I was curious how other women manage their menstruation when
swimming and sunbathing on holiday. So I asked around in real life and in
online forums. My research gave me 5 possible methods of managing menstruation
on holiday, which I list below starting with most popular.
1. Tampons.
Tampons seem to be the most popular choice and are used by a
lot of women while swimming. However large part of those women hate the fact
that a tampon can absorb chlorinated water through the string. So a lot of
women limit their use only for the days with the heaviest flow or change them
after they get out of the pool.
2. Nothing.
This seems to be the second most popular method. A lot of
women don’t use anything, because their flow is not that heavy in their
opinion. They usually advise wearing dark colour swimsuit and wet bottom often,
so any menstruation fluid rinse a way. When this is discussed at the forum
there is often at least one person, usually a male as it seems (what do they do
on women’s forum anyway lol), who would comment that this is disgusting. And he
is usually replied that he shouldn’t use public pools then, if he is squmish of
the thought of menstruating woman, because he never knows what he is swimming
in.
3. A pad.
Yes, a pad. I found one woman, who said that she uses a thin pad, like everyday pantyliner, when she swims. And that yes it does get wet. If the flow is heavy, she changes it. And if not, it rinses itself while she swims.
4. The power of mind.
I stumbled across one very interesting advice online. There, a woman described how she uses a meditation to manage her cycle. She affirms to her self that her menstruation would only start after the holiday. She said that she has been successful with this technique.
5. Diva/moon cup.
I haven’t found anyone who uses this device, even so producers swear that one can swim and do sports with it all they long without any thought about it. If you tried that, tell us in comments section about it, please.