But Pads And Liners Are A No
Its not that you cant wear pads or liners in the water during your period, but it generally isnt recommended.
These products are built to absorb liquid, so they arent just going to absorb your period. Theyre also going to absorb the water around you.
Translation? Things are probably going to get uncomfortable.
Plus, the adhesive doesnt always stick well to swimsuit fabric, so you also run the risk of losing a pad or a liner in the water.
But if youre in a bind, theres no rule that says you cant wear a pad in the water. Just make sure you take extra steps to secure it, and change it frequently.
You Are More Likely To Get An Ear Infection Than A Vaginal Infection From Swimming
Skin infections, ear infections, and stomach illnesses from swallowing contaminated water are more common complaints than vaginal infections from swimming . Always check with regional health authorities for information on water quality at local swimming spots. Wet bathing suits can cause pH changes and irritate your vagina and vulva, leading to a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis . To reduce the risk of a yeast infection or BV, you can change into dry clothes after you swim. If you notice any itching, burning, or unusual discharge after swimming, talk to your healthcare provider.
You Cant Scuba Dive On Your Period Right
Over to scuba diving #RealMooncupUser Lauren:
Just wanted to let you know that I wore my Mooncup® while diving several times a day for a few weeks, to depths of approx 18 metres, and it was absolutely fine. Cleaning it well on a remote island with no running water was more of an issue, but I managed! Thanks very much.
So, why not go with the flow and enjoy a nice dip in the water period or not!
The Mooncup® is great if you want to go swimming on your period. Find out more about the Mooncup menstrual and buy yours here. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us here.
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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.
What Is Period Swimwear
Period swimwear is a special type of swimmer that contains a hidden lining which works to absorb menstrual fluid and protects the wearer from leakage. Its great for people who are seeking added protection alongside a tampon or menstrual cup or who people arent comfortable wearing these but still need some kind of barrier.
Period swimwear also works as a protective barrier against light bladder leakage, pelvic floor mishaps and spotting, making it a great alternative for people of all ages.
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Is It Unhygenic To Swim On My Period
No, its not! If you have a tampon or menstrual cup in, its extremely unlikely that any blood will get in the water, unless you leak through the tampon or menstrual cup. If you have a leak or choose to go without period protection, youre still covered. Pools are chlorinated to protect swimmers against the spread of bodily fluids such as sweat, urine, and menstruation. Even salt water pools have chlorination to prevent this, so youre not endangering your health by swimming on your period.
Can I Catch An Infection From Swimming During My Period
Its unlikely that you will catch a vaginal infection from swimming simply because you’re on your period, although the chance of infection is increased if you opt to go wild swimming.
“Swimming in polluted water can increase the risk of experiencing skin irritation and getting a Urinary Tract Infection ,” points out Dr O’Neill. “Wearing a wet bathing suit for a long time after you are done with your swim can also increase the likelihood of irritation and infection, however these risks are not exclusive to when you are on your period.”
She adds: “It is always recommended to have a shower and change into clean, dry clothes after you have been swimming to prevent the above from happening.”
The most common complaints from swimming in contaminated water often include skin infections and stomach illnesses .
You can always check with the regional health authority for information on the water quality at your favourite swimming spot, if youre worried.
In some cases, the chlorine in swimming pools can irritate the vulva and vagina, which can leave you at risk of developing a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis . If this happens, dont panic, just have a shower immediately after swimming in chlorinated pools, and dont sit around in your wet swimwear.
“If you have any unusual itching, burning or discharge that persists after your swim, consider speaking with your doctor,” reminds Dr O’Neill.
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Swimming On Your Period: Some Deep
Menstruation. Its a pretty awkward subject, and even today, its not something we talk about all that openly. Unsurprisingly, questions about swimming on your period remain relatively unasked. We want to bring a little clarity to the discussion, so heres what we think about the myths and misconceptions of swimming during menstruation.
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 and you wonât have to worry about signs of your period showing in the water. Pads are made to absorb period flow too, but as we all know theyâre worn outside of the body and would be great at absorbing all that pool water too, hello soggy diaper bikini! So, do yourself a favor and leave the pads behind and snag a tampon. 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 to give you all-day comfort and protection for up to 8 hours. Check out how to insert a tampon and practice a few times before you head out to the water especially if wearing a tampon is new for you. Be sure to tuck the string into the lining of your swimming suit before you leave the bathroom, and you should be set.
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Period Pads For Swimming
If menstrual cups arent an option, you may still be wondering how to swim on your period without a tampon.
Getting into the water with a pad is a bit trickier when compared to using tampons or a menstrual cup. Pads are super absorbent if they come into contact with water, they will become useless.
When disposable pads get wet, they can slip out from under your swimsuit.
A pad without wings will be the most discrete, as it wont peek out from your clothes. Instead of getting your whole body wet, you may decide to sit at the edge of the pool with your feet dangling in the water. If youre at the beach, you can wade through the water, which will keep your pad dry.
If you do choose to get in the water, you can wear dark-colored shorts over your swim bottoms. This will make the pad less obtrusive and hide any leakage.
Menstrual Products For Swimming
Your best choice for menstrual products for swimming is either a tampon or a menstrual cup. Pads don’t work because they can’t absorb your menstrual flow once they get wet. You can end up with visible stains on your swimwear, and some of your flow will leak into the water.
When using a tampon for swimming, you may need one of higher absorbency. Some water will be absorbed by the tampon, making it swell a little and have less absorbency for your flow.
You may find that you have to change your tampon more frequently. Bring extra along so you can change after your swim. As always, do not wear a tampon for more than eight hours as that increases the risk of toxic shock syndrome.
If you are comfortable using a menstrual cup, this is an excellent option for swimming because it does not absorb any water that may enter your vagina.
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Pms Is All In Your Head
Those mood swings and cravings you feel just before your period arrives? Totally real and totally normal. Phew! Twenty to fifty percent of women have emotional and physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome five days before their period starts. “Symptoms can range from bloating, fatigue, and changes in your appetite, to anxiety, tension, dizziness, and/or tender breasts,” says Dr. Nucatola. Both exercise and OTC pain meds have been known to lesson the symptoms, but if they are really bad, see your doc for other options.
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Bonus: Swimming May Actually Help Relieve Any Pms
Still need convincing before you hop in the water on your period?
A 2018 study looked at 70 people who experience PMS and concluded that swimming significantly decreased many of their physical and psychological symptoms.
This means that, while you might not be interested in a super heavy , engaging in some light physical activity might be exactly what you .
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How To Swim When You Are On Your Period
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Your menstrual cycle should never prevent you from enjoying a day at the beach or pool with your friends. In fact, getting some exercise while swimming with your period can help you reduce cramps and improve your mood. Women have been venturing into the water since time immemorial, and you can do. If you want to know how to swim on your period, see Step 1 to get started.XResearch source
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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How To Choose The Right Feminine Care Product To Wear In The Water
So to be safe, you’ll likely want to wear some sort of feminine care product. When it comes to the best one to use when swimming, it really comes down to personal preference. Two recommended by experts are tampons and menstrual cups.
“It is perfectly safe to swim with a tampon in,” says Jennifer Meyers, CNM, a certified nurse-midwife at the Mayo Clinic Health System. “When a tampon is inserted, it sits very high in the vagina to collect any menstrual flow. The rest of the vagina stays fairly closed during swimming, so there’s not a lot of exchange of fluid between what’s in the vagina and the water outside of it.”
While any type of tampon should work, you may benefit from a high absorbency or one designed for women who do sports. But you should change it once you’re done swimming.
“A tampon will absorb the water from the lake, pool, or ocean while you are swimming, so it is important to change the tampon when you get out of the water,” says Ho. “Otherwise, the tampon will be saturated and will not absorb the blood from your period.”
And if you’re not a fan of tampons, menstrual cups work just as well. “The cup should stay well-placed during swimming, and provide a barrier between the menstrual flow and the water,” says Meyers.
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.
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