You've been waiting all week for the day you'll go to the beach with your friends, when all of a sudden--hello!--you're having your period. But don't cancel the plan just yet! With the right supplies and a little planning, you can swim, sunbathe and play with all your friends.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Get ready
Step 1. Use a menstrual cup or tampon if you want to swim
Sanitary napkins are obviously not suitable for swimming. The pads will absorb so much seawater quickly that they can't absorb your blood and expand, making them very large and looking embarrassing. The pads will not stay snug in your swimsuit and may slip out and float to the surface of the water. Menstrual tampons and bowls collect menstrual fluid before it leaves your body, so the chances of blood seeping out are quite low.
- You can use a tampon for up to 8 hours and a menstrual cup for up to 12 hours, so you can sunbathe, swim to play beach volleyball without having to go back and forth to the bathroom.
- Look for tampons that are labeled "active" or that are designed to be used while exercising. These tampons are less likely to leak and are designed to stay in place while you swim, run, or jump to catch a frisbee.
- If you're worried about your tampon string showing, just bring some nail clippers and carefully cut the string short after you insert the tampon. Or, just tuck the tampon string into the hem of the swimsuit, and you'll be fine.
- When you enter the water, your menstrual blood flow may stop or become very little. The pressure of the water can act like a plug or a small airtight door and keep menstrual fluid in the body. But this is not guaranteed to happen and you should not rely on it.
Step 2. Bring plenty of supplies
Put a few spare tampons in a small bag and then store them in a beach bag so you don't run out of tampons. Your menstrual flow may be heavier than expected and you may need to change tampons several times. Or you may be at the beach longer than planned and the 8-hour time limit for safe tampon use is up.
- Keeping more tampons will calm you down, so you can relax and have fun instead of wondering where you can get a new tampon.
- Carrying more tampons can be helpful if your friend has an unexpected period or forgot to bring a supply of tampons.
Step 3. Wear a dark colored swimsuit
Menstruation is not the time to wear your white swimsuit. There's always a low chance of blood leaking out and since you won't be using pads to protect your swimsuit from bleeding from your period, opt for a dark swimsuit like black or blue to disguise any possible catastrophe.
If you're really worried about the possibility of see-through, wear short shorts or a pretty sarong over the bottom of your swimsuit for an extra layer of protection
Step 4. Bring painkillers to combat the cramping
What's worse than having period cramps? Of course, experiencing menstrual cramps on the beach. Make sure you bring a pack of mild painkillers with you (plus water and a small snack to take them).
Bring warm or hot water with a little lemon in a thermos. This water can improve blood circulation and help your muscles to relax thereby reducing cramps
Step 5. Skip or delay your period with birth control
If you know that your beach vacation week will be the same week as your menstrual cycle, you can choose to skip your period for that month or simply postpone it until one week after the holiday. It is safe to do occasionally and does not affect the effectiveness of your birth control.
- If you are taking the contraceptive pill, do not take the off week pill that you took when you were on your period (these pills are usually marked or colored differently). Instead, immediately take birth control pills from the new packaging.
- If you use a patch or ring, remove it after three weeks as usual. But instead of not using contraceptives for a week, immediately replace the patch or ring with a new one.
- You may still experience menstrual bleeding when you miss your cycle, so you should still bring some pads just in case.
- Make sure you have an extra pack of birth control pills, rings or patches in case your health insurance doesn't allow you to refill your birth control early (because you'll need a new pack of birth control a week earlier than usual).
Part 2 of 3: On the Beach
Step 1. Drink plenty of water and avoid salty foods to prevent swelling and cramps
You don't want to feel bloated and uncomfortable on a day when you should be having fun in your swimsuit. Avoid fried foods and contain a lot of salt. Instead, eat fruits that are high in water-such as watermelon and berries-or foods high in calcium, such as almonds, which can reduce cramps.
- Avoid caffeine, which can make cramps worse.
- Drink water, decaffeinated tea or lemonade instead of fizzy drinks or alcohol, which can increase swelling in the body.
Step 2. Sit not far from the bathroom
You don't have to camp right outside the bathroom, but at least one is within sight so you know you can replace or check for leaks quickly if you need to. In addition, an empty bladder and colon can relieve cramping, so frequent urination can help keep you comfortable.
Step 3. Use an oil-free sunscreen designed specifically for the face
Many women experience breakouts while they are menstruating and oily sunscreen can make things worse. Find a sunscreen formulated for use on the face that won't cause breakouts. If you're shy about pimples or red rashes on your skin, use a tinted moisturizer over sunscreen to even out your skin tone.
A pair of sunglasses and a beautiful beach hat can also disguise period acne. Besides that, you will look stunning
Step 4. Swim or move around to help stop cramps
While physical activity may be the least you want to do during your period, sometimes exercise is the best cure for cramps. The endorphins your body releases will elevate your mood and act as a natural pain reliever.
If you really don't feel like moving, elevate your feet on a pile of towels or beach bags to help reduce cramping. You can also lie on your stomach and take slow deep breaths
Part 3 of 3: Going to the Beach when You're Not Using Tampons
Step 1. Try to get used to tampons
Many women are afraid of tampons before they have tried them, but tampons are actually very comfortable, easy and suitable to wear. Practice using it before you go to the beach (but do it while you're on your period, as trying to use a tampon when you're not on your period can be painful and dangerous) so that you feel confident when you splash on the beach.
- Remember: tampons cannot be lost in your body. If something happens and the tampon string breaks, it's very easy to get the tampon out. Just make sure you don't wear a tampon for more than 8 hours and you'll be fine.
- Some women do have difficulty inserting a tampon because their hymen is too small or narrow.
Step 2. Put on a pad and spend your day reading and sunbathing
If you don't feel like swimming, you may be able to simply wear a light pad under your bathing suit. Make sure the pad is wingless and check in a mirror to make sure it's not too thick or showing through your swimsuit.
Wear short shorts or a pretty sarong around your waist, just in case your pads are showing through your swimsuit
Step 3. Try wearing a bathing suit without a pad
This is tricky and you could still bleed in the water. But if you can't use tampons and really want to get in the water, try this method. When you are ready to swim, go to the bathroom to remove your pad. Put on some shorts and head back to the beach.
- Take off your shorts and leave them in the sand, then quickly dive into the water. This step isn't guaranteed to work, but seawater can stop the flow of menstrual blood while you're swimming, or make the flow so small that no one will notice.
- When you get out of the water, quickly put your shorts back on, grab a new pad and head to the bathroom to put them under your swimsuit. The pads may have a hard time adhering to wet clothing, so it's a good idea to keep changing the bottom of the swimsuit to underpants and stick to your shorts.
- Your menstrual blood won't attract sharks, so don't worry about it.
