Will my tampon soak up the water? Some of the pool or seawater will likely be absorbed by your tampon when you're swimming. This is not to say, though, that it won't absorb your blood also - it will. You may want to consider this and use a slightly more absorbent tampon before taking a dip.
"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."
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.
A fully saturated light tampon can hold up to 3 milliliters of fluid. A fully saturated super tampon may hold up to 12 milliliters of fluid. A fully saturated regular daytime pad may hold around 5 milliliters of fluid. A fully soaked overnight pad may hold 10 to 15 milliliters of fluid.
As long as you spend a relatively short time in the water (an hour or less), and change your tampon right away, wearing a tampon while swimming is still pretty safe.
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.
On the other hand, tampons are convenient and safe to use in water. They are unlikely to fall out. And as long as you tuck in the string, you're unlikely to have a fashion emergency. Just remember to change your tampon at least every four to eight hours or as often as your physician recommends.
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.
Can I Swim With A Tampon? Tampons are a great period product to wear while swimming. Simply insert one like you usually would, put on your swimsuit, and hop in the water. You can wear a tampon for four to eight hours, so if you're spending all day at the beach, you might want to change your tampon once or twice.
If you notice your tampons get soaked through in a couple hours, or you see blood on the string when you change it after a short time, you might need a larger size. You may need to size down if the tampon is mostly dry after wearing it for a few hours.
Don't forget that while you swim, you need to change your tampon as frequently as you would when staying dry – at least every four hours. You may feel more comfortable changing more frequently, so be sure to bring extras! After you put on your suit, make sure to tuck in the tampon string so that it doesn't show.
Symptoms usually develop in 3 to 5 days in individuals who are menstruating and using tampons or menstrual cups. If you experience the above symptoms after using tampons, a menstrual cup or after a surgery or skin injury, contact your health care provider immediately.
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.
What does clear discharge mean? If it's clear and doesn't smell, then congrats: you've got normal vaginal discharge! If it's stretchy, that might mean you're ovulating – good to know. Exercise can also make it seem a little heavier than usual, but otherwise there's no cause for concern.
Can it be used just for discharge? "No. Never use a tampon in anticipation of bleeding, or for discharge because it won't function properly and could harbour infection. Only use tampons when you need them – if you're just starting your period and there's hardly any bleeding, use a sanitary towel instead.
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.
There is a gusset in the period bikini bottoms that absorb your period when you're in the water, and also when you come out of the water. When you bleed, the gusset will absorb your period blood. The leak-proof layer of the gusset is water resistant and keeps the blood inside, so you don't have to worry about leaking.
Many athletes who do competitive swimming during periods use tampons and menstrual cups to keep their flow in check. Some athletes may not have regular periods due to their intense exercise regimen. Others opt for birth control, which can alter their cycle so that they don't have full periods.
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.
This is because a dry tampon can stick to the vaginal walls when there isn't enough blood flow for the absorbency rating. When this happens, abrasions can occur when they are removed, and this creates an entry point for bacteria.
Clear, sticky discharge is not unusual. It can result from many situations, including ovulation, sexual arousal, exercise, dietary factors, and pregnancy. A person may also notice more clear discharge when they are aroused or during exercise.