While it is not recommended to swim with a sanitary pad in place, both tampons and menstrual cups are completely safe to use internally. Many competitive swimmers use these options when participating in practices or events on their period.
Will my tampon soak up the water? Some of the pool or seawater will likely be absorbed by your tampon when you're swimming. This is not to say, though, that it won't absorb your blood also - it will. You may want to consider this and use a slightly more absorbent tampon before taking a dip.
As with swimming in general, it's okay to swim on your period without a tampon — or any menstrual product for that matter, says Dr. van Dis. If you want to prevent potential leaks or blood spots on your bottoms by using a period product, you have options.
You should wear a pad, even when swimming
These devices are designed to soak up liquid, and wearing one in the pool will render it ineffective, messy, and probably quite obvious to other pool-goers. Instead, opt for a menstrual cup or tampon that goes inside the vagina to catch the blood before it exits the body.
You can totally free-bleed. There are no serious health risks to swimming without period protection. If you're nearing the end of your period or are experiencing a lighter flow, you're probably fine swimming without any backup because there's not too much blood flow.
The bottom line: No, your period doesn't magically stop in the water, but water pressure can prevent your flow from coming out. It's still wise to use a tampon or menstrual cup to avoid leaks as you come out of the water.
The go-to protection for swimming is traditionally a tampon. Many of us are comfortable wearing tampons as our regular period protection, so we have confidence in them to absorb our flow. We know how often we need to change them and it's almost a no-brainer to trust them in the water.
Once a period has started, it is not possible to stop it. Some home methods may help reduce the amount of bleeding that occurs for a short time, but they will not stop the period altogether. People who are interested in preventing their period for medical or personal reasons should talk with their doctor.
You won't leave a bloody trail in the water
When you get out of the water your period will flow again normally, so it's a good idea to use a tampon or menstrual cup while swimming. Pads and pantyliners aren't a good option because they will absorb water and become ineffective.
Typically, a leaky tampon means you've left your tampon in for too long, or you're using the wrong absorbency. Be sure to change your tampon every 4-6 hours. If you find that you are leaking through your tampon after just four hours, it's time to start using the next absorbency up.
If you notice your tampons get soaked through in a couple hours, or you see blood on the string when you change it after a short time, you might need a larger size. You may need to size down if the tampon is mostly dry after wearing it for a few hours.
If you swim while on your period without wearing any feminine care products, the water pressure can temporarily slow your flow, but it won't stop it completely. If you choose to wear feminine care products while swimming, experts recommend either tampons or menstrual cups.
Tampons should be inserted prior to entering the water and changed shortly after your time in the water is completed (or during a long break from the water). If you haven't worn tampons before, you may want to practice wearing one prior to swimming, but only practice when you have your period.
Just keep in mind that period swimsuits typically work best for light flow to medium flow days at the beginning or end of your cycle. On days when you have more of a heavy flow, you can always use a menstrual cup or disc for extra protection and have your period swimsuit as a backup.
The best way to know if your tampon needs changing is to give a light tug on the tampon string, if it starts to pull out easily then it's time to change, if not, it usually means you can leave it a bit longer. Just remember with tampons, 4 hours is about right, and don't leave one in for more than 8 hours.
On rare occasions, some have not been able to find string to pull it out. I have shared the story before of my friend who could not get the tampon on her own. She called her doctor and went in and they got it out, painlessly. I have great news for you: You can't put a tampon "too far" in!
There's a few reasons why tampons leak when they're not full. It's been inserted incorrectly. You're not wearing a tampon made from absorbent organic cotton. Lots of tampons on the market are made from synthetic materials that are unable to absorb much menstrual fluid.
Tampon pain from walking or sitting can happen if you haven't inserted the tampon deeply enough. When you put it in, it should go past the nerve endings of your pelvic floor muscles. If you've inserted the tampon to the correct depth, you won't feel it when you're active.
When your period flows out of the little hole in the cervix, it tracks along the side of the tampon rather than the central top area so the blood only appears on one side of the tampon. No worries!
However, 3-6 products per day (pads or tampons) is normal. If you're using less than that, you may not be changing them enough for health and hygiene. If you're using more than that because they are filling up fast or leaking, you may want to try a bigger size.
In reality, there's no proven way to stop periods immediately once they have started. However, certain strategies and medications can help lighten your menstrual flow and relieve period-related symptoms. This can help you feel more comfortable and free during your periods.