Can U Swim When Your On Your Period
Hi, Helpneeded,
Needing to change a tampon two times an hour is a very heavy flow. Is it like that for just one or two days of your period? Does it get lighter later on?
In generally, periods usually have light days and heavy days. We are all different, but the heavy days are usually at the beginning and the light days are usually at the end. Also, some women have periods that are just 3 or 4 days long, otehrs 5, others 6-7 days long. And some of us are very regular while others are very irregular. It’s really different from person to person.
Does that help at all?
Thanks you! That helps a lot and I’m on my period now and I have to change my tampon 2x a hr. I use a pad at the same time. Usually its every 4 hrs but not now….why is that?
Hi HelpNeeded,Yes, you can swim while you are menstruating.
I read that you had a question about tampons EmpowHER: 14 year old daughter, periods and tampon size?, and that is great that you are doing your research!
Women do not typically spot or continue bleeding heavily while in the pool, but if your periods are extremely heavy , you may want to talk with your doctor.
Does this information help?
Swimming On Your Period Is Unhygienic
Periods are perfectly natural! They are not unsanitary and shouldnt be treated as a biohazard. If youre in a large body of water and your period does happen to start unexpectedly, then chances are it will be so diluted so it wont even be visible.
To help put your mind at rest, an Olympic size swimming pool contains roughly 2,500,000 litres of water, whereas most people lose less than 80ml of menstrual blood during an entire period!
And as a final point to ease any concerns that swimming on your period could be unhygienic, many swimming pools are treated with chlorine in order to protect swimmers from anything that could end up in the water .
As with any other form of exercise, we recommend emptying your Mooncup before and after swimming.
Can Virgins Wear Tampons
Any girl who has her period can use a tampon. Tampons work just as well for girls who are virgins as they do for girls who have had sex. And even though using a tampon can occasionally cause a girls hymen to stretch or tear, it does not cause a girl to lose her virginity. That way the tampon should slip in easier.
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Manage Your Pms Symptoms Or Skip Your Period Entirely
Unless youre one of *those people* who enjoys exercising on your period, it can sometimes be rough doing strenuous activity during shark week. Keep track of your cycle, and take the appropriate dose of painkillers the night before your beach day to stop cramps in their tracks. To be fair, light exercise like swimming is said to alleviate cramps naturally, so if your PMS symptoms are mild, you might be in the clear!
Alternatively, if you are on hormonal birth control like NuvaRing or the pill, you can consider consulting your doctor about skipping your placebo week no period, no problem !
Washing And Bathing On Your Period
There is no reason not to wash your hair, take a bath, or shower while you’re having your period. In fact, a warm bath can help ease cramps.
You will not get sick, go blind, or lose your hair from taking a bath when you are having your periodbut some of these inaccurate myths have been passed from one generation to the next.
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What Type Of Menstrual Protection Should You Choose
We dont recommend using a sanitary pad at the pool, and thats because it wont just absorb your blood itll soak up water too! The consequences? Its not just the fact that youll be inviting a bunch of pool chemicals into your body once your pads full of water, itll stop absorbing your flow. And that means more leakage with each and every kick and stroke.
For zero-stress swimming while youre on your period, your best bet is to choose from one of the following forms of protection:
- Menstrual cups: Being reusable, theyre perfect for strong flows.
- Tampons: They work well and are almost imperceptible, but you need to be aware of the potential dangers to your health.
- Menstrual bathing suits: Theyre made for swimming during menstruation without protection.
And dont forget, tampons and menstrual cups need to be changed regularly, even at the beach! Thats major.
How To Prevent Leakage
You may have heard that your period stops when youâre in the water because of the water pressure. Thatâs not true. The water pressure may slow the flow, but your period will still continue. Thatâs why you should use a tampon or menstrual cup when youâre going swimming.â
Donât use pads in water. You may prefer to use pads during your period, but theyâre not meant for use in water. Pads will just absorb the water around you. Using one in water makes it ineffective and messy.
Tampons. Tampons are usually made of cotton, rayon, or a combination of the two fibers. You can use tampons when swimming. They might absorb some water but this will only make it a bit wet. Change the tampon shortly after swimming.â
Tampons are linked to toxic shock syndrome. This is a rare but serious complication. It may be caused by toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus â staph â bacteria or group A streptococcus â strep â bacteria.â
Toxic shock syndrome can affect anyone. Itâs been associated with:
- Recent surgery
- Viral infections, such as chickenpox or flu
- Use of tampons, diaphragms, contraceptive sponges, and menstrual cupsâ
Symptoms and signs of toxic shock syndrome include:
- Redness in your eyes, throat, and mouth â
To lower your risk of toxic show syndrome, follow these recommendations:
You should change and clean your period swimwear or underwear at least every 12 hours. Read the instructions before you wash it. â
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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.
You Will Not Get Eaten By Sharks Because Of Your Period
Thanks to some popular films like Jaws, lots of people are afraid of sharks while swimming in the ocean. Some people with periods are told not to swim in the ocean during their periods because period blood might attract sharks . There are no recorded cases of sharks attacking someone on their period. According to the International Shark Attack File, many people safely dive while menstruating. More research is needed, but they havenât seen any pattern of increased attacks on menstruating divers. Marie Levine, Founder and Executive Director of The Shark Research Institute has been diving for decades without any problem. She told Mother Jones, â even got my period while underwater with a school of hammerheadsâthe sharks were not interested.â
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Best Tampons For Swimming
Tampons are specifically designed to absorb period flow before it can leave your body, which makes them one of the best products to use for swimming on your period. You wonât have to worry about signs of your period showing in the water. Pads are made to absorb period flow too, but as theyâre worn outside of the body â and would be great at absorbing all that pool water too â youâd end up with a soggy bottom and looking like you were wearing a nappy . So, do yourself a favour and leave the pads at home. All Tampax tampons can be worn while swimming in any kind of water, and only Tampax tampons have a LeakGuard Braid to help stop leaks before they happen â giving you all-day comfort and protection for up to eight hours.
Have a look at how to insertâ¯a tampon and practice a few times before you head into the water â especially if using a tampon is new to you. Be sure to tuck the string into the lining of your swimming costume before you leave the bathroom, and you should be good to go.
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.
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Are Tampons Safe For Swimming
Tampons are generally ‘safe’ to use during your period whilst swimming , though they have been associated with Toxic Shock Syndrome . TSS is a very very rare but potentially life-threatening disease and whilst tampons do not contain the bacteria the causes TSS, it’s important to know and understand the facts, and how you can help reduce your risk, prior to use. Learn more about TSS, HERE.
Note: all tampons, irrespective of what they’re made from, carry the same risks associated with TSS . Tampons and period cups should always be used in accordance with the instructions in pack – be sure to read these before use, and keep them handy for future reference.
What To Wear When Swimming On Your Period
Youll probably want to wear some type of feminine hygiene product while youre swimming on your period. Here are some of our favorites:
- Period panties for swimming: There are some great period swimwear options out there. A little extra absorbency down there, and you dont have to worry. Theyre usually a nice dark color, so if there is some extra leakage, no one will notice a stain.Ohits important to note that period underwear isnt the same as period swimwear. While a pair of cheeky proof® would be super cute poolside, the second you jump in the pool it will soak up the water and the blood will have nowhere to go.
- Tampons: Youll be just fine with your favorite brand of tampon when youre swimming. If youre worried about tampon stringsdont. Theres no reason to be ashamed of your body and its glorious processes. But if youre worriedask a girl friend to check on you once in a whiletheyll get it.
- Waterproof pads: Yes, they are a thing. If you usually wear pads on your period, theres no reason you cant keep doing so if youre headed to the beach. Find some waterproof pads that you can easy tuck into your suit, and youre good to go.
- Menstrual cups: Like tampons, menstrual cups will keep your flow hidden while youre swimming. Change it out like usual when youre done swimming.
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Drink Plenty Of Liquidsand Were Talking Water
You might be inspired to channel your inner Jersey Shore cast member and drink alcohol at the beach. But you need to stay hydrated in the hot sunespecially when you have your period. Although it seems counterintuitive, drinking water actually helps relieve bloating. The tampon company Tampax recommends that you drink 10 glasses of water, juice, or milk a day when you have your periodand thats not even when youre sitting in the sun all day.
Penn Medicine also notes that you may be more prone to dehydration when you have your period due to the hormones estrogen and progesterone fluctuating. Activities like swimming may trick you into thinking youre not sweating as much as you are. All this means that youre going to want to pack a ton of water for your beach day.
Yes, heading to the beach when you have your period is, well, no day at the beach. But if you plan accordingly, you can still embrace those sweet summer vibes and ocean waves no matter what your ovaries are up to.
People Can Tell Youre On Your Period When Youre In The Pool
Periods are nothing to be ashamed of but even so, theres no reason why anyone should be able to tell that youre on your period while youre swimming. Nobody will be able to tell youre on your period at all unless you choose to tell them.
One benefit of using the Mooncup is that it is worn completely internally, which means you dont have to worry about a pesky tampon string making an unwelcome appearance either. The Mooncup also holds up to three times more than a regular tampon, so you are able to swim for longer!
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Youre More Likely To Get An Infection If You Go Swimming On Your Period
Swimming on your period shouldnt increase your chances of vaginal infection. There are, however, a few things to consider.
The chlorine used in swimming pools as well as the sediment in the sea may irritate the vagina or vulva . Thats why its recommended you always shower after swimming. If this is something youre worried about, getting changed out of wet swimwear may also reduce the likelihood of irritation or infection.
As a Mooncup Advice Assistant, I can assure you that vaginal infections are not an uncommon complaint around the time of your period, but they should not be ignored. Generally, the vaginal pH is acidic but, during menstruation the vaginal pH becomes more alkaline. Because of this, some people are more prone to getting a non-serious bacterial infection at this time regardless of whether they are swimming or not. If you feel you may have an infection or have noticed any change to your vaginal discharge , you should get it checked out by a doctor or nurse who will be able to help.