Yes, You Can Swim on Your Period: Here's How

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What to use & wear when swimming during your period

Co-authored by Aimee Eyvazzadeh, MD, MA and Dev Murphy, MA

Last Updated: July 23, 2024 Approved

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Can I swim on my period?

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Period Products for Swimming

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Preventing Leakage

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Busting Myths

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Tips

Your menstrual cycle should never prevent you from enjoying a day at the beach or pool with your friends! Whether you prefer tampons, menstrual cups, period underwear, or pads, swimming on your period is no big deal as long as you come prepared. Keep reading for tips and advice about how you can swim during your period—so you can have the time of your life!

Things You Should Know

Swimming while on your period is normal and safe. It can help relieve cramping and improve your mood.
Use a tampon or menstrual cup when you swim on your period. Or, wear period swimwear.
For extra protection, wear black or dark colored bottoms. Or, rock some swim shorts.

Section 1 of 4:

Can I swim on my period?

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1
Yes, you can swim on your period! Swimming on your period is totally normal and completely safe. While you may be uncomfortable if you have a heavy flow, there's no reason to sit out a day a the pool just because you're menstruating. As long as you come prepared, you'll be good to go.
- People have been swimming on their periods for eons! There's no reason why you shouldn't either.
- If you're worried about a heavy flow, remember that the water will temporarily reduce your flow. However, it won't stop it completely, so it's essential to wear a menstrual product even in the water.
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There are lots of benefits to swimming on your period. Not only is it safe to swim on your period, but exercise can help reduce cramps and improve your mood. Plus, swimming in a heated pool can be especially helpful for relieving menstrual cramps.^{[1]
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- And of course, spending time laughing and catching rays with friends is no downside, either!

Section 2 of 4:

Best Period Products for Swimming

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Tampons Tampons are a great choice, especially if you're already used to wearing them. When you wear a tampon, you don't have to worry about any leakage, since they expand as necessary to fit your body. Be sure to hide the string by tucking it into your bikini bottoms and you're good to go.^{[2]
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- Be sure to insert a new tampon prior to swimming. Remember to change your tampon every few hours if you have a flow, and to never wear it for more than eight hours.
- It's not a great idea to get in a pool without using some kind of a menstrual product to stop your flow.
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Menstrual cups Menstrual cups are a great alternative to tampons. Menstrual cups are inserted into the vagina and sit at its base to collect menstrual blood. They suction to your body so that no blood escapes, and can even last up to 10 hours.^{[3]
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- You don't have to worry about hiding a tampon string when you use a menstrual cup, making cups a bit more discrete.
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Period swimwear If you like period underwear, try period swimwear. Period swimwear refers to special swimsuits made with with extra protection in the pelvic area to absorb menstrual blood. Like cups, they're a great option if you don't want to worry about changing a tampon every few hours.^{[4]
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- If you're worried about your heavy flow, use period swimwear in combination with a tampon or menstrual cup for extra protection.
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Pads You can use a pad to swim, but it's not ideal for several reasons. Be aware that because pads are super absorbent, they can suck up a lot of water and become heavy and uncomfortable, a bit like a diaper. If they become slippery enough, they may even slide out of your suit. If you want to use a pad, use a product without wings to be discrete.^{[5]
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- If you're used to using pads on your period and want to try something else, period swimwear might be the next best option. Period swimwear functions like a pad, but it looks discrete and only absorbs menstrual blood (not the pool water).

Section 3 of 4:

Preventing Leakage

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1
Dark-colored bottoms can help conceal leakage. If you don't want to wear shorts, but still want a little extra protection, try dark-colored swimsuit bottoms. Though your menstrual blood is not likely to leak through to your bikini bottom if you've inserted your menstrual product correctly, you can put your mind at ease by wearing a darker-colored swimsuit. Choose a cute color such as dark blue or dark purple and prepare for a fun day of swimming ahead.^{[6]
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- You can also choose a suit that's a bit thicker in the bikini area so you don't have to worry about your tampon string or pad showing.
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Swim in shorts for a little extra protection. If you don't normally swim in shorts, you may feel comfortable donning a pair while you swim on your period. Though this is not necessary, if you are really nervous about your tampon string showing or your pad leaking, or if you just feel a little uncomfortable down there, you can wear shorts to give yourself some extra protection and to put your mind at ease. For extra peace of mind, buy them in a dark color.
- "Board shorts" often look great with bikini tops and is a style that does not draw any attention or curiosity.
- If you normally wear bikini bottoms and worry wearing shorts will draw attention, you can fib and say you could not find your swimsuit bottoms or had to borrow your brother's or something.
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Bring spare supplies—even if you don't think you'll need them. If you're wearing a tampon or pad, you might need to make a few changes throughout the day. Pack a few more supplies than you think you'll need, just in case. If you want to change from a tampon to a pad once you're done swimming and change into normal clothes and underwear, bring those, too.^{[7]
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- If you're wearing a tampon on a heavy day, change it every 3-4 hours.
- If you're wearing a menstrual cup or period swimwear, you're probably going to be just fine for up to 10 hours. Still, bringing an extra one just in case won't hurt.
- Even if you think you'll be OK without extra supplies, it's always good to have spares on hand in case one of your friends needs one!

Section 4 of 4:

Busting Period-Related Myths

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There are a lot of lies out there when it comes to your period! Don't listen to anyone who says that swimming during your menstrual cycle is unhealthy. It's perfectly healthy, safe, and normal.^{[8]
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- Menstrual blood has never been shown to attract sharks. Of course, avoid any shark infested waters anyway unless precautions are taken, but not because you're menstruating.
- Tampons will not absorb excessive amounts of water when swimming. If they did, Olympic swimmers, marine biologists, and scuba divers would not use tampons—and they do.

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Tips

Bring a water bottle with you to the water. Not only can swimming dehydrate you, but you are also likely more prone to dehydration while menstruating. Drinking water can also help alleviate menstrual cramps, aches, and pains.^{[9]
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Before you get into the pool, use the restroom. It will help to reduce the chance of bleeding in the pool.

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Pack ibuprofen or another painkiller in your bag, just in case you get bad cramps.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Use the restroom periodically to check for any leaks or apparent spots. But ultimately, don't worry too much about it. It's a natural function of your body and nothing to be ashamed of.
Be wary of adhesive-based products in swimming pools. If they're not totally waterproof, they may lose their sticking power when they become wet.
Try experimenting with menstrual products while wearing your swimsuit in the bathtub before visiting a public pool.

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