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Original poster

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

162 replies

lostinmiddlemarch · 17/01/2016 12:55

Just that. How can it possibly be done?

I couldn't, even with tampax super plus.

OP posts:
ingeniousidiot · 17/01/2016 15:55

I used to be in camp 'of course you can swim with a tampon, what a stupid question' now I'm 44 and in camp 'hell no' for a day or two each month.

For all of those swimming with no issues enjoy it while you can!

teeththief · 17/01/2016 15:56

No I can't swim when I've got my period OP. I don't know why that's so hard to believe for some people! Even with a super plus tampon I'd still get at least a bloody trickle down my leg when I got out which would worsen with every step I took.

I took northisterone (sp) on holiday once which gave me awful water retention and bloated me up. I am thinking of getting the coil though as that's supposed to help

Tamponlady · 17/01/2016 15:58

Now I have herd it all wonder how professional swimmers cope

Sorry can't uphold my Olympic title I have the painters in Confused

Doublebubblebubble · 17/01/2016 15:58

I wouldn't
I couldn't
And in general you just shouldn't!!! Gross!!

I go swimming every 2 days and never when she's here!!

alltouchedout · 17/01/2016 16:01

Even when I had heavy (heavy for me anyway, meaning a super plus tampon every 90 mins or so- I know other women have much heavier flows) periods I just never seemed to leak when in water. But I remember the fear that I would.

hollieberrie · 17/01/2016 16:02

I do and my periods are pretty heavy. I literally put the tampon in just before - i get changed, go to the pool loo, put it in and then swim. And i go straight to the loo again when i get out of the water.

I get on better with non applicator tampons - have you tried them OP? I find they are shorter and fatter which absorbs the flow better for me i think. And i find i can ram them in better!

RainOhJoyus · 17/01/2016 16:08

I have heavy periods and tampax are shit, they just expand length ways to the point I can feel them. And they leak. Lillets are great for me, the purple (biggest absorbency ones) I wouldn't be able to swim wearing tampax, went I the sea once with them as a borrowed product and can see why they'd suck up water

Doublebubblebubble · 17/01/2016 16:10

Do you not leak massively when you come out of the water though

Notonthestairs · 17/01/2016 16:10

Olympic swimmers dont tend to be perimenopausal.
Since turning 43 the bleeding has been a bloodbath for the first 48 hours - getting up in the night to change. Swimming would not be an option unless I wanted to scare small children.

NotQuiteCockney · 17/01/2016 16:15

The flow doesn't stop in the pool. The water goes into you (the vagina doesn't stay closed in the same way that the urethra and anus do) and removed the water.

So a bit of your menstrual blood goes in the pool. To mix with dead skin, bits of poo from insufficiently wiped arses, urine from (hopefully only) babies, etc etc. Doesn't matter. Pools are chlorinated for a reason.

When you get out, the blood doesn't run down your leg because it's all been rinsed out. Your period will start flowing again when you are out but it takes a few minutes to start trickling out. If you are flooding, maybe this makes a difference.

RainOhJoyus · 17/01/2016 16:16

It's bollocks that the cold water/water pressure stops you bleeding Hmm a complete unhygienic old wives tale
I would never get in a bath having taken out my tampon previously

NotQuiteCockney · 17/01/2016 16:16

People doing endurance swimming intentionally urinate in the pool. I looked into it.

No, I don't do that. I get out if I need to - if I'm swimming for more than two hours, and drinking water as I go, then it gets tricky.

tobysmum77 · 17/01/2016 16:20

Tbh mine have always been the same. Hellish flood for 24 hours then practically nothing. Tampons get wet in the bath hmmm. I have a trip to center parks possibly coinciding with the one after next. Fingers crossed it doesn't coincide.

The pill doesn't agree with me (puts my bp up bizarrely), anything with progesterone makes me bleed constantly. It doesn't generally affect my life though cos it's only one day a month and often I get lucky and it's a day I'm at work! When changing super plus every 2 hours isnt a major issue.....

FATEdestiny · 17/01/2016 16:21

I've been too scared to start my own thread about this, but what are opinions on stopping a young girls swimming in her period?

DD is 11. Trains and swims competitively with our local club. Lives it, big part of her social life.

Her periods started 11 months ago. Tried all tampons many times because she wants to swim. She always ends up crying, really hates tampons

I don't want to force her to wear tampons but when I say she can't swim without them (because of the water hygiene, not whiney worry about seeing blood), she gets upset.

I have now noted that she is lying to me about her period. She will tell me she's not on her period, that its finished, so she can go swimming.

She swims 4 times a week. Period flow is moderate, occasionally heavy. She's body confident and not bothered about pink water down her leg (never seen that happening tho), is discrete with quick towel covering up.

I am torn. Do I put my foot down and say she must wear a tampon or not swim. Or do I turn a blind eye and pretend her 'I'm not on my period anymore' is true when I know it isn't?

I don't want to raise a girl who thinks her period stops her doing the sport she loves. But I also don't want to raise a girl with no regard for hygiene.

tobysmum77 · 17/01/2016 16:22

When you get out, the blood doesn't run down your leg because it's all been rinsed out. Your period will start flowing again when you are out but it takes a few minutes to start trickling out. If you are flooding, maybe this makes a difference.

Yes I think it does what you describe is normal for me once it has slowed down.

madwomanbackintheattic · 17/01/2016 16:22

I am 45 and in camp 'hell no'. I do remember being about 27 and having a very unfortunate conversation with my mother that went something like 'have you never heard of tampons?!' about her pool refusal on a particular day.

Sorry mum. Blush

kali110 · 17/01/2016 17:34

Yeh i don't if i'm heavy as i'd be worried, but then for about 6 days out of my cycle im unable to get out of bed because of headaches due to it Grin mine def stops me!
How do you swim in a towel btw? Doesn't it just get wet?

Medusacascade · 17/01/2016 17:37

I only swim on holiday and my Mooncup let me down something chronic last time. It's fine doing day to day things. But when I swim it does fill up with water then trickles pink water down my leg. Will try Lillets next time instead.

hiccupgirl · 17/01/2016 17:49

43 and a definite no here too.

For the first 2-3 days the flow is just too heavy and floods on and off and I would just not be relaxed in the pool for worry of major leakage when I got out. I've also found in the past that exercise has made my cramping worse not better although I'm sure warm water would help.

redexpat · 17/01/2016 18:04

Our school nurse told us the flow stopped in cold water. Now I think about it, she also told us that we wouldnt get oeriod pain once we stopped growing Hmm

BumpTheElephant · 17/01/2016 18:15

A menstrual cup would work fine in the water though I personally don't go swimming on my period.
I remember using tampons to go swimming at school and it would always be water logged when I took it out so I presume small amounts of menstrual fluid are constantly leaking into the water.

I definitely don't stop bleeding when I have a bath so don't see why it would be any different in a swimming pool.

FreshHorizons · 17/01/2016 18:15

I always did- it never occurred to me not to.

MrsMook · 17/01/2016 18:15

I'm not a great fan of tampons so would put one in just prior to swimming and go back to pads after. Pre children, my flow and pain were quite proportionate, so if I was particularly heavy, I'd be too cramped up to want to move let alone swim.

I never got on with applicator tampons. Non applicator were better. I'm now converted to a mooncup which doesn't have that horrible drying feeling.

PippaPug · 17/01/2016 18:25

Fate can you get teenage tampons? I'm not sure or try lilets or different brand ones?
Is she inserting it properly/pushing it far enough - if its hurting I'm guessing she needs to push it further....
Sea sponge - may be easier then a mooncup?

Does she have a phone - can she get a period tracker (so you can see as well?) there is one called Dot which is great, and you can see when your period will be for the next 6 months.

Can you explain to her about hygiene etc?

Original poster
lostinmiddlemarch · 17/01/2016 19:10

About the non-applicator tampons. How do you get them in? When I've tried, it's been agony because they're not slide-y like the applicator.

OP posts: