When summer comes around, most of us look forward to swimming at the beach or in the pool. If you are a woman who swims occasionally or dive on a daily basis, then it is highly likely that your menstrual period is going to coincide with some of your swimming plans. However, you will be glad to know that this should not stop you from playing or swimming in any type of water. Read on for some tips on how to go swimming on your period.
The first thing you want to do is take precautions to ensure that your bathing suit and water stays clean when you are swimming. For most women, the menstrual flow will slow down and even stop sometimes when they are in the water, but this doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen all the time.
You should be well-prepared before and after swimming as well. If you are not already wearing tampons during your period, you should start to get comfortable with them. It is also a good idea to wear a menstrual cup when swimming. You definitely don’t want to wear a pad because it can absorb water quickly, swell up to an obvious size, and could slip out of the bathing suit to float on the water surface. Just remember that a pad or liner will stay in your bathing suit when it gets wet.
On the other hand, the menstrual cups and tampons collect menstrual fluid even before it leaves the body, which means the chances of leakage will be very low. A tampon can be worn for up to eight hours and a menstrual cup for up to twelve hours. When shopping, you should look for the tampons with active on the label or the ones which are made to be worn when playing sports. With these types, you are sure that they will stay in place while you are swimming, or even running.
One of the important things to mention is that you should change your tampon as often as you can; say every four hours at least. This can help you to feel more comfortable and dry.
Be sure to travel with ample supplies. You need to have back-up supply of tampons stashed away in your beach bag. You never know what could happen as your flow might come heavier than normal, and you have to change tampons a few times or maybe stay longer than planned at the beach. When you keep extra supplies on-hand you will also have peace of mind and can relax yourself and have a good time instead of worrying about where you can get a fresh tampon. Besides that, the extra tampons could end up saving the day in the event that a friend gets her period unexpectedly or forgot to carry her own supplies.
Now, if you are worried about the tampon string sticking out when you are wearing your bathing suit you can tuck it inside. Another thing that might cause you to worry is if the bottom of the bathing is extremely small. In this case, you can trim the tampon string carefully with nail clippers to make it a little shorter.
Speaking of bathing suits, you should avoid white or light colored ones because you cannot wear a protective liner when swimming. Choose black or any other dark-colored bikini bottoms or suits which can hide any leak or stain. If you are overly worried about leaks, you might find more comfort in covering up your bathing suit with a pair of shorts or a sarong. These things will add an extra protective layer just in case you have to wait very long before changing your tampon.
Other Tips to Keep in Mind
Travel with mild painkillers to get relief from cramps and pain. Ensure that you bring snacks and water to take the pill.
You can also carry hot or warm water in a thermos along with a bit lemon to help ease your cramps. This will work to increase circulation and help to relax your muscles.
Birth control can help you to delay or skip your period. This can be helpful if your beach vacation is going to last for a week, during the same time as your period.
If you are using a birth control ring or patch, you can remove it after the usual three weeks, but replace it immediately with a new one instead of waiting for a week.
As you can see, there is no harm in swimming on your period. This activity actually offers enjoyment and exercise that can improve your menstrual cramps, boost your mood, and help to make you feel much better overall. Summer only last for a few months every year so don’t hesitate to don a swimsuit and some sunscreen to have fun with your friends!
