Menstrual cup when swimming
I finally decided to try a menstrual cup last year and it took me a while to get used to it but now I have finally figured it out and I love it.
The only problem is I work as a swimming teacher so I have to be in the water a lot on my period. I thought the cup would work when swimming as it says water shouldn’t get in. But when I tried it when I started back at work it didn’t work.
When I got out and pulled out the cup it was full of water. I didn’t understand cause when I wear it outside the water it never leaks if I have it all the way open. I’m also worried that it could be damaging to have chlorinated water inside me but also if water is coming in then is blood coming out? Also when I climb out I can sometimes feel the water coming out the cup which feels horrible. I’m not sure how to fix this, do I need a bigger size? Do I need to put it higher or lower? Any help would be great
Hello There!
Hmmm, this is one is beyond me. 🙁
I used to have a fellow YouTuber friend who was also a swim instructor but it looks like they stopped doing YouTube.
My thoughts….
If the cup creates a seal, it shouldn’t leak either way; in or out.
I’ve spoken to scuba and swimming instructors who say they have never experienced any issues, but it doesn’t mean it has never happened to someone else.
On a side note, it might not be pool water. Our bodies secrete more mucous (discharge) during exercise and workouts or any activity that is more physical than normal. It’s usually clear and watery and can sometimes be yellow in hue. It can be a little, and it can be a lot. Most of the time we don’t notice it because it evaporates on our underwear. A lot of new users mistake this for urine in their cups. If you’re not seeing red (hopefully not!) then it could be this.
If water is getting into the vaginal canal with a cup inserted, then it also gets into the vaginal canal when there isn’t. Either way, there’s water there. If it wasn’t causing any issues before, I don’t know that it will be any different. I’m not a doctor, so I would call and ask just to be sure.
Just to be on the safe side, I would suggest emptying the cup before and after being in the pool. Has this happened regularly? Every time you get into the pool?
I remember the feeling of the warm liquid trickling down my legs when I used to use tampons. I definitely don’t miss that, and I’m sorry you’re experiencing it!
As for using a larger size, is your current cup filling with blood in or out of the pool? If not, then I don’t think a larger size will do any better.
Cups will situate themselves in the area of least resistance. Even if you place it low in the vagina canal, most will ride up around the cervix until the rim is nestled in the vaginal fornix (the space around the cervix). The only cup that has not migrated higher from the position that I placed it was the Tampax Cup. Probably due to its extremely wide rim. Placing it in a different position, higher or lower, probably is not going to solve your issue.
I’m sorry that I couldn’t be more helpful 🙁 Please let me know if you get an answer from a doctor. I would love to hear their answer!
Good Luck <3
Red Herring
@redherringtv
RedHerringTV on YouTube
Thank you so much for this, it has been really helpful as I didn’t know any of this. I will let you know what happens when I next have to use the cup
Hi Red Herring,
Thank you for your reply. I really don’t understand it either. It is possible that it could be discharge as the water isn’t particularly bloody, actually the blood is normally settled at the bottom.
I don’t think it smells like chlorine either but it is a lot of water in there so I find it hard to believe that is all discharge, it’s full to the top, but I am normally in the water for 2 hours sometimes 3 so it could be possible.
It has happened everytime unfortunately which is annoying. Also everytime I get out of the pool there isn’t blood on ny costume so maybe it isn’t leaking. And the cup is filling up with blood outside of the pool and in I think. I could be mistaken, maybe it isn’t leaking, I’m really not sure.