To think you can't swim when you have a period?

[lostinmiddlemarch]

Just that. How can it possibly be done?

I couldn't, even with tampax super plus.

I can now that I've been prescribed something for heavy periods. If I take the pills and use a mooncup I don't have a problem.

I suspect it would look like a scene from jaws if I didn't take the pills and was swimming on my heaviest day.

Why would you wear a tampon in the bath?

This is fascinating. How does the water get inside your vagina? Surely the muscles hold it closed? Oh, I haven't lived!!

I find the flow stops when I'm in a pool. Anything cooler than a bath really. Swimming/ diving are no problem.

Just to clarify - I've never tried it, so maybe if I did, it would happen to me....In fact, knowing my luck, it would.

Yes, I've heard that the flow stops in cold water. And when I DID go swimming many years ago, that seemed to be the case.

I do but I don't have heavy periods

I don't use tampax though they leak I used lillets or boots own

I couldn't - far too heavy periods. I took norethisterone on a recent holiday so I could swim, but that's not a long term solution.

I am perimenopausal and there are about four days a period when I wouldn't swim. I think it can be hard for younger women to understand just how much blood loss there can be at this stage in life. It is like a tap turned on. Mooncups alone can't contain the flow--you are talking double protection.

I used to swim at all times of the month.

I dont use tampax either they are bloody awful, feel particularly uncomfortable and hurt. Feel like they fall down. Leak.

Much prefer lidls own brand and lilets. Never have any issues with those. Was on holiday in october with a period and had no problems swimming everyday. My sister in law on the other hand had to stay out the water for the first couple of days as hers also started and I seen it was tampax she had in her bathroom.

Oh, and to those asking why you would wear a tampon in the bath, or mooncup, if you didn't,you would quickly be sitting in a lot of blood and clots. .When you stand up to get out, the blood keeps on flowing and you end up having to clean a lot of the bathroom, the bath mat, the towels, the floor.

Sorry to be graphic, but this all came as a shock to me. It was only really on here that I learned it is normal for perimenopausal women.

I can't for one or two days of my period, but fine the other 5 or 6. I got a drug from the doctor to make it lighter so I could swim on holiday once, which was ace (transexamic acid or something like that).

I used to have no probs when I was on the pill. It's only recently that my periods are so awful.

Ahh so tampax expand length ways, thats why I feel like they come down! Glad I read this thread.

I had hideous periods and it took me a few different GPs before their advice went from "well that's just the way it is" to "no you shouldn't have to put up with that, let's explore some options."

Incidentally female GPs for the former and male for the latter.

If your periods are so heavy they are interfering with life, this is not normal and there are things that can be done - you may need a bit of trial and error but it is almost always fixable! I tried several pills and then settled on mirena cool, which sorted the fuckers right out.

I can't swim when I have my period as I cannot use tampons or a mooncup due to previous Toxic Shock Syndrome (which, incidentally, was not from tampon use). It's a regular monthly or thereabouts PITA for me, but one which I've put up with for a while now. I wish there was another way...

I can't. My periods are too heavy, even when on tranexamic acid.

I find tampons that only expand width ways far better than the ones that lengthen. Not sure whether it's my anatomy or the tampons, but the longer ones are far too uncomfortable, whereas the width expanding ones sit up above where there's any feeling and don't give me any problems. They also don't get wet or leak if I go swimming. I've even spent a day at a water park going on rides etc and had no problems.

Thinking about it - I have probably gone snorkelling in places where there are sharks when I had my period, although I should probably avoid doing that again in the future.

Obviously, though, it's entirely up to each person, and I'm not trying to imply that people should do anything, just that most probably could, if they want to. There will be some who couldn't and we each get to decide at what stage we feel like 'maybe' becomes 'not'.

Sorry pp wasn't aware as no experience of that - I just insert tampon / mooncup as soon as I get out of bath or shower

I couldn't.

Periods are too heavy and I need to wear a sanitary towel because I can leak without warning.

Perfectly okay to do!

Yes, I've heard that the flow stops in cold water. ..

Any sentence that starts 'I heard' is almost always an old wives tale, and this old classic keeps coming up. Why, god, why?

Gravity 101: When you swim, you are horizontal. The flow pools inside you. As I said, unless you can leave the pool horizontal and stay that way until you are wearing a pad, you will leak blood. You may even leave a trail of blood as they swim, probably diluted by the pool so not visible, and you won't see it anyway because you don't have eyes in your arse. Nice.

water temperature is of no relevance. How could it be?

scientific evidence to disprove the above welcomed. I'm not holding my breath. Although I will when in a swimming pool!!

All of my friends do, but I can't wear tampons as they cause me great pain (no idea why, but perhaps because my pelvis is tilted). I have taken something (on prescription) to delay my period when I've been on holiday.

I was under the impression the pressure from all that pool water prevented any liquid from trickling out of you (which is only under the force of gravity) so can't push the swimming pool water out of the way to make room for it to come out?

My swimming teacher told me the cold water stops the flow. I think it does. I never had a problem with using a tampon, but as pp suggest, dark swimsuit and towel just to be sure!