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Swimsuit-Proof Period Care for Summer

It’s summer in Indiana, and you know what that means: extremely hot and humid days that are perfect for swimming! By the height of summer, it is honestly too hot to step outside unless you are stepping directly into a pool. Even though days of lounging by a pool in a swimsuit sound luxurious and effortless, your period is still going to happen despite wanting to wear your cute bikini bottoms. 

Although periods can cause bloating, headaches, and other discomforts, managing your menstrual flow should not stop you from enjoying time by the pool, on the beach, or in a lake. There are a handful of great options for managing your period during the summer months when you want to spend your time in a swimsuit submerged in cool water with a cold drink in hand!

1. Tampons

This tried and true method for period management is a great swimsuit-proof way to manage your period during the summer. Tampons are inserted into the vagina via an applicator that is removed, leaving the cotton tampon inside the vagina with a string hanging out. The cotton absorbs the blood, collecting it until it is ready to be changed. When you’re ready to remove your tampon, pull on the string to remove the cotton. 

Tampons are sold at nearly every grocery and drug store, with a variety of options to choose from. Depending on your flow, activity level, and applicator preference, you can find a size that works for you. Make sure you don’t leave your tampon in for more than eight hours, as there is a risk for toxic shock syndrome. Depending on your flow, you will likely need to change it more often than that anyway.

2. Menstrual cups

Menstrual cups have gained popularity over the last few years for being a reusable, super sustainable option for period care. Menstrual cups are small bell-shaped cups made from silicone or latex that are inserted into the vagina and collect your menstrual blood. There is a little stem on the end of the cup that stays in the vaginal canal, allowing you to remove it. To insert, you pinch the top of the cup, relax the vaginal muscles, and insert using your fingers. The opening of the cup sucks into place around the opening of the cervix and collects your blood throughout the day for up to 12 hours. 

While it is inserted, you shouldn’t feel it, and there will be that little knob of the cup that you can grab when it’s time to remove it. When you are ready to empty it, bear down using your bathroom muscles, grab the knob at the end of the cup, then carefully pull the cup out of the vagina. It will be filled with blood, so be careful in case of any spills. If you’re able to remove the cup in the shower at the end of the day, that would be ideal for clean-up.

Menstrual cups come in different sizes depending on if you have given birth yet or not, as that changes the size of the cervix a bit. Menstrual cups are a little expensive (around $40), but they end up being more economical than tampons because one cup lasts years and years. You clean it in between uses, following the directions that come with your specific cup.

3. Menstrual discs

Similar to menstrual cups, menstrual discs are inserted into the vagina and collect blood at the cervical opening. Menstrual discs are single-use items, however, and have to be thrown away after each use, similar to tampons. Menstrual discs look like actual little discs with a flexible round opening and material to collect the menstrual blood. To insert the disc, pinch the top of the disc so it is compact, then use your fingers to insert it into the vagina. Just like your menstrual cup, the opening of the disc will seal itself around the cervix and collect blood. 

Unlike a menstrual cup, the disc keeps the vaginal canal completely open. The disc sits at the top of the vagina, right below the cervix. These discs can also be kept in for up to 12 hours, while some even empty themselves as you use the restroom. When you’re ready to remove the disc, (with clean hands of course), bear down to activate those bathroom muscles, and insert your pointer finger into the vagina until you can use it to hook onto the edge of the disc and pull it out. Similar to menstrual cups, this can be a little messy upon your first few tries. Once the disc is removed, dump out the menses, then throw it away and insert a new one.

4. Period swimwear

You may have heard of period underwear as a way to manage your period, but now period swimwear is an option as well. Similar to period underwear, period swimwear is made from absorbent, odor-proof material that can hold 1-3 tampons worth of blood. Although this might not sound like a high level of absorbency, remember you would just wear this while you’re swimming, which would likely be only a few hours. 

Period swimwear can also be used as a backup method when wearing a tampon, cup, or disc, offering you extra protection. Period swimwear would be a great option on the lightest days of your period, absorbing the little bit of blood you might have as you start or finish your cycle. They’re as easy to use as regular swimwear- just put them on, and you’re good to go! You would wash them of course between uses, but this is definitely the least invasive method. 

Periods can have poor timing and cause discomfort, but don’t let your menstrual cycle get in the way of you having fun and being cute in your swimsuit this summer. If you’re not sure what period management method is best for you, talk to your gynecologist and express your needs or concerns. Knowing your vaginal health, your doctor can likely recommend what would work best for you. If you opt to use a tampon, cup, or disc, know it might take a few tries to successfully insert into the vagina. Menstrual cups and discs especially take a few tries to practice inserting and removing since you are using your hands and not an applicator to do so. 

Now go have some fun in the sun this summer!

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What ingredients are in your tampons and pads?

“Ingredients: Rayon and/or Cotton Fiber. Polyester or Cotton String, Polysorbate 20.” Those are the ingredients in my tampon of choice, “Playtex Sport’ unscented tampons. My “U by Kotex” menstrual pads don’t list any ingredients anywhere on the box. Even though I use these products every month, and have used them for YEARS, and will use them for years to come, I’ve never considered what ingredients I’m putting inside of my body.

Organic Ingredients?

If you’ve ever listened to literally any podcast with women on it, you’ve probably heard an ad for Lola. Lola is a subscription-based period product company that uses 100% organic tampons. With Lola and other organic cotton period products becoming popular, there’s been a lot of talk about what ingredients are in menstrual products and whether or not they are safe for us.

Several years ago the Menstrual Products Right to Know Act of 2017 was created. This act proposed that manufacturers had to list all of the ingredients of period products on the box so consumers could be one hundred percent informed. I didn’t realize this wasn’t already enforced, and because the pads I use don’t list ingredients, it seems this act didn’t get passed, so it’s hard to know what you are putting in or close to your body each month.

Finding Research on these Ingredients

From all of the research that I’ve done, it seems people are very unclear about which chemicals in period products are actually bad for us. I found numerous conflicting reports about similar ingredients, so honestly, I’m still not sure which ingredients are truly “good” or “bad.” It is important to note, however, that most of the articles I found talking about how toxic tampon and pad ingredients are were written five or more years ago. This shows that more research needs to be done on this topic so we can have more conclusive and definitive answers. I think part of the reason extensive research on this topic hasn’t been done is that there is such a stigma surrounding menstruation and so much shame in talking about it. We need to talk about periods, and we need to get that research done! But I digress…

Toxic Shock Syndrome

If you use 100% organic period products, obviously you don’t need to worry about any chemicals in your body. Although organic cotton period products don’t have chemicals in them, it is still possible to get Toxic Shock Syndrome from leaving a tampon in for too long. Don’t get lulled into a false sense of security and leave your tampon in for more than eight hours. You’ll still be at risk for TSS, even if your products are organic. Menstrual cups are also recommended as alternatives for tampons and pads that are full of chemicals. Most menstrual cups are made of body-safe silicone or rubber, last for up to 12 hours, and don’t have the same chemicals in them that tampons do.

From what I’ve found, it seems chlorine, dioxin, BPA, rayon, and “fragrance” are the most harmful chemicals overall. Although there are some misconceptions about chlorine and rayon used in tampons.

Chlorine 

This was used for bleaching tampons in the 1990s, but actual chlorine is no longer used. All brands use chlorine-free bleaching agents to clean their products, and according to the FDA, this is safe. When it comes to tampon production, “bleaching” is used to clean and purify the fibers of cotton or rayon used in the product. The tampon being “bleached” white isn’t the goal or reason for using chlorine in this part of the process.

Bleaching is done to reduce the levels of dioxins in these products. Dioxins are “chemically-related compounds that are persistent environmental pollutants.” What does that mean? Dioxins are a grouping of dangerous chemicals present in our environment that can be very damaging if high levels of exposure persist. Through these chlorine-free bleaching methods, the levels of dioxins in tampons are severely lessened to a supposedly safe level, and the levels of dioxins in our environment pose a much greater threat than those in our tampons.

BPA 

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical found in plastic. You probably see refillable water bottles advertised as “BPA-free”— this is that same thing. BPA has been linked to disrupt hormones and cause other health issues. BPA would only be present in your applicators and not in the actual tampon itself, so look for BPA-free applicators, or use cardboard applicators or applicator-free tampons instead if this is a concern.

Rayon 

This showed up as a “bad” chemical in a lot of my research, but I also found just as many sources saying it’s okay. According to Tampax’s website and the FDA, the rayon used in menstrual products is completely safe. Rayon has been called unsafe because it’s a synthetic material, so people fear that it could increase the likelihood of toxic shock syndrome if any rayon fibers are left behind in the body. This is hasn’t been proven, and just as I said before, even organic tampons can still cause TSS.

Fragrance

You should never use ANY vagina products that list “fragrance” as an ingredient. Fragrances will not only disrupt your vaginal pH, which can lead to infections but products are not required to list what exactly goes into that “fragrance.” Always get unscented tampons, pads, or toilet paper, and stay away from vaginal hygiene products.

Oh and that polysorbate 20 that was one of the ingredients in my tampons? It’s apparently used in a lot of skincare/makeup/hygiene products to help with odor and is “supposedly” not harmful for your body.

Like I said before, it’s hard to know what levels of which chemicals are actually safe for our bodies because of the lack of scientific research done to regulate these products and all of the conflicting information out there. It seems that cotton and rayon tampons are okay, but if knowing completely what ingredients are in your menstrual products is important to you, using 100% organic cotton tampons or a menstrual cup would be the safest. These products don’t use chemicals found in other tampons, and they are fragrance-free.

As I mentioned before, the conflicting reports on ingredients I found while doing research just further show that menstrual hygiene and women’s health needs to be a priority so we can be fully informed on what we’re putting into our bodies.

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