Anonymous wrote:Op here. I am from a difficult culture that girls/women on period is better off drinking warm water/hot water, and stay away from cold water. It is also quite not hygiene to go into pool when one is on period even with tampon.

I understand these are your beliefs, OP. As you can see from this thread, it's common in American culture for women to keep swimming during their periods. People bring all manner of non-sterile fluids into swimming pools; a woman using a tampon, and also wearing a bathing suit, is probably one of the least problematic.

Period underwear is NOT acceptable. Swimmers need to use tampons. If that's not an option, then find a new sport (unless you're simply talking about summer swim, which is just a fun activity, and then feel free to skip for a week). Year-round competitive swimmers do not skip practice/meets for their periods.

Anonymous wrote:Unless she’s vomiting (which does unfortunately happen due to endometriosis) my 17 yo has always gone to practice/meets. I’d be ok with her skipping if she really felt the need, but see no reason why *I* would have a preference for her staying home. If anything, I prefer the opposite!

Np. As someone who suffered from undiagnosed endometriosis for years, I would make sure that the pain is manageable before making my kid go to practice. I had massive cramp and heavy period growing up and didn’t realize it was abnormal. It was debilitating. I thought that was normal.

Women have used tampons for over 70 years or more

Tampons

I always write a tampon and went, unless I was having diarrhea ( my unfortunate period symptom).

Anonymous wrote:I cant imagine my competitive swimmer taking off a week for her period! No way. She goes and she manages it just fine.

+1
My 18yo has never missed swim for her period. She will skip her period via OBC if it coincides with big meets.

I was a gymnast. Started using tampons my first cycle, as did my daughter.

If this is your culture it’s time for her to quit the team. Sorry for her but hopefully she can find a sport that fits her culture better.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I am from a difficult culture that girls/women on period is better off drinking warm water/hot water, and stay away from cold water. It is also quite not hygiene to go into pool when one is on period even with tampon.

Same culture that has very few women in the Olympics? Gee, I wonder why. Welcome to America you can give the misogynistic aspect of your previous culture the finger and not think twice about it.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I am from a difficult culture that girls/women on period is better off drinking warm water/hot water, and stay away from cold water. It is also quite not hygiene to go into pool when one is on period even with tampon.

Why are you posting here if you believe our culture is “not hygiene”?

I cant imagine my competitive swimmer taking off a week for her period! No way. She goes and she manages it just fine.

Anonymous wrote:Who said tampons are safe? They aren’t regulated by the FDA. Period bathing suits when the flow isn’t too heavy are the only answer.

Actually, they are regulated by the FDA. They are considered a medical device.
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/facts-tampons-and-how-use-them-safely#:~:text=Tampons%20are%20designed%20to%20be,be%20used%20more%20than%20once.

Op here. I am from a difficult culture that girls/women on period is better off drinking warm water/hot water, and stay away from cold water. It is also quite not hygiene to go into pool when one is on period even with tampon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My just turned 12yo still goes. Her flow is not that heavy when compared to an adult but she’s had her period for 2 years now.
She has period swimwear and wears that under her one piece. It’s a bikini style bottom so hides well. She’s not interested in tampons yet and I’m ok with that.

I have a 12yo and have been trying to figure this situation out for her too, because she cannot yet figure out tampons (she has tried). Do you have a link to the bikini style period swim bottoms? Those sound like they could be just what we are looking for.

Ruby Love is where we got ours.

I helped her figure out tampons on her second month, luckily in the spring before swim season.