for others, depending on a range of health and environmental factors. Every womans cycle is different.
For some, they bleed for three days every 21 days. For others, an eight-day period that occurs every 38 days is normal. Still others may have periods that fluctuate, and hormonal birth control pills can be used to skip periods for months on end.
For most women, its just part of being female and something they get used to managing. The OWH reports that women can usually expect to have a period nearly every month or so for an average of about 40 years. Most girls can expect their period to begin during puberty, usually sometime between 11 and 16 years of age, and last until menopause, which typically arrives somewhere between the ages of 45 and 55.
Also Check: How To Know If Your Period Is Coming
Other Tips For Swimming On Your Period
Being on your period might cause your face to break out with pimples and blotchy skin â and that’s not great for a day out on the water. Reach for a high SPF sunscreen especially formulated for your face. Top it off with a tinted moisturizer to even out your skin tone and hide redness. If all else fails, snag some oversized sunglasses and a hat or cap that suits your style and shades your face from the sun.
Stomach bloating and period cramps also have no place at the beach or poolside. Steer clear of salty, fried and unhealthy foods â as well as caffeine. Stay hydrated with water, herbal iced tea, cool refreshing lemonade and fresh fruits and veggies. Some people swear by hot water and lemon to reduce bloating. Figure out what works best for you.
What Happens If I Don’t Have Pads Or Tampons Handy
If this happens, here are your options: Borrow from a friend, buy some from a restroom dispenser, visit the school nurse if you’re at school, or call home so your mom or dad can bring you what you need. If you are desperate and trying to keep your clothes from staining, you can fold up some tissues or toilet paper and place them in your underwear. That won’t work for long, so you’ll need to get some pads or tampons quickly.
If you’re nervous about telling the school nurse, a teacher, or another adult about what you need, write it down on a piece of paper or use code words. You might say that “it’s that time of the month” or that you need some “personal supplies.” Even better, keep extras in your backpack, locker, or gym bag.
Also Check: Does Birth Control Make Periods Less Painful
Yes You Can Swim On Your Period
Good news â yes, you can go swimming on your period! If itâs a hot summer day at the beach or youâre swimming laps at the gym and the monthly bleed has arrived, you shouldnât have to worry about the fear of leaving a trail of blood or being attacked by a shark in the ocean . Itâs safe to hit the water on your period, as long as you wear a tampon or menstrual cup while youâre swimming. Weâve got the facts on swimming on your period and what period products can help and which oneâs you should probably altogether avoid.