Swimwear When on Period: What Are My Options?
Swimming is a wonderful, full body exercise. Your body uses every muscle to move against the resistance of water. But at the same time, the water supports you. So swimming doesn’t have the impact stress of other forms of exercise, like running.
Whether you swim for a workout, do aqua-fitness or just lounge by a pool, dipping in occasionally, odds are at some point you’ll need to don your swimsuit when you’re on your period.
Swimming On Your Period: It Can Be Done
First, let’s be clear: You can absolutely swim when you’re on your period (you can also take baths). And, some find that the pressure of the water can reduce your period flow while you’re in it.
Moreover, exercising when you have your period is good for relieving cramps and other symptoms. So, if swimming is your preferred exercise, you shouldn’t let that time of the month hold you back.
But it’s natural to worry about leaks and want to approach swimming when you’re on your period with an abundance of caution. Let’s dive in (pun intended!)
Option 1: Disposable Products (i.e. Tampons)
While pads are not a good option for swimming, tampons are worn internally so will offer protection, and period absorption when you’re swimming. It’s a good idea to make sure you change your tampon regularly, especially if you’re on a heavy flow day, to minimize the chances of leaks. And if you do wear a tampon in the water, you should change it after you get out of the water (pool, lake or ocean).
Disadvantages of Disposable Products
It goes without saying that disposable menstruation products have some disadvantages. These include:
- Environmental waste: The average woman experiences around 456 total periods in her lifetime. That works out to about 240 tampons used per year or 9,600 throughout a lifetime. That’s a lot of waste! 250 to 300 pounds of waste to be exact. [Source].
- Cost: Feminine hygiene products are not cheap and many simply cannot afford them. It’s exciting to think how reusable leakproof products could revolutionize periods for women worldwide. Let’s face it: None of us are wishlisting tampons on our monthly spend! Those saved dollars can definitely add up!
- Health: Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare bacterial infection associated with tampon use. Other reports pose additional questions about the safety of tampon ingredients.
Option 2: Reusable Internal Menstruation Products
Tampons are not your only option, though, and some reusable products are worn internally too and can be tried worn when swimming. The most popular of these is the menstrual cup.
Menstrual cups are flexible cup-shaped devices that you wear inside your vagina when you have your period. They’re usually made of either silicone or rubber and you may wear them for up to 12 hours.
A menstrual cup is worn completely internally. The cup will create a slight seal stopping blood from leaking out or water leaking in.
Moreover, menstrual cups have some advantages over tampons:
- Reusable: Menstrual cups can be rinsed off after they’re emptied and reused.
- Holds more blood: Menstrual cups often hold more than a tampon, so you can enjoy your swim for longer. Check the individual manufacturer’s packaging to learn more about how much a menstrual cup can hold.
- No strings: If you’re worried about tampon strings becoming visible, you
- Less chance of infection: While a tampon can absorb dirty water (hence the recommendation to change it after your dip), the menstrual cup will not.
Menstrual cups come in different shapes brand-to-brand, and every person will have a preference based on what feels comfortable to them - we all have our own unique anatomy! It can take a little bit of trial and error to get right, so familiarize yourself with your menstrual cup before you try swimming with it.
Option 3: Leak Proof Period Swimwear
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. You can depend on it to hold 3 teaspoons (or 2 tampons worth) of menstrual blood. Or wear it as a backup with a menstrual cup or tampon while at the beach or by the pool.
More than that: Leak proof swimwear isn’t just period-proof. It’s designed to catch all of life’s pesky leaks, including light bladder (urine) leaks. Period swimwear might seem impossible to conceive, so let’s look at some Frequently Asked Questions:
Knix Period Swimwear: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Period Swimwear Look Different?
Period swimwear comes in a number of different styles, just like regular swimwear. You can have single-piece suits and bikini bottoms. The big difference between regular swimwear is how the gusset is constructed.
However, 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.
How Does Knix Period (Leak Proof) Swimwear Work?
The layers in the gusset of the underwear work to trap and absorb your period so it doesn’t leak in the water (or on land!) Our 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. Reminder: No bleach or softener, and lay flat to dry.
Is Period Proof Swimwear Completely "Period Proof"?
Period-proof swimwear is not completely period-proof, but that's only because no period product is. They all have their different absorbency rates and beyond that, leaks may occur. 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 tampon until you feel confident enough to go solo.
What Happens When You Get In the Water? Will Blood Leak Out?
The layers in the underwear work to trap and absorb blood while you swim. We want you to feel 100% confident in your Period Swimwear, so if it is a heavy flow day, we suggest wearing tampons or menstrual cups with your suit for worry-free swim protection.
Can I Just Wear Period Underwear in the Pool Instead of Period Swimwear?
Period Swimwear works a lot like period underwear, it has one important difference: It has an extra thin layer of waterproof material for extra protection. This means once the period blood is absorbed, it is kept away from the pool or seawater. If you wore regular period underwear without that waterproof layer, the pool or seawater would cause the blood to release while you swim.
Will I Leave a Blood Trail in the Water?
It's a common misconception that your period flow stops altogether when you’re in water. Due to water pressure, your flow may lighten when you’re in the water. But if you laugh, cough, sneeze, or move around, a small amount of menses might come out while you swim.
Wearing a leakproof swimsuit will help absorb any menstrual blood. If it's a heavy day you may opt to use tampons or menstrual cups for additional protection while you swim.
Can I Wear Period Swimwear Even When I’m Not on My Period?
Yes! Our goal is to design your favorite swimwear, not just your favorite ‘period swimwear’. So, if you find yourself wearing our period swimwear when you’re not menstruating, that’s a win for us!
Shop Knix Period Swimwear here.
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.