Is it dangerous to swim with a tampon during your period?

Pads or tampons?

But for the most part, preference is given to pads, although it is much more convenient for a modern girl or woman to use a tampon. This is probably due to a lack of information; many do not know that virgins can use a tampon, and also allow themselves to swim and exercise on menstruation days. Or maybe Slavic girls have inherited a commitment to sanitary pads at the genetic level?

Tampons and pads have been used since ancient times

In order to determine why such a preference occurred, one should delve a little deeper into history.

• Analogues of modern tampons were: soft papyrus rolled into a tube, small rolls of wool, lubricated with fat, to facilitate insertion into the vagina; in Africa, soft bamboo was used.
• The replacement for pads was: among the northern peoples, reindeer moss, the ancient Slavs folded the fabric in several layers and tied it to the belt, since there was no underwear at that time, and the fluffy skirts of that time hid this spectacle.

So, scientists came to the conclusion that in those areas where women were required to lead a full, active lifestyle, preference was given to tampons that did not hinder movement, and where it was permissible to be less active, pads.

Invention of the modern tampon

Only back in 1933, at the request of his wife, the American surgeon Eol Haas invented the modern tampon. Since then, a woman’s life has ceased to be any different during her critical days: she has become less irritable and tense, more confident, and has the opportunity to continue playing sports, swimming, wearing tight clothes, etc.

What to do if a teenager’s period starts at sea?

A girl's menarche (first menstruation) can begin at 11 or even 16 years of age. Our body is individual, and therefore no one knows exactly when the “red guests” will begin to arrive.

While an adult woman can still calculate the time of her menstruation, it is much more difficult for a teenager to do this. It will take about two years for the menstrual cycle to improve and start going “like clockwork.” Until then, critical days may be delayed, go ahead of schedule, be smeared, etc.

Of course, in this case, menstruation can easily take a girl by surprise while on vacation at sea. What to do if you're on your period, but you really want to swim?

Under no circumstances should a young lady take medications that can delay the onset of her period. When using them, there is simply a huge risk of disrupting the menstrual cycle, which in the future is fraught with many problems, including infertility.

However, unlike adult women, young representatives of the fair sex are increasingly using sanitary pads and do not yet know how to use other hygiene products. Placing a tampon for the first time requires a little pain and time. Still, it’s better not to experiment these days and wait the allotted few days without going into the water.

Good afternoon, doctor. My daughter (she is 13 years old) and I are relaxing at the seaside. And suddenly she started having her period, the first in her life. Can she swim now? (Inna, 36 years old)

Good afternoon, Inna. She shouldn't risk going into the sea. It's better to wait a few days and then swim.

Tampon and bathing are compatible

In the first two days of the onset of menstruation, the female body is most susceptible to any external and internal infections. That is why it is necessary to refrain from swimming in the sea during the beginning of the menstrual cycle, since it is very easy for pathogenic bacteria to settle on the external genital organs, then they will penetrate deeper, and the introduction of a tampon can contribute to this.

The body is already weakened, and manipulations with a tampon always somewhat injure the vaginal mucosa. Through these microtraumas, toxins contained in menstrual fluid and infections easily penetrate inside. To protect yourself while swimming, preference should be given to salt water, which prevents the development of many harmful microorganisms. Just as swimming in sea water is more preferable for pregnant women, this is also recommended for women on menstrual days. Cold water is also safer, but there is a risk of catching a cold. Therefore, you should choose the cleanest possible body of water.

Where can you swim with a tampon?

It is best to take water procedures for hygienic purposes when you are on your period in the shower. Other options may be harmful to your health. It is worth considering that too hot water can cause increased bleeding, since blood circulation in the body increases under the influence of high temperature. This is fraught with dizziness, oxygen starvation and stress on the heart. Therefore, it is better not to insert a tampon while bathing in the bathroom.

Swimming lessons in the pool with a tampon

You can go to the pool during your period and swim with a tampon, if the water in the pool is heated to a comfortable temperature, you will not be in danger of getting inflammation of the genital organs. If the vigilance and reputation of water treatment workers is not in doubt, the problem of contracting an infection can also be eliminated.

The main question in this case remains your personal well-being and the amount of bleeding. If you are sure that this is also not a problem, you can safely swim with a tampon for no more than 20 minutes. After completing the procedure, be sure to replace the hygiene item.

As you can see, there are no special prohibitions and you can go to the pool during your period, but it is better, of course, to go there on the second day, and to rest at home on the first if possible.

Water procedures with a tampon in closed reservoirs

Such reservoirs are the riskiest for swimming during menstruation, since stagnant water warms up better and this allows various types of infections to actively develop in it. In addition, everything that ends up in a stagnant lake does not disappear from there. Swimming during menstruation in such a body of water even once is fraught with a quick visit to the doctor with problems.

Open water and swimming with a tampon

Unlike lakes, open bodies of water, be it a river or a pond, are less dangerous. The water is not very hot and is constantly moving, so there are fewer harmful microorganisms, but low temperatures can provoke inflammation of the reproductive system. Therefore, whether it is possible to go there during menstrual periods is a personal matter for each girl.

Tampons for virgins

Absolutely anyone can use tampons, even virgins. Special mini tampons have been developed for them, which, when inserted, do not violate the hymen (it tends to stretch well), the only problem that may arise during insertion is insufficiently relaxed muscles or poor hydration of the vaginal mucosa, which is typical for menstruation. To overcome these troubles, insertion of a tampon should be carried out in a relaxed state and use intimate lubricant. Modern medicine has made women's critical days as comfortable as possible, so that girls do not deny themselves any pleasures. Therefore, you should take advantage of the fact that it is possible to receive joy from life without experiencing any discomfort.

Is it possible to swim during menstruation: a little about physiology

Menstruation, or menstruation, is bleeding from the genital tract. Blood is released due to the rejection of the endometrium inside the uterine cavity. Typically, critical days last from 3 to 7 days. In a healthy woman of reproductive age, provided there is no pregnancy, menstruation should occur every month at approximately the same time. The normal interval between periods is from 21 to 35 days.

The vagina and uterus are connected by a hollow body – the cervix. The canal in the cervix is ​​called the cervical canal. Mucus is secreted in the cervical canal, which tightly clogs the passage and prevents pathogens from entering the muscular organ. But during the “red days,” the cervical canal becomes a little wider, and along with the blood, the mucus plug goes away, opening access to the uterus. In addition, during this period, the body’s immunity decreases slightly, which also aggravates the situation.

If hygiene rules are not followed during menstruation, the infection can easily penetrate the uterine cavity, causing an unpleasant disease called endometritis (an inflammatory process in the surface layer of the endometrium). We should also not forget that these few days the inside of the uterus, roughly speaking, is one continuous wound, which further increases the chance of developing infectious and inflammatory diseases.

Menstrual cup

Operating principle: it fits around the cervix, keeping all the secretions inside.

The cup looks like a small soft glass, about 5 cm high and 4.5 cm in diameter. The soft material from which it is made does not squeeze or cut into the walls of the vagina. Thanks to the vacuum that is formed when inserting a menstrual cup, it not only retains discharge, but also does not allow water to enter the vagina. With the bowl you can swim in the sea or pool, play sports and lead a normal lifestyle.

Pros: you don’t need to carry any hygiene products with you, or limit yourself in choosing underwear and clothes. The bowl is imperceptible, cannot “leak” and is absolutely safe. Gynecologists consider the cup one of the safest methods of hygiene.

Cons: every 4-5 hours you will need a combined bathroom to remove and empty the bowl, rinse it thoroughly with a disinfectant and put it back. And at first, installation difficulties are inevitable—you have to get used to it.

Choosing a swimsuit during menstruation

Tampon with applicator

Recommendations:

• Use proven brands of tampons, the effectiveness of which has already been tested.
• Before visiting the pool, you should try taking a bath in the bathroom. The procedure will allow you to decide which tampons are most suitable for being in water.
• If you feel that the tampon is swelling, immediately leave the bathing area. In this case, the hygiene product must be replaced, otherwise it may leak.

We suggest you read: Is it possible to drink alcohol and lose weight at the same time?

There is no fundamental difference in swimsuits used during menstruation.

But at the same time, you should refrain from several tips aimed at eliminating unpleasant situations:

1. To do this, it is preferable to choose models with separate parts for convenient changing of the tampon.
2. It is better to choose models made of dark materials so that the stain is not noticeable if a leak suddenly occurs.

• Before you start swimming, you need to decide on the appropriate size of the product you are using. This can only be done for individual reasons, based on your own experience. In this case, it is better to give preference to a product with the best absorbent properties. This will slightly increase the time spent in water and delay the moment the material gets wet.
• You need to immediately stock up on a whole package, since the time of their use in water will be significantly reduced. Be prepared to need replacement frequently.
• If you have not used this personal hygiene product before, it is better to start with the smallest size of two or three drops. Virgins should also start with it, so as not to cause themselves unnecessary discomfort.
• It is advisable to use proven brands whose effectiveness you have already experienced. It’s very good if you’ve even swam with them before.
• Models with an applicator have excellent reviews. They are easy to use and quickly take up the space needed in the vagina.
• Before you start going to the pool during your period, you can try taking a dip in your own bathtub. This practice will allow you to test the strength of the product and decide which tampons are best for being in water.