Women’s menstrual cycles have been intervening with training for far too long. Here, we speak to a female Olympian to discover how she manages her period while swimming, and our top pick of products.
The end of summer might mean saying goodbye to swimming for some, but for athletes and water-lovers, the laps never end. For most women, the menstrual cycle poses a year-round dilemma when it comes to the water, forcing us to take around a week’s break from our backstrokes and front crawls. But there’s really no need to give up your love of swimming or water sports when on your period.
When I first began swimming, and still today, I actively avoided swimming or booking a holiday if I knew it would fall around the time of my period. And even Freya Anderson MBE — an Olympic relay swimmer for Team GB — admits that, like me, she was nervous at first when it came to swimming on her period.
“I remember struggling with the process and using a tampon, which made me anxious about going to training — especially because I had really bad periods,” she explains.
Periods can be limiting whether due to pain, mood or general anxiety around leaking. Freya says, in spite of this, it’s never impacted her ability to perform as an athlete. “I’ve won medals while on my period, including at the Europeans (European Championships), and had my period during the Worlds (World Aquatics Championships) this year. The main challenge has always been managing the pain, feeling unwell and dealing with the other side effects while training.”
She adds that her relationship with coaches make it easier to be open.
Read more: 10 period tracking apps that won’t sell your data
“At the Olympic camp in Paris, I never felt awkward speaking about it with my coach, Dave. We even have a ‘flag system’. If I’m having period troubles, I just tell him I need to go to the toilet, and it’s a ‘red flag’. One time during suit practice for competition prep, my period started while I was on the block. It caused a bit of a mess outside the pool, but Dave was amazing — he told me to stay in the water while they sorted it, and he got me a towel and a tampon,” she adds.
Freya now runs swimming clinics for girls under FAST and Female, aimed at inspiring and supporting girls who pursue swimming as a sport. Freya says she makes a point about talking to the girls about the menstrual cycle.
“[I love] giving them the knowledge and confidence to talk openly about periods,” she says.
Whether you’re training like Freya, swimming for fitness or your holiday has fallen on your period days, there are ways to manage bleeding and continue to enjoy your laps.
Read more: 8 best period swimsuits that don’t compromise on style
Can you get toxic shock syndrome from swimming with a tampon in?
According to GP in women’s health Dr Farah Ahmed, swimming with a tampon in is completely safe.
“Toxic shock syndrome is extremely rare and is linked to leaving a tampon in too long, usually over eight hours, rather than to swimming itself.”
She adds: “There’s no evidence that swimming with a tampon increases your risk of infections such as thrush, urinary tract infections or sexually transmitted infections. Chlorinated pool water, seawater or freshwater lakes aren’t sterile, but your vagina is very good at protecting itself.”
Dr Ahmed also adds that changing your tampon regularly and practising good hygiene is enough to ensure safety while swimming.
Can you go swimming on your period without a tampon?
If using a tampon isn’t ideal, period cups and period swimwear are both good options for managing a period in the water.
There are many misconceptions about period cups, although they’re simple to use and can be worn even if you haven’t used a tampon before.
“It’s completely safe to swim with a period cup, in fact many people prefer it as you have peace of mind knowing you [should] be leak-free for up to 12 hours at a time,” says Aleksandra Oklinska, co-owner of sustainable period product brand Lunette. “If you can see your period cups through your swimsuit, the period cup hasn’t been inserted correctly.”
Period swimwear, on the other hand, is significantly more user-friendly. The sensation of stepping into a pool or the sea without any of your usual period products (unless you’re used to wearing period underwear) can feel strange. Kelly Newton, co-founder of Nixi Body, says that the pressure inside the water will naturally cause your bleeding to lessen.
“Our particular bikini bottoms are made with an absorbent fabric so water cannot penetrate, this means that the absorbent gusset will not get wet,” she explains. So, when you come out of the water and lie on your beach towel, you’ll have no blood leakage.
Our favourite period-proof swimwear products
Lunette Period Cup
Lunette promises that for every period cup sold, the company will donate one to aim at breaking the stigma around period poverty. The Lunette Period Cup is made with medical grade silicone, ensuring it’s safe for use in your body.
Nixi Body Two-way Bikini
This period-safe bikini promises two styles in one, ideal for packing light and giving multiple holiday looks. The side ties can be tied up for a higher leg or released for a high-waisted short-style bikini bottom.
Read more: Understanding injury risks across your cycle
Marks & Spencer Square Neck Period Swimsuit
Those who prefer a one-piece swimsuit like me would likely enjoy this comfortable one-piece period swimsuit on their next holiday or trip to the pool. This also has a UPF50+ material offering important sun protection, too.
Omnitex Menstrual Cups 2 pack
Omnitex’s two-pack of period cups is ideal for first-time wearers. One is better suited for those with a low cervix while the other is better suited to those with a high cervix or who are post-birth. Omnitex claims if looked after correctly it should last for 10 years of periods — making it a cheaper and more sustainable option for managing a period long term.
ModiBodi Tidal Swimwear Hi Leg Bottom
This patterned bikini bottom certainly doesn’t look like the typical period swimwear you might expect. It can be paired with a range of bikini tops and has a very high absorbency — around 10 tampons’ worth.
Purchase from ModiBodi for £39.99
Feature image: Pexels
