Diving on your period should’t be daunting. Yet the sad truth is that when it comes to women and water-sports, managing your menstrual cycle isn’t really a topic that is widely talked about.
Growing up in the UK where most people were pretty prude didn’t help my case either. I was constantly confused as to how to balance my love of the water with the realities of having a period. As you could imagine this resulted in a lot of experimenting and subsequently embarrassing moments in my adolescent life. So it’s understandable why many think the two don’t mix at all.
Throw in scare stories of sharks, decompression sickness and side-effects and it’s no wonder that dive pros are regularly asked ‘should I scuba dive when I’m on my period?’.
The simple answer? Of course! Read on to find out how to deal with these stressors and skip to the end if you want to know the real secret.
Sharks
I know what you’re thinking. Period = Blood. Blood = Sharks. It is pretty much the first connection people make when it comes to diving on your period. Mostly thanks to the myth that our fined friends can sniff out one drop from miles away.
In truth, sharks have the same sensitivity to smell as any other fish and can detect chemicals in the range of one part per 25 million to one part per 10 billion depending on the species and type of stimulant.
Some studies have observed that sharks are in fact much more attracted to the gastric juices of fish rather than blood of humans. Especially if they are in large enough quantities to indicate a serious or life threatening injury. Not something we could replicate with our monthly menses.
So it’s no surprise that the chances of you getting bitten by a shark are the same as any other day. Which is to say, pretty damn low.
If you’re not convinced then just look to any one of the badass girls that scuba out there who continue to do their thing red rain or shine with no issue.
Decompression Sickness (DCS)
Stupidly sharks get so much hype when talking about diving on your period that we don’t even think about a real risk, decompression sickness.
Decompression sickness is a disorder mostly associated with scuba divers in which excess nitrogen dissolved in the body by high pressure forms bubbles in our blood and tissues due to a quick release of pressure.
Certain factors can make us more susceptible to DCS such as age, poor circulation, cold, fatigue and dehydration. Some of which are also side-effects of being on our period. So it makes sense that some studies have shown that there is increased risk of DCS whilst diving on your period, particularly in the follicular stage (two weeks up to ovulation). However other studies from naval diving and salvage training centre have also observed no increased risk between their female and male counterparts.
Long story short, like all dive theory we do not yet have a definite answer. Therefore to say diving on your period will definitely increase your risk of DCS is not completely accurate. I have done multiple and even decompression dives on my period with no problem but that’s not to say that will be the case for everyone else all the time.
Therefore it’s best to always err on the side of caution. Diving more conservatively, using good exposure protection and keeping your fluids up are all a good idea.
Side-Effects
Mental and physical well-being are hugely important for scuba diving. So the side-effects associated with our periods can also influence diver safety in a huge way.
That being said, you are the only one who knows your body and its limitations so make sure you are listening to it. Remember anyone can cancel a dive at anytime for any reason. It’s up to you to decide what you feel and how this effects your dives.
Cold –
Weirdly hormones can wreak havoc on our feeling of temperature so it may be that you feel colder on your period. To combat this make sure you have good exposure protection and don’t be afraid to go hard on the accessories (hood, gloves, vests) to stay warm.
Fatigue –
I don’t know about you but when I’m on my period my energy levels are all over the place. One minute I’m up, the next I’m down. So dealing with strong currents, long surface swims or heavy equipment might just tire me out more than normal. Plan ahead, pack plenty of snacks and be sensible.
Fluid-Retention –
Some divers have reported that fluid retention during menstruation effects their buoyancy. So just be aware that you may have to adjust your weighting when diving on your period. Fluid retention and changing body sizes may also mean adjustments to equipment like BCDs and Wetsuits.
PMS –
Pre Menstrual syndrome can cause big fluctuations in your mood. This in turn could lead to anxiety, irritability and stress underwater. All emotions which could make diving more difficult and possibly more dangerous.
Period Pain –
Similar to PMS, period pains can also be a big distraction (not to mention uncomfortable) when diving on your period. You may also not be able operate in the way you usually do. Take this into consideration when assessing your fitness to dive. On the other hand, some divers report reduced cramps as well as lighter, shorter flow when diving on their period.
The Secret to Diving on Your Period
Now we know about the safety it’s time for the real secret to stress-free diving on your period. Menstrual Cups.
Although tampons do an alright job of managing our menses, when it comes to getting wet, let’s be honest, they are not the best. By design they are meant to act like a sponge which means as soon as we submerge ourselves it just soaks up any and all available fluid including the river, ocean or lake we are diving in. Consequentially this means it is no longer doing its job properly and has to be changed as soon as we’re done in the water. Which for avid divers means stressing about and swapping them multiple times a day.
With a Menstrual cup this is no longer an issue. Thanks to the fact that these cups work on the basis of collection and not absorption we can put them in and forget about them. There are no strings to dangle out of bikini bottoms and due to their 12 hour wear time we don’t have to worry about taking them out on boats where there may not even be a toilet. If you’re not convinced by that then here are 7 reasons why menstrual cups are a mini miracle and why you’re missing out.
It was actually thanks to diving that I finally gave menstrual cups a try and they completely changed my life. I am never going back. It has not only given me the independence to do what I love, be it scuba diving or travel, but also taken away most of my period related stress. So if you are ready to revolutionise your dive then click here to find out how you can become a cup convert.
Last Words of Advice …
If you’re still stressing about diving on your period then you’ll be glad to hear the majority of menstruators report their period doesn’t really effect their diving. Speaking with the masses I agree. In fact with my menstrual cup I barely even think about it.
That being said if you are concerned for you safety, don’t feel comfortable or can’t quite get to grips on managing it’s also not a worry. Sit the dive out, do your research and plan for another day because after all it is your body and your dive so you get to decide.
As always if you are still unsure or want to grill me about my experience don’t hesitate to get in touch in the comments or if you wan to keep it private then to our email.
