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.
Can I Go To The Beach On My Period Without Wanting To Swim
Yes, you can tailor your activity level to whatever makes you comfortable. This varies for everybody based on personal factors like your flow, the time of year, the friends youre with, etc. If youd prefer, you can relax and watch the waves or other people. Also, you can wade through the water without actually going in for a swim.
If you plan to swim outside, don’t forget to put on sunscreen. This is especially important if youre prone to acne, as sunshine and periods can increase your risk of breakouts or aggravate existing acne.
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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How To Delay Your Period For Your Holiday
Because the beach + period can be a faff
Technically speaking, you can do whatever you like when you’re on your period – from sex to swimming, you should never feel like anything is off limits to you because of your uterus. But between the cramps, the mood swings, the bloating, and obviously the bleeding, it’s also totes fair enough if your period and your holiday are not a match you want to make.
The good news is that with a bit of forward planning, it is possible to put your period off until bikinis and beaches are safely off of your schedule. What you need is a medicine called Norethisterone, which can give you up to 17 days delay.
“It comes in the form of tablets which you must start to take three days before your period is due,’ explains Dr Kieran Seyan, from the LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor Team. “You must then take three tablets a day during the time you wish to delay your period. You can take the tablets for a maximum of 20 days, which will delay your period by a maximum of 17 days.” When you get back from your break, you simply stop taking Norethisterone and your period should arrive 2-3 days later.
However, it might seem like a magical solution to all of your period-based problems, but as with any medication, Norethisterone is not without its caveats: Dr Kieran notes that it can cause side effects, and very rarely these can be serious – including increased risk of blood clotting, stroke, acne, fluid retention, headache and nausea.
Throw Out That Stress:
If you are the one fighting with irregular periods than stress can be your major villain. And to give a tough fight to an uneven MC cycle you have to get rid of this. For this, you should avoid being in contact with the situation that can make you go stressful.
You can also try a good massage therapy or meditation, as it can be a good stress buster or can even go on hassle-free vacations, here even a small weekend can work. Or the best thing you can do is to be with someone that can share your worries.
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What If Blood Leaks Through My Undies And Pants
Oh, no! There’s blood on the back of your pants what do you do? It happens to just about every girl at some point. Sometimes it happens when you aren’t at home, so you can’t change right away. But if you’re wearing a sweater or jacket, you can take it off and tie it around your waist. Then get a fresh tampon or pad so that it doesn’t bleed through your pants more than it already has.
Change as soon as you can. You’ll need to rinse your underwear and pants with cold water as soon as possible. Sometimes, the stain comes out and sometimes it doesn’t. To avoid this problem, change your pads and tampons regularly and keep extras in your backpack or locker.
For extra protection on heavy days, some girls use a tampon and wear a pad or absorbent period underwear. You also might want to wear dark-colored underwear and pants during your period.
No Matter What Don’t Let Your Period Stop You From Enjoying A Swim Or A Day At The Beach
Being active can actually help counteract the stuff that makes periods suck, like cramps and bloating.
Basically, a decent sweat session cranks up the production of mood-boosting endorphins, which can actually act as a natural pain reliever for cramps, says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine. Even better: Exercise can also help prevent period cramps . So swimming on or near your period is totally something you should be doing.
The bottom line: No, your period doesn’t magically stop in the water, but water pressure can prevent your flow from coming out. It’s still wise to use a tampon or menstrual cup to avoid leaks as you come out of the water.
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How Does A Tampon Work
Unlike pads, which catch blood after it comes out of the vagina, a tampon is put in the vagina. It’s made of soft material with a string for easy removal. The opening to the vagina is between the urethra and the anus .
It may take a little time to get the hang of using tampons. Tampon applicators can be plastic or cardboard, and you can use whichever one you like better. Inside each box, there’s an instruction booklet that will tell you how to insert a tampon.
Tampons come in different absorbencies. Try starting with regular and then switching if you need to. You should change your tampon every 4 to 8 hours or when it’s filled with blood.
If a tampon ever does feel “stuck,” it’s only temporary. It can’t get lost inside you because there’s no way out except through the vagina. Relax and wait a few minutes, and then you should be able to get the tampon out.
You’re Supposed To Get Your Period By 3 You’re Supposed To Get Your Period By
There is no “normal” age to get your first period. Seriously. What is normal, is for you and your friends to get your periods at different times. Most start menstruating anywhere between 9 and 15 years old, often around the time that others in their families got theirs. But, if there’s no sign of your period by the time you’re 15, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor, advises Dr. Nucatola.
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Other Tips For Swimming On Your Period
Being on your period might cause your face to break out in pimples and make your skin blotchy, which isnât great for a day out on the water. Reach for a high-SPF sunscreen especially formulated for your face, and top it off with a tinted moisturiser to even out your skin tone and conceal any redness. If all else fails, grab some oversized sunglasses and your favourite hat to shade 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 fatty foods, as well as caffeine. Stay hydrated with water, herbal iced tea, refreshing lemonade, and fresh fruit and veg. Some people swear by hot water and lemon to reduce bloating â figure out what works best for you.
You Wont Leave A Bloody Trail In The Water
Water pressure can stop your flow temporarily while you swim, but if you laugh, cough, sneeze or move around, the pressure can change and a small amount of blood might come out. The good news is it probably wonât be visible. When you get out of the water your period will flow again normally, so itâs a good idea to use a tampon or menstrual cup while swimming. Pads and pantyliners arenât a good option because they will absorb water and become ineffective. Menstrual cups can be left in for up to 12 hours, so they are a long-lasting alternative to tampons.
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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.
Facts About Swimming And Menses
Most of the information that you find recommending restricting your physical activity during your period is based on cultural beliefs, taboos, and myths about menstruation. Being in the water while you are menstruating does not put you at an increased risk of infection.
Also, there are no changes in your body during your period that would make you more susceptible to injury while swimming.
Another common fear about swimming in the ocean during your period is the thought that menstrual blood will attract sharks. Although potentially a compelling reason to pass up on a swim, the consensus among shark experts is that people who are menstruating do not attract sharks.
The most important thing to consider when swimming with your period is to be sure that you have adequate protection to control your bleeding.
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How To Swim On Your Period
If youre planning an epic trip to the beach or a weekend at the lake, there is no reason your fun should be stopped by your period. Dont huddle up on a lounge chair in sweats and a beach towel over your lapput on your favorite bikini and jump right in. That being saidthere are some things you can do to make your time on the coast or in the pool more comfortable and stress free if its that time of the month. If youre feeling any sort of anxiety about swimming on your period, lets nip those fears in the bud right now.
No One Actually Gets Toxic Shock Syndrome
It might not be in the news as often as it was back in the early 2000s, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore that warning on the tampon box. Toxic Shock Syndrome is rare, but it’s still real and very dangerous. Most people get TSS from wearing a high absorbency tampon for days at a time. “To avoid TSS it’s best to change your tampon every 3 to 4 hours and to use the least absorbent tampon you need,” says Dr. Nucatola. If you accidentally left yours in longer, don’t freak out. You’re probably fine, but see a doctor right away if you think you might have TSS. “Symptoms of TSS include vomiting, a high fever, diarrhea, muscle aches, sore throat, dizziness, faintness or weakness, and a sunburn-type rash,” says Dr. Nucatola.
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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.
Things You Should Know About The Birth Control Patch
Thanks to the wonders of modern medicine, youve got a plethora of options when it comes to birth control. Maybe taking a pill every day is up your alley. Perhaps youre more of an IUD person. But theres one birth control method experts say women arent usually familiar with but might want to consider: the patch.
The patch is a thin, plastic square thats about 1.5 inches across. It kind of looks like a Band-Aid, and you stick one side of it to your skin.
The patch isnt a super-popular form of birth controlonly 11 percent of women surveyed between 2011 and 2015 reported using it at some point, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, compared with the 15 percent who had ever used the IUD and 79 percent who had ever used the pill.
If youre interested in the patch, here are a few things you need to know.
Like hormonal birth control pills and the vaginal ring, the patch contains progestin and estrogen, which work together to help prevent pregnancy by suppressing ovulation, thickening cervical mucus so its harder for sperm to swim through, and thinning the uterine lining, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
According to Xulanes prescribing information, you shouldnt put the patch on your breasts. In an email to SELF, a spokesperson from Mylan explained that to their knowledge, clinical studies addressing use of the patch on the breast have not been completed.
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