While most swimmers work through their periods the way the rest of us do, some very high level athletes have been known to shift their periods so they don't occur during competition.
Most competitive swimmers and other swimmers rely on tampons when it comes to managing their periods while swimming. And according to a recent Knix study, they're the second most popular period product in general. Tampons have the advantage of being familiar.
A common myth is that women cannot swim while it's their “time of the month,” but that's all it is. You absolutely can enjoy taking a dip in a lake or pool when you have your period.
Best Tampons for Swimming
Tampons are specifically designed to absorb period flow before it can leave your body which makes them one of the best products to use for swimming on your period and you won't have to worry about signs of your period showing in the water.
Can You Swim On Your Period Without a Tampon? 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.
Yes! Period swimsuits will absorb period blood. But it can also absorb sweat or urine (light bladder leaks.)
Knix period-proof swimwear is made to hold menstrual fluid and prevent leaks in the water. You can depend on it to hold 3 teaspoons (or 2 tampons' worth) of menstrual blood. Or just wear it as a backup alongside a tampon or menstrual cup while at the beach or by the pool.
Tampons are specifically designed to absorb period flow before it can leave your body, which makes them one of the best products to use for swimming on your period. You won't have to worry about signs of your period showing in the water.
Try a reusable menstrual cup.
The cup should not leak if inserted properly and is one of the best alternatives to a tampon if you want to go swimming. Insert the cup before swimming, and leave it in until you can change out of your swimsuit into your regular clothing and switch to another method of period protection.
Swimming during your period isn't a problem. However, you will want to use a tampon (not a pad) when swimming so you don't bleed on your swimsuit. Pads won't work and will just fill with water. The tampon won't fall out if it was put in correctly, so go ahead and make a splash!
You don't have to change any of your regular activities when you have your period. That includes exercise and swimming. There are many misconceptions about swimming during your period.
Ruby Love is the only period-approved swimwear for period swimming made for use with pads. There's nothing that can happen to your body when you swim on your period that can't happen when you swim at any other time.
Period swimwear looks on the outside like a regular swimsuit. It comes in different styles (one-piece, bikinis, and everything in between) and colors. But it has one key difference from regular swimwear: It is designed to absorb and hold period blood as an alternative to traditional period protection, like tampons.
Some types of period-proof swimwear can absorb up to 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) of menstrual fluid. For reference, a normal tampon is usually able to hold about 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of menstrual blood.
Stick the pad on while your bathing suit is dry. Take it out of the wrapper and stick the back of it onto your bathing suit bottom. Choose a thin one so that it doesn't bulge and make sure you're wearing a suit that fits snugly to your body.
Takeaway. 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.
If you do not take a contraceptive pill
They might be able to prescribe medication called norethisterone to delay your period. Your GP will advise you when to take norethisterone and for how long. You'll usually be prescribed 3 norethisterone tablets a day, starting 3 to 4 days before you expect your period to begin.
The first day of menstrual bleeding is considered Day 1 of the cycle. Your period can last anywhere from 3 to 8 days, but 5 days is average. Bleeding is usually heaviest on the first 2 days. Once the bleeding stops, the uterine lining (also called the endometrium) begins to prepare for the possibility of a pregnancy.
Wearing a tampon or a menstrual cup will stop blood from leaking when you're swimming. If you want to, you can ask a friend to alert you of any leaks, or take a quick trip to the bathroom to check—this way you can relax and just have fun in the water.
Can you go swimming with a pad? Swimming on your period with a pad is not advised. Pads are made out of absorbent material that soaks up liquids within seconds. Submerged in water like a pool, a pad will completely fill with water, leaving no room for it to absorb your menstrual fluid.
Any girl who has her period can use a tampon. Tampons work just as well for girls who are virgins as they do for girls who have had sex. And even though using a tampon can occasionally cause a girl's hymen to stretch or tear, it does not cause a girl to lose her virginity.