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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

would you go swimming while on a period

162 replies

McNewPants2013 · 27/06/2013 15:44

Every thursday i take the DC swimming ( ds has a lesson so I go in with DD)

Its been fine up to now, but i am at the end of my period. Would it be disguesting if i was to wear my mooncup and continue to take them today.

the alternitive is DD not going today.

OP posts:
Jan49 · 27/06/2013 19:57

I think I mostly just thought women didn't go swimming during a period because I grew up with only sanitary towels as an option and although I now use a mixture of tampons and towels and liners, I would never use a tampon on its own as it leaks a bit when you change from one tampon to the next. If I wanted to swim, I'd have to change the tampon, wait 15 minutes to allow for leakage, then change into a swimming costume, and probably panic a lot during the swim over the risk of it not lasting long enough.

Ever since I've been a single parent I've arranged our holidays to avoid periods, by waiting til I start a period and then arranging the trip for 2 weeks later. Not because I want to swim but because I don't want to have a period during a holiday and feel ill or need a toilet whilst on a packed train with luggage and 20 people crammed into the space between me and the toilet.

digerd · 27/06/2013 20:22

When on the pill , I just kept taking it if on holiday and stopped it when I returned home. Had the period then.
Tampons do absorb the water and on getting out of the pool the water and blood mixed runs downwards.

Salbertina · 27/06/2013 20:24

Of course!!! Bugger it! And go camping/overlanding...even ran a half marathon because bugger it, life is too short to give up such things every bloody (scuse the pun) month!

Sizzlesthedog · 27/06/2013 20:25

Ibuprofen? Really. Will be trying that next time. Flowers

Original poster
McNewPants2013 · 27/06/2013 20:33

I feel a bit stupid that I have wasted years not going swimming.

OP posts:
attheendoftheday · 27/06/2013 20:38

I would, can't see why you wouldn't.

chickenliversfortea · 27/06/2013 20:41

That thread about most women wanting daughters? This weirdness surrounding periods is one of the reasons I was thankful for having a boy.

I also swim all month if anyone was counting the results.

ovenchips · 27/06/2013 20:44

On subject of planning holidays round periods, you can easily get a prescription of norethisterone from GP. It's a synthetic progesterone and will stop/ delay your period.

If you take it whilst menstruating it will stop it in its tracks. If you take it a couple of days before you are due it will prevent it. When you're back from holiday you stop taking it and periods return.

Useful stuff if you have problem periods.

absentmindeddooooodles · 27/06/2013 20:50

Laura does it really reduce the flow??? My god if this works I will genuinely love you forever. My periods literally stop my life for about a week. Bed bound dizzy and sick for the first two days at least. Stupidly big clots. Just makes me so so ill. Have tried everything .... Apart from Ibropeufen. Haha. Shall try it next time :-D

cherryade8 · 27/06/2013 20:54

I swim during my period, never had a problem. I take dc swimming too, wouldn't occur to me not to swim due to period.

YoniBottsBumgina · 27/06/2013 20:55

It's perfectly fine. Before I started using a mooncup I would only use tampons if I went swimming.

Do change it asap afterwards though as they do soak up pool water, but not enough to cause any damage or stop it from working.

I went swimming with my mooncup in the first time I used one!

monicalewinski · 27/06/2013 20:55

I usually go swimming during my period without a second thought, but on the occasions where I am particularly heavy I don't.
Normal flow is no problem - always feel safer with lilets though due to how they expand (I don't like the way that tampax go long).

Ifancyashandy · 27/06/2013 21:03

I frequently swim whilst I have my period. I do a 45 min swim 3 times a week and have never leaked during it. I use a super super plus tampon. I'm 43. I have a normal, 5 day period, heavier on days 2 and 3, needing to change tampons every hour or so. Swimming is amazing for getting rid of my cramps (I get them at the top of my legs as well as abdomen).

But appreciate some have heavier periods.

samandi · 27/06/2013 21:04

Personally yes, I've never had any problems at all. Can't comment on the mooncup thing as I don't use one. It sounds an incredible faff to have to plan your holidays around such things :-(

specialsubject · 27/06/2013 21:09

someone's mum thought period blood not coming out in water? Wow, more ignorance about science, this time about a wacky thing called gravity.

if you are horizontal-ish, i.e. swimming, less blood (not none) comes out. When you stand up, more will flow.

hopefully nobody is this ill-educated now.

LauraShigihara · 27/06/2013 21:15

If you want to try the ibuprofen method (and everything I have read, including the NHS website, say it is safe) you start taking them four hourly from as soon as you see any blood. I take two, but my tablet hating friend just has one tablet every four hours and she has still seen a huge reduction.

You don't need to take any during the night - just start again when you wake up.

It has changed my periods on the last two occasions - reduced the flow enormously and no more huge clots. I have my fingers crossed it continues as I won't have to dread them any more.

A word of warning though - I ran out of tablets the first time, as I was on holiday (which is why I tried the method - I was terrified of sleeping away from home). My period had nearly stopped, so I didn't bother buying some more and a few hours later had some terrible flooding. As soon as I started taking them again, I was back to a manageable flow. So I make sure I have loads now - stockpile them all month Grin

Unless you can't take Ibuprofen, it is worth a try.

Lweji · 27/06/2013 21:19

Also vouching for ibuprofen, although you should be careful and always take it with food.

You can buy higher concentrations, which will last longer, up to 12 hours.

Dahlialover · 27/06/2013 21:32

Another vouching for the ibuprofen method

LauraShigihara · 27/06/2013 21:37

It's been a flaming miracle for me Grin

I have no idea why all women don't know it's a possible solution. Every woman I have mentioned it to in RL has been completely unaware.

ILikeBirds · 27/06/2013 21:55

I've always taken ibuprofen for period pain and I can't say it's ever made any difference to the flow.

I'd swim with a mooncup any day of my period apart from the heaviest one or two. Better than a tampon imo as no need to rush to the toilet straight from the pool to avoid leaking pink water.

And I've heard people on mumsnet coming out with the 'it stops in water' line but I've proved that wrong in the bath many times!

goodasgold · 27/06/2013 21:57

When I go swimming with my period I always swim in the pattern of my signature, just hoping if I leak it spells out 'Tiffany' as a trail behind me. It never does though.

Pannacotta · 27/06/2013 22:00

I swim during a period and use a Mooncup.

And am over 40.

2rebecca · 27/06/2013 22:03

Yes but I'd wear a tampon not a mooncup. I found the mooncup rubbish for coping with physical activity.
Agree you just change it as soon as you come out.

Buddhagirl · 27/06/2013 22:16

I don't think I've ever not taken ibuprofen during a period. Also think I'll continue to do that. Interesting

lillibet1 · 27/06/2013 22:32

maybe I am strange about these things but I use tampons and have always swum no they don't absorb water and let blood in to the swimming pool. maybe i'm using them wrong but they have not caused me a problem for the last 25 years, tuck the sting inside and hay presto no one knows or cares and you can take your DD swimming