Will Swimming Worsen Cramps
When you think about it, swimming seems like it could aggravate cramps in your lower back and tummy. Instead, studies have shown that physical exercise including swimming can help take your mind off the discomfort and actually relieve soreness.
So, if youre still wondering, Will swimming worsen my cramps? here is the explanation. The soothing lapping of the water over your body and the waters buoyancy have a calming effect on your muscles. This can reduce pain and bloating that may be associated with your periods.
Do Periods Stop In Water
The short answer: no. You might have noticed that the counter-pressure of the water does slow your flow a little, but it does not completely stop it. Your period will continue to flow normally, especially if its one of your heavier days.
Even though it might seem ok to go swimming without protection on one of your lighter days, it would be inconsiderate to other swimmers.
You wouldnt pee in the pool so make sure to stay protected throughout your period too.
What’s The Best Period Protection For Swimming
While pads and panty liners won’t help you in the water, you have a few period protection options when it comes to swimming: tampons, menstrual cups, and menstrual discs.
When in comes to tampons, you want to pick the size and protection level that will make you feel comfortable, but with the lowest absorption possible. Higher absorbency tampons have been linked to an increased risk for toxic shock syndrome a bacterial infection that can be deadly.
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Its important to avoid leaving tampons in for more than eight hours, says Gianni Rodriguez-Ayala, MD, who works in obstetrics and gynecology at Northwell Health. Selecting the right tampon for your particular body and flow can make it easier to avoid habits that could lead to TSS. Whether you want a more traditional tampon, or the organic variety, is up to you.
If you’re worried about TSS or just find tampons uncomfortable, a menstrual cup or disc can be a great option . If you’re new to reusable period protection like cups and discs, use this handy guide to learn how to insert and remove them.
Another option? Period-proof swimwear. With a similar construction to period-proof underwear, period-proof swimwear can help you avoid any leaks or stains when you’re menstruating. Brands like Ruby Love offer cute options that can act as your sole protection or as backup to a tampon or cup.
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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.
What Type Of Menstrual Protection To Choose
Putting a sanitary towel at the pool is not recommended, because it is no longer your blood that the towel will absorb, but water! The consequence? The towel, once full of water, will no longer be able to hold your flow, leaving leaks in your path.
To bathe during your period without stress, choose instead from these protections:
- The menstrual cup:reusable, it is perfectly suitable for abundant flows.
- The tampon: it is imperceptible, but beware of the dangers to your health.
- The menstrual swimsuit: to bathe during your period without protection.
Remember, a tampon or menstrual cup should be changed regularly, even at the beach!
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Why Does My Tampon Leak When I Swim
There are a few culprits of a leaky tampon. Here are the most common ones:
- You may not have inserted it correctly .
- It may be inserted at an odd angle – try inserting a clean index finger and ensure it’s sitting in the right spot . Otherwise, remove your tampon and re-insert a new one.
- You may not be using the right size for your flow .
If tamps aren’t working for you whilst in the water, you might want to try a reusable menstrual cup, instead. They sit a little lower in the vagina than a tampon, and take up more surface area internally, so are pretty good at catching any flow trying to make its way out! Some people report they have less leaks with cups but again, much like tamps, it’s important to insert and use them correctly.
Relax You Can Go Swimming With A Pad
Two of the most frequently asked questions are: can I swim on my period? and can I swim with a pad?
The short answer to both is: Yes, of course. Why not? Especially with a period-proof swim bottom from Ruby Love!
Ruby Love is the only period-approved swimwear for period swimming made for use with pads.
There’s nothing that can happen to your body when you swim on your period that can’t happen when you swim at any other time. Unless you’re highly anemic and prone to loss of consciousness during your menstrual cycle, there’s no reason to stay out of the water.
Now, there is some controversy on whether or not you ought to wear a pad. There seems to be some urban legend-based fear that a pad in water will swell up, turn into a misshapen blob, fall out of your suit, and fill the pool with menstrual blood.
I can say from experience, this won’t happen.
The truth of the matter is it’s perfectly fine to wear a sanitary pad when you go swimming. And if you do, there are a few tips to help everything go smoothly.
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The Honey Pot Company 100% Organic Super
Heavy flows require more absorbency, but that doesnt mean compromising on quality.
These organic tampons have reliable protection, plus theyre entirely plant-based and free from pesticides, chemicals, chlorine, dyes, dioxins, and synthetic materials.
Your mid-period flow is probably somewhere between heavy and light. You likely need a regular-sized tampon that can absorb menstrual blood while still hold up to swimming.
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How Do Olympic Swimmers Swim On Their Period
Swimming is not the only mode of consumption for most individuals, therefore there is nothing different when it comes to tampon use. The inserting and removing of them is generally a breeze. Often, when you need them, there is one available. Even though I use a menstrual cup for the moment, I still use tampons as necessary during swimming, travel, etc.
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Is It Better To Swim With A Menstrual Cup Or A Tampon
Though you can swim with either, when you compare tampons vs menstrual cups, menstrual cups are a better choice for swimmers. Heres why:
- Safety. Some tampon users complain about tampons absorbing pool or seawater while they swim, putting them at a greater risk of bacterial or vaginal infections.
- Comfort. Most menstrual cup users say they barely feel their cups and forget theyre on their period. A menstrual cup is flexible and moves with your body.
- Health. Menstrual cups carry a lower risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome than tampons and respect your vaginal flora without drying your vagina or chafing your skin.
- Freedom. One menstrual cup can collect 3 times more menstrual blood than a tampon, giving you more time to enjoy your swim and no leakage.
- Environment. Most menstrual cups are reusable, likeour Ruby Cup, which you can use for up to 10 years and is one of the best zero-waste period products for swimmers.
- Peace of mind. No more tampon strings peeking through your swimsuit. No risk of a super-soaked tampon buckling under the strain of a heavy flow after a long swim as you come out of the water.
It is so comfortable and invisible , so I feel absolutely free to go to the swimming pool or the sauna during my period). I absolutely recommend it! Ivana
When you find your goldilocks cup, like Ruby Cup, you can experience a leak-free period in style, in and out of the water.
Can I Delay My Period Until After I Go Swimming
Typical, combined hormonal contraceptive pills give you the option to skip or delay your period instead of taking the placebo pills or having a few days break , and this will delay your period until you finish your second pack.
If you are on hormonal contraception such as the combined oral contraceptive pill, you can speak to your GP about taking two packets consecutively so you can skip the hormone-free interval where you would usually experience a withdrawal bleed, explains Dr ONeill. If youre taking the progesterone-only contraceptive pill, taking it back to back will not delay your period. But, you can speak to your GP about switching to the combined oral contraceptive pill or taking another medication to delay your period.
If youre not taking an oral contraceptive and want to delay your period, your doctor can prescribe you a pill called norethisterone to take three days before your period is due to start. You can take this for a maximum of 20 days and, once you finish it, your period should then arrive.
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Can You Swim With A Period Pad
Pads are designed to absorb all liquids, so they arent as effective when swimming as theyll absorb the water you swim in as well as your menstrual blood! While its very unlikely that youre going to leak as pads create an effective barrier, it might be a little uncomfortable to wear a sodden pad whilst swimming or when you leave the water!
Some conventional pads also contain super absorbent polymers , which will quickly absorb water, and may not leave any room to absorb your period blood once you get out of the water. If you do prefer to wear a pad and want to be more discreet, you may want to use pads without wings.
Q: Can I Go Swimming If Im On My Period
A: Theres a lot of myths out there, but if you want to go swimming, its more than okay to do so! Plus it can really help with cramps and feeling bloated! You can go swimming if youre in the midst of your menstrual cycle, however, there are a few things to remember before diving right in.
- Always wear a tampon they expand naturally to fit your body so theres no need to worry about any leakage. Remember to change them regularly.
- If you dont normally wear tampons, you could try a menstrual cup, and like a tampon, moulds to the shape of your body. Plus they last a little longer than the recommended maximum wear of tampons.
- Try out these methods before going on holiday, using tampons for the first time can be a little uncomfortable so the last thing you want is the added pressure of doing it right before a swim.
Unfortunately theres no real way to go swimming whilst on your period if you only wear pads. If you dont want to try other methods, it might be best to think about delaying your period.
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The Best Menstrual Cup For Swimming
Ruby Cup is the best menstrual cup for swimming, and were not saying that just because were biased. Heres why:
- Creates the perfect seal: Each Ruby Cup is made with a medium firmness that is flexible enough to be comfortable, yet sturdy enough to create a seal for leak-free swimming.
- Made for every body: Ruby Cup Small can handle light to medium flows and you can trim the stem to adapt to a low cervix. The Ruby Cup Medium is one of the best menstrual cups for heavy flows and is great if you have a high cervix. Buy our discounted Duo Pack to have both sizes if you have a flow that varies during your cycle.
- Body-friendly: Made with100% medical-grade silicone, Ruby Cup is plastic and bleach-free.
- Eco-friendly: Create zero-waste even while you swim. You can use our vegan and reusable Ruby Cup for up to 10 years.
- Money-back guarantee: Weve all been through the learning curve, which is why you deserve time to get used to your cup. We give you 120 days to exchange or return your cup, no questions asked. Use it with more than one swim before you decide its the right one for you.
- Buy one give one program: For each Ruby Cup you buy, we donate a cup to a person without access to safe period products, which means two people can now swim with a menstrual cup.
Swimming On Your Period Leakproof Swimwear Helps Absorb Menstrual Blood
Period swimwear is a superb option for confidence in water on your period. It can be used on its own or as a backup to other products
Knix period-proof swimwear is made to hold menstrual fluid and prevent leaks in the water. You can depend on it to hold 3 teaspoons of menstrual blood. Or wear it as a backup with a tampon or menstrual cup while at the beach or by the pool.
More than that: Leakproof swimwear isnt just period-proof. Its designed to catch all of lifes pesky leaks, including light bladder leaks.
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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.
How To Swim On Your Period Without A Tampon
This article was medically reviewed by Lacy Windham, MD. Dr. Windham is a board certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist in Tennessee. She attended medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and completed her residency at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2010, where she was awarded the Most Outstanding Resident in Maternal Fetal Medicine, Most Outstanding Resident in Oncology, and Most Outstanding Resident Overall.There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 788,374 times.
Swimming while on your period can help to ease cramps and provide a gentle and fun way to exercise. While most women use tampons to contain their menstrual flow while swimming, other women either dislike tampons or cannot use them. Fortunately, there are several options to try for women who would like to swim on their period without using a tampon.
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What If I Leak In The Swimming Pool Or The Beach
In the unlikely event that you experience a little leak so what! Menstruation is a fact of life, not a shameful secret. Periods happen women leak. To minimise the chance of any unwanted leaks, try tracking your cycle.
There are a huge variety of free apps out there which are brilliant at recording your periods and predicting future cycles. Once you know your period like the back of your hand, youll be cannonballing like nobodys business.
Wait So Why Does It Feel Like Your Period Stops In Water
First of all, let’s get this out of the way: You can absolutely safely swim while on your periodthere’s nothing to feel shame about. “In fact, exercising and moving your body while menstruating can actually help with cramps and period pain,” says Natasha Ramsey, MD, MPH, an adolescent medicine physician specializing in period management and advisory board member at the cycle tracking app Orchyd.
Next up, Dr. Ramsey wants to address two myths that are floating around out there: that your period attracts sharks, and that your period magically stops underwater. Don’t even listen to the shark thing, even if you are swimming in the ocean, and note that your period doesnt fully stop in water, even if it feels that way. “Your body is still releasing menstrual blood while you are underwater. However, the pressure while your body is underwater slows the flow,” explains Dr. Ramsey. So you’re not going to bleed as much while you’re taking a dip, but if you’re on a heavy flow day or have a heavier period in general, you could end up with some leakage out of your swimsuit.
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