To swim whilst menstruating?

[awomensworkisneverdone]

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! or is it just me?? Would you swim during your period?

I find tampons uncomfortable. Never noticed any blood.

I swim with a tampon every month. But if I was on the first day of my period and the flow was very heavy I might not but for normal flow with a tampon of course.
Without a tampon would be extremely antisocial

If you have a tampon or mooncup in, what's the problem? My GM used to write me a note when I had my period so I didn't have to do swimming, I was .

I’m not sure if it’s a myth or not. Maybe just doesn’t look so bad?
Imagine the horror of red water around you in the pool though. I don’t know if I could risk it tbh

Cold water stopping blood is a myth.

I still use a tampon at the end of my period. You are still bleeding into the pool, it's just the water diluting it so it's harder to see.

I didn’t mean to alarm you op, I’ve just never heard nor had the experience of water filling a tampon while swimming or bathing.

So do some women’s vaginas fill with water when bathing? I’m off to google!

And me I used to get a note too.
I think that’s why Iv always wondered if there’s any kind of rule regarding swimming whilst bleeding. I was told not to as a kid.

I'd only swim with a tampon or softcup on any day of my cycle. I don't often find tampons work for me so if I find one is working I might leave it in for a swim but if I'm still spotting through I would swap to a softcup.

Isn't that why tampons exist? Thats what I use them for!

Fission... mine does sometimes! it’s bizarre! I wouldn’t say it fills but definitely a little trickle afterward.

I suppose if you lie back in the bath and tip your hips up then water gets in a bit more than if you are sitting up

It is a thing, there has been a thread about it before. I used to, ahem, retain water after baths and it would come out afterwards. Was definitely bath water. Not since having children though. I don’t wear tampons in the bath so I wouldn’t know whether there’s an effect on them but I have never noticed an effect on tampons in the pool. I would always put a new one in before going swimming though.

It’s an orifice. Water will go inside. I have only ever worn tampons for the pool. Never without.

Oh yes, and a clean tampon.

As a rule, I wouldn't say water goes in, in general, but, if I'm doing breaststroke, or sit in the bath with my knees out then yes, water goes in.

Given how few people would properly shower before getting in my local pool, I think a bit of blood from a woman's tampon is only one of many things requiring the chlorine in the pool!

These days I'd use a mooncup though, no problem with expanding tampons making their way out that way.

When I were a nipper, we girls were told not to swim in the sea whilst menstruating because the sharks would smell the blood. (This was a sharky country, it wasn't Scarborough in May)

Ummm @somesetmeadow do you swim looking down between your legs otherwise how would you notice . And chances are no one else will either as it will disperse into the water. Doesn't mean it isn't disgusting

I also have a non-watertight vagina - I swim with a tampon, change before and after, and I definitely wouldn't do it on the first day of my period, because my menstrual department has not received the memo about not bleeding in cold water.

i was always off for swimming in school coz i only wore pads back then-its a hygiene thing

So female athlete swimmers don't train during their periods?! Of course you can swim whilst menstruating . This isn't Victorian england

I have the retain water thing too.
I wouldn;t dare swim without a tampon because I think the blood would run down my leg when I stood up, and I have a light period. I would swim with a fresh clean tampon and maybe not on the first two days, not sure.

I do. With a menstrual cup. I know what you mean about the tampon getting wet with the pool water, and I always found that uncomfortable. A cup is much more comfortable!

If tampons didn't make any difference there would be blood everywhere when you got out of the pool.

You're swimming in chlorinated water I assume? If so then I don't see an issue, I personally wouldn't because I hate swimming and take any excuse to avoid it.