Good news – yes, you can go swimming on your period! It's safe to hit the water on your period, as long as you wear a tampon or menstrual cup while you're swimming.
"A tampon will absorb the water from the lake, pool, or ocean while you are swimming, so it is important to change the tampon when you get out of the water," says Ho. "Otherwise, the tampon will be saturated and will not absorb the blood from your period."
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.
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.
You won't have to worry about signs of your period showing in the water. Pads are made to absorb period flow too, but as they're worn outside of the body – and would be great at absorbing all that pool water too – you'd end up with a soggy bottom and looking like you were wearing a nappy (not the vibe we're going for).
Chlorine produces dioxins which, when used in tampon production, can be absorbed into your body and can take up to eleven years to get out of your system. Produced from part of the bleaching process, dioxins can be very dangerous.
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 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.
Infections include the rare but serious Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). It is safe to sleep with a tampon in as long as it's not for more than eight hours. So, if you can keep your night-time snooze to 8 hours or under, then you can wear a tampon overnight.
Why does my tampon leak? 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.
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. Period-friendly swimwear has also recently entered the market as an option.
Period (or leakproof) swimwear is a superb option for confidence in water on your period. It can be used on its own or as a backup to other products (like tampons or menstrual cups). Knix period-proof swimwear is made to hold menstrual fluid and prevent leaks in the water.
Carefully tuck in the tampon string.
Just make sure to tuck it into the bottom of your suit carefully and don't stress out about it. If you'd really like to, you can trim the string a bit with nail scissors, but don't cut it too much or you'll have a hard time getting it out.
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. Plus, it may swell up into a big soppy mess.
The most likely reason is that you didn't push your tampon in far enough when you inserted it. Not to worry – simply use your finger to push it in a little further. If that doesn't fix it, just take it out and try again with a fresh one.
You can safely wear tampons for four to eight hours. So, you can use one while sleeping. But if you'll be sleeping longer than eight hours, use an alternative. Then, use a tampon when you're awake.
The instructions on your tampon box are clear: You should never keep the same tampon in for longer than eight hours. If you leave it in longer than that, you risk toxic shock syndrome and other health concerns. If you really want to be on the safe side, though, you may want to change your tampon even more often.
Technically, you can take out your tampon every time you pee, and if you only use the bathroom every four to five hours, go for it. But, if you're a frequent pee-er, and your flow is fairly light, then changing your tampon every hour or so may be irritating, and require a bunch of tampons.