Can you swim on your period?
Wondering if you can swim on your period? Swimming on your period should not cause any fear in any menstruating individual because it is perfectly okay. Having some hesitations about swimming on your period is natural. It is also normal for people to ask questions such as can you swim on your period, will you catch the risk of getting an infection, or will menstruating women attract sharks?
Why It Is Okay To Go Swimming On Your Period
It can be a nightmare for some women when their period arrives at the beginning of a beach vacation. While the female population may have so many concerns and reservations about swimming during your period, including being afraid of shark attacks, hygiene issues, health concerns like the risk of infection, etc., the good news is that there is really nothing to be anxious about.
Any doctor would say that swimming on your period is not unhygienic especially if you are using the right menstrual product while swimming, such as a menstrual cup or a tampon. When you use a tampon or a menstrual cup, there is less chance that menstrual blood will be released into the water when you swim.
Another reason is that when you are swimming, the water pressure temporarily stops your blood flow, so the chance is unlikely that you will have any leak while you swim. However, the pressure changes when you make some other movements, such as when you are coughing, laughing, or sneezing. When you do these, a little amount of blood could be released though it will come out almost as if it is invisible.
There is also nothing concerning about leaking blood in the water because it will be quickly diluted. In the swimming pools, the small amount of period blood can easily be neutralized by chlorine and can be simply washed away if you are swimming in the beach, lake, ocean, or other large bodies of water. And as soon as you get out of the water, regular blood flow will then return.
Then, this is great news for swimmers or those who love swimming because their period will not get in the way. It is also perfectly fine to go swimming during your period because exercising at low intensity can help reduce period cramps.
When you exercise, the body releases endorphins, and this works as natural painkillers and could actually help in making you feel good even during your period. Doing some exercises could also be an effective way to avoid the experience of PMS (premenstrual syndrome), so it may be a good idea to go swimming during your period.
If you are concerned about getting an infection when you swim while you are having your period, do not worry because you are safe from contracting it. As for the fear of attracting sharks, if you are swimming in a larger body of water like the ocean, do not be concerned because there are no records yet of a shark attacking a person who is menstruating.
Although much research is yet to be done, there are currently no patterns on sharks getting attracted to divers who are on their periods. If you are still too concerned about sharks attacking you while you have your period, simply swim in the pool instead of going to the beach. There will unlikely be any sharks when you swim in the pool, and it will make you feel safer.
Another thing about sharks is that even if they can smell bodily fluids, such as regular blood and period blood, sweat, mucus, urine, and any other fluids with amino acids, they will likely prefer other treats than humans.
Are Tampons Effective in Preventing Leak When You Swim During Your Period
If you want to swim when you have your period, you may consider using the right menstrual products to protect you against leaks and so that y0u would not bleed on your swimsuit. Use a tampon when you are swimming because when inserted properly, it will not fall off and you stay protected throughout the time you are in the swimming pool.
Tampons are more effective than pads when swimming in swimming pools because even though pads absorb blood, they are also filled with water which can make you feel heavy and uncomfortable. Tampons are also great to wear if you are the type who is active even during your periods.
If you do not feel like to wear a tampon, there are some alternatives that you may want to consider as well, and these are the menstrual cups and the sponge. However, if you have a light flow, another option for you is to wear an absorbent swimsuit, and if you want to be sure that you would avoid stains, you can also wear a dark-colored suit.
Wearing absorbent waterproof swimwear is simply like wearing a regular bikini bottom. The only difference is that this product comes with a leak-proof lining hidden and can absorb menstrual blood. If you want more protection against leaks, you can wear swim shorts over them as well. Then before and after you swim, you can wear your pads again.
Using tampons for swimming during your period is safe because once it is inserted, it sits securely in the vagina to absorb menstrual flow. So the rest of the vagina then remains closed while swimming. Because of this, there would not be much exchange of fluids between the water outside and the blood inside the vagina.
To get more protection, choose a tampon with a high absorbency level which is not only great for swimming, but also for those who are active in sports. Just remember that as soon as you are done swimming, always change your tampon as it absorbs the water both from the pool and also the lake and the ocean.
If you do not change it, there will be saturation, and the filled-up tampon will no longer be able to absorb the blood, and you will experience leaks and maybe even stains. A tampon can be worn for about 4 to 8 hours so if you plan to stay at the beach for the whole day, do not forget to change at least once or two times.
Menstrual cups, on the other hand, can be used for as long as 12 hours and are reusable. It is okay to use any of these products when swimming as they can surely protect you from bleeding in the water. For those who have not used a tampon before, the instructions are on the box that you can easily follow. You may also try looking up a tutorial or try some positions that might work, such as sitting down with knees apart or putting one leg up towards the edge of a toilet or a tub.
Also, if you are a first time user of tampon and are not comfortable using a menstrual cup, consider choosing the one that uses a plastic applicator as this may be easier for you to use. Based on this article and also from many other articles, swimming during your period is definitely okay as long as you wear the right feminine product, a tampon or a menstrual cup. Also,
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