Can You Swim When You’re on Your Period?

Having your period when you’re on vacation can be a bummer. But there’s absolutely no reason it should stop you from enjoying time poolside or in the pool or ocean. Indeed, there’s nothing to stop you from swimming while you have your period at any time of year.

Your Period Shouldn’t Keep You Out of the Water

Period pain can be a real thing and many of us just want to curl up with a hot water bottle when our period comes. We may also feel bloated and tender. All in all, putting on a swimsuit and diving in for a swim can feel like the last thing you want to do.

And you should, of course, listen to your body.

But it’s worth noting that some gentle exercise might be the very thing you need to feel a bit better. And with the right period protection and a great swimsuit that you feel confident in, there’s nothing to prevent you from enjoying the water.

Indeed, Swimming Can Relieve Period Cramps (Menstrual Cramps)

Any form of exercise can be a really good idea when you have your period. It might be the last thing you feel like, but if you can push past your fatigue, you might feel a lot better when you exercise on your period.

A study published by the Journal of Education and Health Promotion showed that 8 weeks of low-intensity aerobic exercise significantly improved the severity of pain in primary dysmenorrhea [painful menstruation].

This is because swimming can:

• Lift your mood, thanks to the fact the body releases endorphins when you exercise
• Reduce menstrual cramps and other period pain. According to the Office on Women’s Health, “Researchers have found that some women have fewer painful period cramps during menstruation if they exercise regularly.”
• Reduces fatigue. Although exercise burns energy, it also boosts energy levels.

But You *Do* Need Period Protection When Swimming

So swimming on your period really is a great idea. But before you dive in, you really do need to think about period protection in the water. According to a recent Knix study entitled Menstruation & Leaks in 2022, the most popular period product is menstrual pads.

Pads can be great for everyday protection. But, unfortunately, they are not designed for use in water. This is because pads are designed to absorb any liquid they come in touch with, so once they hit the water they will become saturated quickly. Their adhesive strips may lose their adhesion in the water. And if it’s the kind of pad with ‘wings’ those will be visible outside your swimsuit. 

If you bleed and your pad is saturated with water, your blood will have nowhere to go; it will just mix with the water and become diluted. You may even notice a pink trail in the water (depending on how heavy your flow is.) 

“I’ve Heard My Period Stops in the Water”

This urban myth has infiltrated public consciousness in a big way. 

Your menstrual flow may decrease a little while in the water. This is because when you are submerged in water the pressure of the water may lessen your flow. If you had a light flow to begin with, this may create an impression that bleeding has stopped.

However, if your body were to exert greater pressure (for example, if you laugh, sneeze or cough) the blood pressure can push past the water pressure. Moreover, for those of us with heavier flow, we can definitely attest to the fact that you can bleed in the bathtub.

In short: We do not advise swimming without period protection.

A Tampon or Menstrual Cup Will Protect You While You’re Swimming

So, you need some form of period protection: What are your options? The obvious choice is the disposable tampon. And, indeed, they are an effective solution.

While a tampon helps absorb menstrual blood, for some they are not an ideal solution. Common reasons some women dislike tampons include:

• Comfort: Some women find tampons uncomfortable to insert and/or wear
• Waste reduction: A person who menstruates throws away roughly 400 pounds of packaging from pads and tampons in their lifetime. (Greater London Authority, 2018)
• Cost: As disposable products, tampons can be prohibitively expensive for some.
• Health concerns: Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare bacterial infection associated with tampon use. Other reports pose additional questions about the safety of tampon ingredients.

If you’d prefer to swim without a tampon, there are other menstrual products that can be used when swimming. Menstrual cups are the most popular of these.

A menstrual cup is made of silicone or latex rubber and is designed to catch and collect your blood (rather than absorb menstrual blood like a tampon.) The cup is folded and inserted into the vagina. It then opens to form a seal against the wall of your vagina that prevents leaks. The blood then collects in the cup.

Menstrual cups are typically reusable. You remove them by pinching the base and pulling, which will release the seal. Then you empty the cup into the toilet, wash it (and your hands) carefully with soap and water, and reinsert it. At the end of your menstrual cycle, once your period has ended, it’s advisable to sterilize your cup in boiling water.

Can You Go Swimming on Your Period Without a Tampon or Menstrual Cups?

Some women dislike the idea of wearing internal products. The good news: There is another option. Period swimwear.

Period swimwear can be depended on alone or can be worn in conjunction with a tampon, or menstrual cup. 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. And best of all: It comes in many different colors and styles, so you’ll be sure to find your new favorite swimsuit too, from bikini to one-piece and everything in-between.

How Does Leakproof Swimwear Work?

The layers in the gusset of the swimsuit works to trap and absorb your period so it doesn’t leak in the water. Knix leakproof swimwear features the same Patented Leakproof Technology as our Period Underwear with an additional thin layer of waterproof material for extra protection.

The inner layers absorb the blood and trap it, so there's no leakage when you swim. When it goes in the laundry with detergent, it releases through the top layer— leaving your swim fresh and clean for tomorrow's laps.

While the gusset might be thicker than a regular swimsuit, it won’t look bulky from the outside. Nobody will be able to tell the difference between a period swimsuit and a regular swimsuit and you won’t have a “wet diaper” feeling when you’re wearing one.

You Can Use Leakproof Swimwear on Its Own or With a Tampon or Cup

It’s worth noting that no period product is completely leakproof (this includes tampons.) They all have different absorbency rates. 

And we get it: The notion of period swimwear seems strange to many. How can it not have the same problem as pads is a hard thing to wrap your head around. There’s also some degree of insecurity when it comes to trying new period products—that’s completely natural.

Of course, we want you to feel completely confident, so you might start trying our period swimwear on your lighter days, or as a backup to a menstrual cup or other menstrual product until you feel confident enough to go solo. 

Misconceptions About Swimming During Your Period

It can be nerve-wracking to swim on your period, especially if it’s your first time. So take it slow, use ample protection, and, if you’re wearing a tampon or cup, check them regularly to make sure you’re not soaking them. In a little time, you’ll gain confidence in your products and will simply relax and enjoy yourself.

But if you’re nervous, there can be some pretty irrational fears that creep in. So let’s go through some of the most common concerns:

You Are More Likely to Get an Ear Infection Than a Vaginal Infection From Swimming

Dampness and warmth are a recipe for a number of infections from skin infections to yeast infections and UTIs. However, unless you have a history of yeast infections or UTIs, you’re more likely to get an ear infection than a vaginal infection from swimming.

The key is always to stay clean, dry off when you emerge from the pool, and keep your swimsuit clean. If you wear a tampon, change it once you emerge from the water as it can absorb water too and if the water isn’t clean, this may cause irritation/infection.

But generally, you shouldn’t let a fear of infection keep you out of water. Practice basic hygiene and you should be good.

Will You Leave a Bloody Trail in the Water?

Leaks are a period reality for many of us. Perhaps it’s a spot of blood on our pajamas or bedsheets. Maybe you sometimes soak into your underwear. Of course, the same thing can happen when wearing a tampon or other period product while swimming. The key is to know your flow.

Of course, we all have a different period flow (and your flow will vary depending on the day of your period.) It is worth noting that if you’re bleeding heavily and passing blood clots bigger than a quarter coin, you should talk with your doctor.

That said, all period products come with absorption levels and it’s really about matching your flow with the right product and making sure you change it at the required frequency. The reason so many of us leak at night is that we’re pushing those limits.

The other thing you can do if you’re concerned is to pair up your protection: A menstrual cup or tampon can be paired with period swimwear to give you a double whammy of protection.

It Is *Not* Unhygienic to Swim While Menstruating

This has got to be one of those hangovers of thinking as women’s bodies as ‘unclean’ and it is just completely untrue that it’s unhygienic to swim while menstruating, either for you or for other swimmers.

1. Is it Unsanitary for You?

Periods were often historically portrayed as ‘unclean’ and some of that stigma sadly still hangs around. You are not dirty because you’re menstruating. You also don’t need to be isolated from others. 

The only health caution we would advise when swimming in the water is that if you use a period product (tampons, in particular) to change it once you’re done. Tampons in particular can absorb some water in addition to blood and it is possible there’ll be bacteria in that water. So, it’s best not to leave them in longer than you have to.

Similarly, if you wear leakproof swimwear be sure to rinse it well after every swim, just as you would regular swimwear, 

2. Is it Unsanitary for Other People in the Water?

Swimming pools have all kinds of chemicals to keep the water safe to swim (we all know about pee). If you bleed in the water even a little bit (whether it’s period blood or a cut) those chemicals will prevent the transmission of blood-borne illnesses and will keep the water safe for other swimmers.

If you’re in the ocean, it’s a vast vast thing with so many things floating around out there. The least of your worries is a little bit of blood. Seriously, don’t sweat this one.

You Won’t Leave a Trail of Period Blood in the Water

We’ve all experienced a period product failing us at some point and resulting in leaks. This is especially common at night.

The big difference is that at night you may have exceeded your product’s absorbency limit. So as long as you choose the right absorbency level for your flow and don’t push those limits, you should be just fine. If you do have a very heavy menstrual flow you may opt to use another menstrual product (e.g. a tampon or menstrual cup) for additional protection while you swim.

It is worth noting that the water pressure may lighten your blood flow, and even if you do leak a little it will be quickly diluted in the water, so you’re very unlikely to leave the gruesome blood trail that you’re probably picturing in your head.

Will Menstrual Blood Attract Sharks?

Sharks can, of course, smell blood. They can smell the blood from a papercut or a period. They can also smell sweat, mucus, urine, and other bodily fluids.

The good news is that sharks don’t really want to eat us, we’re not their natural prey. Indeed, many believe that most shark bites are caused by curiosity rather than hunting behaviors (I know, not a lot of consolation for those who were bitten).

Generally, the prevailing advice is that this is a bit of a wild-imagination-meets-horror-movie scenario that is highly unlikely to occur in reality.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.