How to Swim With Your Period and Pads

Although a monthly menstrual period may present some challenges as you try to stay active, you can safely continue most activities even during the time each month you have your period. Because some women prefer not to use tampons and use sanitary pads instead, you may think that swimming is not an option. Go ahead and swim with your period and pads as long as you are not swimming in a chlorinated pool--the risk of contamination of the pool by menstrual blood is unsafe.

Things You'll Need

• Pads without wings

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Instructions

• 1

  Line the crotch area of your swimsuit with a thin maxi pad without wings. The wings wrap around the crotch fabric of underwear (or a swimsuit), so you would not want to use winged pads on a swimsuit since they would be visible.

• 2

  Put your swimsuit on the way you normally would. Adjust the pad inside your swimsuit to make sure it protects you adequately.

• 3

  Swim in a lake, river or ocean while wearing a pad during your period. You may wish to limit the amount of time you spend in the water to make sure the pad does not become too saturated.

• 4

  Change your pad immediately after you come out of the water. Discard the soaked pad and wear a fresh pad.

• 5

  Repeat the process if you are in and out of the water several times.