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You CAN swim on your period and we’re answering all your burning questions on the matter

If you’re worried about turning the pool red, then let us assure you that everything you know about swimming on your period is misguided. Here’s why.
floating breakfast
Pool water is laced with chemicals! Watch out. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Sonakshi Kohli Updated: 1 Jun 2020, 11:07 am IST
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Menstruation is a pain in the behind as it is. The period cramps, the moodiness, the hormonal changes, breast tenderness, and the acne are just about enough to worsen the discomfort.

But that’s apparently not enough to cause trouble in a woman’s paradise. Which is exactly why God invented stupidity and ignorance to irritate women further. Yes, I am talking about myths surrounding the natural process of menstruation. In particular, actually, the myth women shouldn’t swim during their period.

Actually, it’s rather healthy to swim on your period
Exercise during periods can help relieve the pain and mood swings. In fact, Dr Kruti Khemani, physiotherapist and founder, Continuum Sports Physiotherapy and Rehab Centre, Mumbai, says: “A woman should and can safely work out during her period. Lest, of course, she has complications like tangible-sized cysts in her ovaries like in case of polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD); very painful symptoms of endometriosis: or very heavy bleeding especially during the first 2-3 days of the cycle.”

Need I mention that swimming fits the bill for the right kind of exercise here?

exercise to protect against covid-19
Exercising on your period has benefits and what is swimming, if not a form of moderate exercise. Image Courtesy: Shutterstock

And it’s safe too
There’s always a chance to catch a yeast infection from the chlorine in the pool water used to kill germs. Period or no period, the chances remain the same. So stop freaking out.

There’s a way to do it too without turning the pool red
As common sense dictates, it’s obviously safer and better to wear a menstrual cup or a tampon instead of a sanitary napkin if you’re planning to swim on your period. Regardless, you won’t turn the pool water red even if you leak because you’re not releasing a fountain of blood down from down there.

And nope, you won’t “contaminate” the pool
Again, the chances of you leaking in the pool if you’re wearing a menstrual cup or a tampon are as bleak as Salman Khan giving up his bachelorhood. Actually, even if you leak, the blood won’t contaminate the water.

sleeping with a tampon
Tampons can make handling your periods easy, especially if you want to hit the pool. GIF courtesy: Giphy

A review published on PubMed Central clearly states that as far as the hygiene factor is concerned, period blood isn’t contaminated. Why would it be? After all, it’s just blood that runs in our veins mixed with the cervical mucus and endometrial particles, which are just as much as a part of our bodies as our hands that touch the water.

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In fact, shouldn’t you be more worried about people urinating in the pool or simply entering it without washing off their sweat and germs in the shower?

Finally, you won’t get attacked by sharks
If this is your concern while going for a dip in the ocean, worry not. First off, the probability of a shark leaving the comfort of the deep waters to come for you at the shore is almost zero.

Plus, there is not enough evidence to suggest that sharks can smell blood and get tempted. Moreover, there’s absolutely nothing to support the stupidity of assuming that they can get attracted to your period blood and attack you.
Simply because, you won’t leak!

Yes, we know that swimming during this lockdown is a far shot in any case, but when you do have access to a pool–do remember, swimming on your period is absolutely okay.

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Twenty kilos down and struggling to maintain the weight loss by preaching healthy eating, while eating unhealthy every now and then. ...Read More

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