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Original poster

Or is this PE teacher unreasonable about periods

706 replies

BigSandyBalls2015 · 26/01/2017 21:32

DD(15) is doing GCSE PE. Part of this involves 'personal survival' which takes place in local swimming pool.

The school obv need to book this, can't just turn up, but DD queried what would happen if some of the girls had their period at the time. PE teacher (female) replied that they'd obviously have to use a tampon, they can't miss it, can't arrange another day. A few girls told her they didn't use/get on with tampons and she got annoyed saying they'd have to get on with it on the day as no other option.

OP posts:
SpringerS · 26/01/2017 22:19

The school either has to arrange two sessions two weeks apart, they have to organise an alternative survival event or drop that section. Coercing a teenager (or anyone) to insert a foreign object into their vagina, under threat of failing an exam and damaging their school record is pretty fucking close to sexual abuse.

Athrawes · 26/01/2017 22:19

She chose GCSE PE. It was not compulsory. Needing to handle your body is part of that. If she has issues (fine, people do) with periods she shouldn't have chosen a subject that requires her to be physically fit in a variety of situations. If she (you) choose to not do that activity then she (you) will just need to take the consequences on her grades.

SanityAssassin · 26/01/2017 22:20

They don't have to wear tampons. They can just bleed. That's what I do in a pool, I've never worn a tampon. Nothing comes out.

Ha ha you actually believe that you stop bleeding cos you're in water??? yep pollute the pool - or get real.

AndShesGone · 26/01/2017 22:20

No I have really heavy periods but the blood doesn't come out in the water. If you wipe before so you're clean going in the water provides a suction.

littlepeas · 26/01/2017 22:23

Wow, what a tricky situation. Whilst I thoroughly agree with the sentiment that you should just get on with things when you have your period, the PE teacher can't dictate to anyone what sort of sanitary protection they use. That said, many girls must face this - dancers and gymnasts, swimmers - my dd does all 3! She is only 7 at the moment, but I can see this may be something I have to support her with when she is older - what a minefield.

As an aside, I use tampons but still don't swim during my period - I can't get my head around when I'm supposed to change it - so you shower with it in and then pop to the loo after? Or do you take it out first and the shower, but then you run the risk of bleeding in the changing rooms! The whole thing confuses me too much, so I don't bother.

SanityAssassin · 26/01/2017 22:24

No I have really heavy periods but the blood doesn't come out in the water. If you wipe before so you're clean going in the water provides a suction.

Maybe for you but I remember clots in the bath. Water does not provide suction you are just bleeding in to other peoples water - how nice.

Akire · 26/01/2017 22:25

A super plus tampon would've last me about 30min on bad day. So defo no swimming. You have to be in out pool every 20min to cover yourself. No one wants have it running down their leg.

Those who say it didn't come out have different periods from many of us. I'd look like Chain saw masquer having a bath without a tampon.

cannotseeanend · 26/01/2017 22:25

My girls are serious swimmers, one is 2nd in the country in age group. On their periods, the girls in the group all still swim. Some use tampon, some pads, for those with pads, they are prepared when they exit. No-one leaks. It's part of their schedule. I don't know whether it's because they are super fit, doing 12-20 hours a week, but for sure their periods range from light to super heavy too.

It might seem abhorrent for those who don't swim during their period, but a little less "completely unreasonable" and a bit less pressure, it should be ok. Yep, it's normal to swim during periods.

LunaLoveg00d · 26/01/2017 22:26

You can't schedule falling into water and potentially drowning for times when you're not on your period.

The girls need to get in with it - no sympathy from me for this sort of thing.

SanityAssassin · 26/01/2017 22:26

urgh rethinking my use if the pool now with all these people happy to bleed in to it - disgusting.

thenotsoquiet · 26/01/2017 22:26

I don't know where this "women don't bleed in water" myth comes from. Maybe it's true for some women, but every time I take a bath when I'm on my period I end up sitting in a bright red pool with giant clots swimming round me. And with a bath you can step directly from the loo into the bath. When you go swimming you have to put on a swimsuit and gal from the changing room to the pool. Even if water did stop you from bleeding, how are you going to stop bleeding while walking to the pool?

Whisky2014 · 26/01/2017 22:28

Better not save that drowning kid in the water if youve got your period :s

thenotsoquiet · 26/01/2017 22:30

You can't schedule falling into water and potentially drowning for times when you're not on your period.

Accidentally falling into a river and nearly drowning is hardly comparable to a scheduled class in a swimming pool in front of all your friends.

If you know how to swim then you know how to swim. You don't need to learn special "swimming while on your period" skills.

AndShesGone · 26/01/2017 22:30

I'm only putting it forward as an alternative to not wearing tampons. They shouldn't be forced to wear tampons IMO.

So they can either bleed (if they do) or not bleed (I never have). Or wear tampons. Or not take part. Or take part in the free bleeding movement.

TheFairyCaravan · 26/01/2017 22:31

There's not a chance the water would provide enough suction to prevent me bleeding in the pool without any protection.

bloodyteenagers · 26/01/2017 22:31

Forget walking from the toilet after cleaning yourself up enough to get in the water. What about the sneeze in the pool? Or the water gushing moment out of the pool when oh it's not water?

Whisky2014 · 26/01/2017 22:31

Fail the exam then. Its called personal survival ffs.

SanityAssassin · 26/01/2017 22:31

It's a total myth your body is already shedding the dead cells well before it realises it's in water - maybe you should be careful washing your hair once you're out the pool too cos apparently that's a no no (for no obvious reason).

LunaLoveg00d · 26/01/2017 22:31

So if you're not going into the pool when you're on your period - why the hell choose GCSE PE??

Italiangreyhound · 26/01/2017 22:32

"The school obv need to book this, can't just turn up"

In my area there are many pools, I can think of at least 5. It must be possible to book a pool for use at a certain time and maybe schools could actually work together. The five pools in our area would serve at least five local areas (although pool not actually at the school).

An arrangement could be made for girls to go to a different pool at a certain time. It just requires schools to work together and strengthen links in their local community.

harleysmammy "Why should life stop because of a period? I think people now a days including me with my son, are too protective. Unless she is really sick on her period, there isnt an issue."

Your son, of course, will not have this issue. You may not want your life to stop for a period but if a 12 or 14 o 16 year old girl does then it really is none of the PE teacher's business.

harderandharder2breathe "This is partly why girls stop doing sports as they hit puberty" Totally agree.

PE teachers - please do not put any further barriers in the way of girls doing things in general by insisting they do specific things they do not want to do so they can do what you want them to do.

I agree periods shouldn't stop them from getting on with life. But no woman should be made to use any sort of sanitary product she doesn't want to.

There will likely also be some students off sick for various reasons. Surely they arrange a mop up session for those that can't do the main session?

WishIhadtheWherewithal · 26/01/2017 22:32

thenotsoquiet

Yes, it was exactly the same for me when I had periods. I used to like a bath to ease the cramps, but I'd end up having to shower afterwards because the water got so messy. Perhaps the suction theory only works for some women?

itsbetterthanabox · 26/01/2017 22:33

Why would you not bleed in water? Obviously you do. My bath water proves it.
Even if that were true. Which it isn't. What about the walk to and from the pool? I'd have blood pouring down my legs.
Do the pool want that?

SanityAssassin · 26/01/2017 22:34

andshesgone you probably do and just don't realise if you are as heavy as you say. You're body doesn't know you are in water.

OhTheRoses · 26/01/2017 22:34

A thought. What if one of the girls has a septate or microperforate hymen? Rare but it happens. Not easy for a teenager to explain or express and embarrassing for them to deal with even when they do talk to their mum about not being able to get a tampon in. Yes, it happens. PE teacher is being insensitive and unreasonable.

bloodyteenagers · 26/01/2017 22:36

Also how would you know?
Your swimming. Anything leaving your body is behind you unless you do some odd swimming that involves looking at your fanny the whole time, you wouldn't know.

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