How to Swim on Your Period—and Feel Comfortable

Periods can be a tough time for many of us. Cramps, mood swings, tender breasts…there can be a lot to grapple with. But it's also about how a period can disrupt life. 

For many of us, there's insecurity about doing certain activities while on our periods. From sex to sports, suddenly we're second-guessing the most normal activities. 

TL;DR: It's completely normal and safe to swim during your period, even on those heavy flow days.

Get comfortable, this is a long read — but we've got ALL your answers (yes, even the shark 🦈 question!)

Myth-Busting: Your Period and the Water

Let's get this pressing question answered and out of the way: Does your period stop when you swim? Indeed it does not. That applies to any water (bathwater, ocean, or pool).

What can happen is that the water pressure can lighten your flow, which may create the illusion that you're not bleeding. However, if you cough, sneeze, laugh or otherwise exert yourself, the pressure of your period blood can break through the surrounding water.

Obviously, the water will quickly dilute your blood so it's unlikely you'll see a streak in the water. But when it comes down to it, it's not worth rolling the dice on swimming without some form of protection — especially in a pool where other swimmers may be sharing the water in relatively close proximity to each other.

So you need some protection, after all. The go-to protection for swimming is traditionally a tampon, especially on days with a heavier flow. Period Swimwear is great for backup protection when worn with a tampon or menstrual cup to help prevent any pesky leaks. (And give you peace of mind when swimming!) Or you can wear it on its own on lighter flow days. 

Many of us are comfortable wearing tampons as our regular period protection, so we have confidence in them to absorb our flow. We know how often we need to change them and it's almost a no-brainer to trust them in the water.

But, increasingly, women want alternatives to tampons. Some of these reasons include:

• Comfort: Certain 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.
• 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.

But if you've ruled out tampons for some combination of these or other reasons, what are your alternatives? Good news: You have options!

Note: Pads and panty-liners are NOT good options for swimming as they will simply absorb water to their maximum absorption and become sodden, heavy, and messy.

But There Are Benefits to Swimming on Your Period

A study published by the Journal of Education and Health Promotion, showed that 8 weeks of aerobic exercise significantly improved the severity of pain in primary dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation). But what are the concrete benefits of exercise? Read on...

Exercise Can Lift Your Mood

The body releases endorphins when you exercise (this is why people get addicted to the high they get from working out). But it doesn't have to be running a marathon or gritting your teeth through an epic training session. 

You can benefit even from gentle exercise. So if you're suffering from PMS symptoms, exercise may help. A gentle exercise like swimming that supports the body can help you feel like your normal self again.

Helps Reduce Pain, Like Period Cramps

Those endorphins that lift your mood? They also act as natural painkillers. So, if you're experiencing menstrual cramps or lower back pain as a result of your period, exercise can provide some pain relief for these symptoms. 

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.”

Exercise Can Reduce Fatigue

Because of changing estrogen levels before that time of the month, it's not uncommon to feel exhausted. Although exercise burns energy, it also boosts energy levels. So if you're feeling tired and blue, some exercise can perk up your energy and make you feel less groggy and worn out.

Swimming on Your Period? Leakproof Swimwear Helps Absorb Menstrual Blood

Period (or Leakproof) swimwear is a superb option for confidence in water on your period. It can be used on its own on light flow days or as a backup to other products (like tampons or menstrual cups).

Knix period-proof swimwear is made to hold menstrual fluid and help prevent leaks in the water. You can use it as a backup alongside a tampon or menstrual cup while at the beach or by the pool and count on it to absorb about 2 tampons worth of menstrual blood.

More than that, Leakproof Swimwear isn't just period-proof. It's designed to help catch all of life's pesky leaks, including other bodily fluids like light bladder (urine) leaks and sweat.

Sounds Great, but How Does Leakproof Swimwear Work?

The layers in the gusset of the swimwear work to trap and absorb menstrual bleeding. Our swimwear features the same patented Leakproof technology as our Leakproof Underwear, with an additional thin layer of waterproof material for extra protection.

The inner layers absorb the blood and trap it, to help prevent leakage when you swim. When it goes in the laundry with detergent, it releases through the top layer — leaving your swimsuit fresh and clean for tomorrow's laps. Reminder: Don't use any bleach or softener, and always lay flat to dry.

It's worth noting two things: no period product is completely leakproof (this includes tampons) and each one has different absorbency rates. We want you to feel completely confident, so you might start out by trying our period swimwear on your lighter days, or as a backup to a menstrual cup or other menstrual products.

Does Leakproof Swimwear Look Different? Will Everyone Know I'm on My Period?

Period swimwear comes in a number of different styles, just like regular swimwear. You can have one-piece suits and bikini bottoms. The big difference between period swimwear and regular swimwear is how the gusset is constructed. 

The good news is, 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.

Explore Alternative Period Products Like a Menstrual Cup 

Clearly, we think Leakproof Swimwear is an amazing, sustainable, stylish, and confidence-boosting option for swimming when on your period. You'll always have the option to wear a tampon with Leakproof Swimwear while swimming on your period.

However, Leakproof Swimwear isn't the only alternative to tampons when it comes to swimming on your period. There are other alternative period products, including:

• Menstrual cups, and 
• Menstrual discs

The most popular of these two options is the menstrual cup. Let's explore how they work:

How Menstrual Cups Work

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 (similar to inserting a diaphragm.) It then opens to form a seal against the wall of your vagina that prevents leaks. The blood then collects in the cup.

Different brands of cups come in different shapes, so it can be worth trying a few to find the one that's most comfortable for you. Like a tampon, you shouldn't feel a menstrual cup once it's inserted.

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.

Other FAQs

Will I Leave a Menstrual Bloody Trail in the Water?

Should you worry about leaving a blood trail in the water if your period products fail? It's hard to make guarantees here: We've all experienced a period product failing us at some point, 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, so even if you do leak a little, it will be quickly diluted in the water. You're unlikely to leave behind the gruesome blood trail that you're probably picturing in your head (that's more the domain of horror movies than real life).

Will I Attract Sharks?!

Speaking of horror movies…it has definitely occurred to many of us that blood might attract sharks. But let's be realistic. First and foremost, if you're swimming in shark-infested waters, you have worse things to worry about than your period. Maybe consider relocating to safer waters!?

Seriously though, sharks can smell blood, of course. They can smell the blood from a papercut or from a period. They can also smell sweat, mucus, urine, and more. The good news is that they don't really want to eat us. Jaws is a great movie, a classic, but don't use it as your go-to guide on typical shark behavior.

Is it Unsanitary to Swim When on Your Period?

Horror movies aside, some people feel like swimming on your period might be unsanitary. This question has two sides (tl;dr the answer is NO).

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 this: if you use a period product (tampons, in particular) change it once you're done. Tampons in particular can absorb water in addition to period 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 bloodborne illnesses and will keep the water safe for other swimmers.

If you're in the ocean, remember that it's an incredibly vast body of water with so many things floating around out there. The least of your worries is a little bit of period blood. There's really no reason to avoid swimming during your period. Seriously, don't sweat this one.