Can I Swim While Having My Period?

Question

Im New To My Period, And Im Afraid To Wear Tampons!

(Im Afraid Itll Get Stuck Up There)

I Need Help Please Tell Me More About Periods..

Answer 1

Yes you can, there is NOTHING you can't do on your period that you wouldn't when you are not on your period.

You have a few different options for what to use when you are swimming on your period;

* Menstrual cups - these are cups that you insert into your vagina to catch the blood before it leaves your body, they can be left in for up to 12 hours, don't leak, don't absorb pool water, don't contribute to menstrual cramps and have nothing showing on the outside making them perfect for swimming. Softcups can also be used with the same benefits, these are like menstrual cups but sit higher up in your vagina.

http://www.divacup.com
http://www.keeper.com
http://www.mooncup.co.uk
http://www.lunette.fi
http://www.softcup.com

* Tampons - these are absorbent plugs of material that go into your vagina to absorb the menstrual flow to prevent it from leaving your body, you have to make sure to change before and after swimming as tampons will absorb the pool water, also bare in mind that most tampons (excluding homemade tampons, sponge tampons and soft tampons) have strings that could show poking out of your swimsuit if you are not sure hide it.

http://www.natracare.com
http://www.tampontification.com
http://www.tampax.com
http://www.jadeandpearl.com
http://www.gynotex.com

* Pads - these are pads of material that go into your underwear to catch blood after it leaves your body, commercial pads and organic pads can't be used as they are made from paper and the sticky stuff used to keep them in your panties would come unstuck, both cloth pads or homemade pads are fabric and held in place by snap fasteners so can be used for swimming if you wear shorts over your swimsuit. Padded panties are like normal panties but with padding, so like a built-in pad, these can also be used when swimming.

http://www.lunapads.com
http://www.reddyspads.com
http://urban-armor.org/urban-armor
http://www.wen.org.uk/sanpro/reports/makeyourown_web.pdf
http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/PADS.html

* Free-flow - in other words using nothing, which if you have a light flow you can do without it being a problem in terms of seeing the blood in the water, alternatively some women use instinctive free-flow, this is where a woman learns to recognize when blood is going to flow from her body so she can go to the bathroom and empty it out like she would her bladder, this could theoretically be used when swimming as well.

Swimming is good when you are on your period as it is a nice light exercise you can use to help ease off menstrual cramps (if you get them - very few women need to have menstrual cramps, most women can avoid them all together very easily), there is nothing you cannot do on your period that you cannot do when not on your period. Nothing at all unsanitary about it.

Nothing can get stuck in your vagina, the average vagina is 6 to 7 inches (15.24 to 17.78 cm) in length, located at the opposite end of your vagina is your cervix - this is the neck of your uterus with only a small hole that the blood etc. come out of so a tampon, sponge, menstrual cup or softcup cannot go any further than that.

Anything you put into your vagina can easily be taken out again just by putting your fingers in there - some tampons also have strings woven into the tampon itself you can pull them out with the string without the string breaking, although even without strings again they cannot get stuck as they can just be pulled out. Even if by some small chance something was to get stuck it is easy for a doctor to remove again.

You should however learn a LOT more about your body and different menstrual options, commercial tampons like Tampax are the most harmful out of over twenty different menstrual options as well as not a very hygienic option, they have been linked to vaginal infections, TSS, endometriosis, vaginal tearing, menstrual cramps and increased menstrual flow.

Risks of tampons are also increased if you are in your teens because your vagina is more prone to damage and your immune system is not fully developed to deal with possible infections. Also remember tampons have to be changed every few hours (particularly before and after swimming as they absorb pool water), they cannot be worn when not on your period or with light flow, and they cannot be worn to bed.

http://www.spotsite.org
http://www.tamponalert.org.uk
http://www.wen.org.uk/sanpro/reports/sanpro.pdf

You need to be aware of how your vagina works, how tampons work, tampon risks and other options, most women who are educated about these things do not use tampons but instead use other options such as pads or menstrual cups as they are safer, more convient, more hygienic, cheaper and better for the environment. If you don't know these things then you can risk your health, your sexual/menstrual/reproductive health is very important so you should take the time to learn a little more about it.

If you are having periods then your guardians must not have discussed this with you as they should have, about your body, menstruation and sex, if they haven't done this then it turns to you to learn these things for yourself as every girl and woman needs to know about their body and how to care for it.

Remember one very important thing;

YOUR PERIOD IS ONLY AS GOOD OR AS BAD AS YOU MAKE IT!

A lot of girls and women have a negative idea about menstruation because so many other older girls and women imply they should because of old fashioned ideas about periods being dirty or inconvenient - FYI, periods are not dirty or inconvenient. Media also gives you the impression periods are bad things as many companies use girls existing [negative] ideas about periods to sell their products.

If you have a negative idea about periods you are less likely to learn about them, and so in turn less likely to know what to do to make them positive - such as how to celebrate them, why periods are good, how to prevent cramps, and what menstrual options are best to use.

More information on your vagina, reproductive health and menstruation;

http://www.scarleteen.com
http://www.vaginaverite.com
http://www.the-clitoris.com
http://www.myvag.net
http://www.vaginapagina.com
http://www.onewoman.com/redspot/
http://www.natracare.com/help_for_schools/matrix.htm
http://www.vegetarianbaby.com/articles/ontherag.shtml
http://www.teachingteens.com/tmenstr.htm

Answer 2

Tampons are perfectly safe, and you can swim with them, but they do sometimes leak, depending on your flow, and the string will get wet while swimming. But yes, you can usually swim while having your period; whether you want to do so while having cramps is another matter.

On a slightly related note (and a few people mentioned this in their answers but didn't elaborate), you might want to consider _menstrual cups_ instead of tampons or pads. They're silicone cups that catch your period flow and are way more comfortable, do not cause as many cramps as tampons do, do leave fibers and various bleached chemicals inside you (unlike tampons), do not leak, don't dry out your vagina, are reusable, and don't fall out at all (they work by suction). They've been used for 80+ years and it's a bit sad how unpopular and unknown they are. http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups for a lot of info and women discussing them.

Answer 3

I go swimming with a tampon all the time and I've been wearing tampons for about 10 years now and none have ever gotten stuck up there.
I wouldn't try swimming without a tampon though, that could potentially be VERY embarrassing!

Answer 4

Firstly, using a tampons will NOT take away your virginity. Only having sexual intercourse can do that. It's very very rare that they get stuck, yes it can happen, but not often (never to me in 14 years of using tampons). You can swim perfectly safely during your period if you are wearing a tampon, I've been doing it for years. Just practice a bit first, you'll know if it's in wrong as it'll be uncomfortable. If it is then just pull it out and try again with a new one!

Good luck!

Answer 5

The tampon wouldn't get stuck up there. And in the rare case that the string breaks off you can reach up there and grab it. If you do swim with your period you need to wear a tampon. It isn't safe health wise for other people if you don't.

Answer 6

Yes, just make sure you're using either a tampon or a menstrual cup! If you're wearing a tampon while swimming make sure you take it out once you're finished swimming because the tampon absorbs the pool water, too. Also, don't be afraid to try a tampon! There is no where for your tampon to go to get lost! Just try out a box of Playtex SlimFits because they're the best for beginners. Best of luck!

Answer 7

You're tampon will not get 'stuck up there' if the string is out, if you have forgotten to pull the string out, no worries, just relax and you'll be able to get it out with your fingers.

Periods usually come monthly and can last from 3 days to 2 weeks depending on the person.

Your period could take a while to settle into a monthly pattern so don't be alarmed if it doesn't come every month.

and as for 'iced lemonade <3' s answer, using a tampon doesn't nessacerelly take your virginity, it depend's on the persons belief and interpretation of what virginity is whether it be intercourse or with a finger/object

Answer 8

No it wont get stuck up there and yes you can swim. Not much comes out when you swim but i would suggest using tampons, the string is like weaved all the way through it so it wont break and the tampon wont get stuck. You push it up as far as you can till you cant feel it or you hit your cervix, try not to do that tho cause it can hurt. Also, if it did get stuck up there, your natural stuff that comes out with make it come out anyway or if you were worried about it, a bath makes you vagina relax so it canactually float inside you. Strange but hopefully this will make you a bit more comfortable.

Answer 9

If you put in a tampon then you can go swimming, otherwise no. It's unhygienic as the blood cant be contained.
Dont fret about wearing tampons, it's very very rare, if ever that they get stuck. Everyone is nervous about using them at first but when you do it makes you life much easier.

Answer 10

Well first of all...it won't get stuck up there...if the string does come off.... you just stick your fingers in and you will feel it and pull it out. But i would practice wearing one a few days before you go swimming.... but make sure you only wear tampons when you are on your period... good luck!

Answer 11

You don't HAVE to use tampons at all....as for swimming without them risking your health and other peoples WTF??!! Swimming without a tampon will not risk your health or anyone elses as it is only menstrual blood there is nothing dirty or unhealthy about it at all! Think about how many people have been in a swimming pool who are on their period, or who have been to the bathroom a little while beforehand so with small amounts of pee still on their body or god knows what other things....remember too your vagina is the cleanest part of your body and pools are kept clean! Using tampons is what would put your health in danger as tampons are very bad for your health.
Hun you dont need to use tampons at all you can use whatever you feel comfortable in I recomend something like cups as they go right inside your body so nothign shows on the outside and they stop blood comeing out at all so much better for things like swimming than tampons or pads I like to wear shorts as well just to make me feel more comfortable