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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To swim whilst menstruating?

308 replies

awomensworkisneverdone · 20/05/2018 09:42

So funny light hearted conversation with sister and friend Friday and totally random.
I swim every Friday evening with my other half and my dc.
My sister told me it was vile for me to swim whilst bleeding. My friend disagrees and said it fine.
I did go swimming as my period was pretty much over (day 5). Would I swim whilst heavy? I would say no I wouldn’t. Would you?
Sister says it’s not fair on others swimming and friend says she’s wouldn’t care. Are there actually any rules about it? Would you? Would a tamping be suitable if you did want to swim? I’m not sure about others but if I bath whilst using a tampon it will eventually fill up with water and expand rapidly! Confused or is it just me?? Would you swim during your period?

OP posts:
PeachyPeachTrees · 21/05/2018 18:51

I have normal to heavy periods and don't need a tampon in bath or shower as it stops while I'm in the water. It starts again as soon as I get out, so I have to wear tampon in the swimming pool for the getting out and walking to changing rooms part!

Eveforever · 21/05/2018 19:05

It's very unreasonable for people to swim without a tampon or mooncup if they're on their period. No matter how light your flow is; if you're still on your period, you still need to use something. I'm disgusted people think this it's okay to risk getting their menstrual blood in the pool. It's not that difficult to wear something for the short time you will be in the pool, is it? It's basic hygiene as far as I'm concerned. Surely it's not a big surprise to learn other people may be concerned/disgusted/shocked that you would go swimming without using something when your period hasn't fully ended?

I've also noticed in this thread, as well as others, that because other people may theoretically do undesirable things, some people think it's okay to be disgusting themselves.

In terms of other secretions I would use my mooncup during my swim to avoid any issues. I don't know if other people do this though, but it gives me confidence to know I'm being as hygienic as possible. It's also my attempt at being considerate towards other people, reading this thread makes me wonder if that's a lost art.

slipperyeel · 21/05/2018 19:10

Someone told me I shouldn’t be in the pool because I have psoriasis. (Maybe I should start my own AIBU) I was really upset by it, made me feel even more self conscious than I already am.

I think all sort gets in the water, I wouldn’t think a spot of menstrual blood is going to make that much difference.

josCS · 21/05/2018 19:15

Always had to swim at school when we had our periods no excuses. Have just always used tampons so no not unreasonable to swim when you have your period. For your sister and all of those that say ‘it’s rank’ public pools have enough chlorine and chemicals to sink a battleship! If people are going to be funny about women swimming with periods they better ban all children from swimming and people with weak bladders!!! Keep enjoying your Friday swims with your family.

itsbetterthanabox · 21/05/2018 19:17

@josCS
What about girls at your school that didn't use tampons?

bananafish81 · 21/05/2018 19:22

It's very unreasonable for people to swim without a tampon or mooncup if they're on their period. No matter how light your flow is; if you're still on your period, you still need to use something. I'm disgusted people think this it's okay to risk getting their menstrual blood in the pool

So I ask again

So if you've got some slightly brown tinged spotting at the end of your period, that's far too light to safely wear a tampon, too light for a towel, just a little discolouration when you wipe, you are disgusting and should be using a tampon to swim?

But if you're ovulating and producing copious amounts of cervical fluid, you don't need to wear a tampon, even though you're excreting more bodily fluids than the spotting at the end of your period?

GlomOfNit · 21/05/2018 19:25

Pool water is chlorinated for this very sort of reason. I wouldn't swim on my heaviest days because I'd worry about leakage. When I used tampons and swam in the sea on heavy days - surely none of you would object to that? - I did get some watery blood seeping down my leg which was annoying and embarrassing and I'd have to leave my towel right at the edge of the water. I wouldn't swim on a heavy day in a swimming pool because I knew that would happen.

But now I'm a cup user it's all fine. I refuse to get into the sodding Menstrual Hut when I'm bleeding. Hmm

cooldarkroom · 21/05/2018 19:26

There is a TV advert for tampons where I live, showing glorious women smiling happily as they dive into the pool !
However with regards to TSS, I know someone who got it from their local swimming bath (Brighton looking at you)
fortunately her mother diagnosed it when her palms started peeling after she was sent home form doctors with advice to take a paracetamol & rest.... (when she made it to A&E her kidneys were failing)

GlomOfNit · 21/05/2018 19:30

The implicit misogyny here is rather startling. How is menstrual blood any different from other vaginal secretions, urine, blood from a cut finger, skin cells, saliva, bogeys, dandruff, sloughed off scabs or men's fluids?

I mean, having written that lot down I feel rather faint but it's not going to stop me swimming in public pools. That's why the water is loaded with chemicals. If you don't like sharing public spaces with ... the rest of the public, then don't go.

Ohmydayslove · 21/05/2018 19:31

slipperyeel

My dil was told that by a ‘lady’ swimming. She didn’t realise I was with her. Big big big mistake wiped the floor with the bitch and as it’s a private gym got her warned by the manager Angry

slipperyeel · 21/05/2018 19:46

Ohmydayslove

Will you come swimming with me?!

Crazyunicornlady · 21/05/2018 19:50

I am ashamed by the number of females who still live in the Victorian age of ‘periods are dirty’

As has already been pointed out, vaginas secrete bodily fluids at various points in our cycle but I’ve yet to find a tampon designed for ovulation days - oh wait that’s because there isn’t one!!

Original poster
awomensworkisneverdone · 21/05/2018 20:03

Crazyunicorn it’s unreal ain’t it

OP posts:
miniplaty · 21/05/2018 20:04

I grew up in a hot country and lived by the sea. Always swam, even with my period, the water stops the flow. Here at the pool, on heavy days I wear a tampon and on light days nothing as the flow stops once I'm in. It's not dirty to swim when you have your period, not unhygienic at all so keep swimming :)

specialsubject · 21/05/2018 20:07

another one who can levitate out of the pool and so not bleed in it.

women are so dumb about basic science.

specialsubject · 21/05/2018 20:10

for the serious science ignorers - water pressure does not stop bleeding. you swm horizontally. if you cant levitate and so exit the pool vertically, and then start bleeding ( one above does) think about anatomy and gravity.

head desk....

JustDanceAddict · 21/05/2018 20:14

Def with tampon in

Original poster
awomensworkisneverdone · 21/05/2018 20:15

Your wasting to much energy luv.
No ones has said they don’t bleed outside the pool when they get out. They are saying it seems to stop. Not stop the period! Stop the FLOW! Lord give me strength

OP posts:
Grilledaubergines · 21/05/2018 20:18

It doesn’t stop the flow. If people are saying it doesn’t stop their flow, that’s good enough evidence imo.

Eveforever · 21/05/2018 20:27

bananfish81 Some diseases are spread through blood and, although it is certainly at least as equally disgusting, I believe people who are saying that fresh urine is sterile are correct, so yes, menstrual blood may be more of a concern compared to some other fluids. I also said that, although other bodily fluids and hygiene issues can effect pool goers too, it doesn't mean you shouldn't make an attempt to be as hygienic as possible when dealing with your own hygiene and period. I feel the question should be why would you risk your menstrual blood getting into the pool if you can pop in a tampon or mooncup for the duration of your swim? Personally I've started using a mooncup and I don't believe there are any TSS risks associated with using them, but I don't think using a tampon for an extra 30 minutes is any risk to the vast majority of women, if any. I'm not sure if that can be said for menstrual blood.

Some people seem to be suggesting that people who don't like the possibility of sharing a pool with a drop of their menstrual blood are being unreasonable. Personally I think it is more unreasonable to know some of your blood might get in the pool, yet actively decide not to do anything to try and prevent it.

Eveforever · 21/05/2018 20:35

I certainly don't think it's misogynistic to say I would like people on their period to wear a tampon or mooncup in a pool. If I saw someone with bleeding cut in the pool I would think they were being disgusting and selfish for not using a plaster. Tampons and plasters are both easily accessible, when did it become to much to say you expect people to use them in a swimming pool?!

Somebody earlier said they had bad psoriasis, they presumably can't do much to prevent shedding in the pool, however, it is possible to stop period blood getting into the pool by using tamoons and mooncup, so what's the big deal about using one?!

SeasonedMummy · 21/05/2018 20:46

Eveforever

There certainly are TSS risks with mooncups, granted not as high

SeasonedMummy · 21/05/2018 20:46

Sorry posted before I’d finished!

The risks aren’t as high but they’re there.

EllenMP · 21/05/2018 20:47

I would wear a tampon on a heavy flow day, but I wouldn't bother on a light flow day, or worry about spotting. Menstrual blood is no more unhygienic than saliva, sweat, skin oil, dead skin cells or nasal mucus, all of which every human in the pool brought in with them. No need to be uptight about it.

SeasonedMummy · 21/05/2018 20:49

www.mooncup.co.uk/using-mooncup/can-you-get-toxic-shock-syndrome-from-a-menstrual-cup/

Some studies actually suggest the risk could be higher