By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Experts discuss options for women who want to swim while menstruateing
Swimming during menstruation can help relieve cramping pain.
It used to mean using tampons to absorb flow (pads are not recommended as they will also absorb water from the pool, lake or pond).
But women have a few other options.
Menstrual cups have gained popularity in recent years for both their convenience and low environmental impact. Because they can stay in place for up to 12 hours catching menstrual flow, women do not need to remove them for emptying as often as they would change a tampon. A tampon should be changed more frequently when worn while swimming. Menstrual cups need replacing after years of use, unlike single-use pads or tampons.
For anyone concerned about absorbing chemicals common in most tampons and pads, menstrual cups skip that issue as well, since they are made of medical grade silicone.
“Menstrual cups are relatively easy to clean, as they need to be rinsed off with warm water between uses during menstruation and washed off with warm water and soap between periods,” according to the website of Chouchani, Sayegh & Bagnarello, MD, LLP in Williamsville. “They should be stored in breathable containers, such as a cloth bag.”
They are a good choice for swimmers. However, women new to menstrual cups should try them out first, since it may take a little practice to insert them correctly and get a good seal. The user should press the wider end of the cup flat, fold it into a “c” shape to insert, and then allow it to open while inside.
It is also wise to empty, rinse and reinsert the cup before swimming to ensure no leaking will occur.
In a similar vein, menstrual discs collect flow. They also provide protection for many hours at a time since they can collect more flow than a tampon. They are disposable, unlike menstrual cups. Both menstrual cups and discs reduce risk for toxic shock syndrome compared with tampons.
Another option is period swimwear. Ruby Love (www.rubylove.com) in East Farmingdale in Suffolk County is one example of a period swimwear manufacturer.
“The world is shifting away from sanitary pads but the insertable options are dangerous, riddled with chemicals and often fail,” said Crystal Etienne, CEO and founder of Ruby Love. “Many people choose comfort even though they are unsafe. Ruby Love’s patented technology offers comfort along with protection against protection from leaks and stains—even when in the water.”
The swimwear that is similar to period underwear, but with a high-tech design that makes it both effective and undetectable in water. The swimwear also allows users the option of adding a sanitary pad for extra protection. The swimwear includes an absorbent cotton layer, the company’s proprietary “Super Absorbent Layer” to keep the user dry, a leak-resistant layer to draw away moisture and the exterior layer to hold it all together.
OB-GYN Anne Marie Davis at Neighborhood Health Center in Buffalo, encourages taking the plunge to any women concerned about the safety of swimming while menstruating
“There are no risks in doing so,” she said. “There are so many options for protection from tampons to menstrual cups to the new kind of underwear that you can wear while on your cycle and the swimsuit. There are more and more options opening up. It comes down to every woman’s comfort, knowing their body and knowing their cycle.”
Swimming while the flow is light can lessen the chances of leaks. Women with heavy menstrual flow should speak with their healthcare provider, as this could indicate a concerning health issue.