Periods and Swimming

The following information on training when having your Period may help swimmers and parents with any questions they have. This guidance has been taken from the Swim England website.

Can I train on my period?

Training can actually help improve some period symptoms. Swim England have put together some guidance for Training and Competition during your period.

Training when having your Period

• Use drag shorts over your costume or shorts on pool side for land warm up. Have a conversation with other girls in the squad to help each other by all wearing shorts on poolside
• Using a tampon is the best menstrual product for swimmers but if this isn’t possible there is special swim wear that can be purchased for girls having their periods or menstrual cups
• Gentle exercise is often good for pain relief so gentle swimming is a good way to ease pain. The coach may be able to change the session to reduce the intensity of the exercise.
• It may be useful for you to track and monitor the periods using an app or writing in a training diary
• Girls should try to talk to the coach so they are aware of when they are having your period.
• The coach should not penalise an athlete for having your period but should recognise it and manage it positively
• They may be able to alter the training session to account for the period.
• Your privacy and dignity should be maintained at all times by the coach and other team members

Managing your period during a competition
In all Swim England events it is now acceptable to wear period bikini bottoms under a race suit. Here is a link to the new rules for Swim England events.
​https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/updated-resources-swimming-inclusion/

This is not accepted at British swimming events and FINA/ LEN events so in these cases the race suit should be worn alone without bikini bottoms. 

Here are some tips for race day

• Use a robe to put on after the race to cover up
• Use shorts on pool side to do exercises
• Inform the Team manager and Coach

When should I seek medical advice?

The short answer is when something does not feel right. We all get to know our bodies and can judge when something is not quite ‘normal’. SE have put together a list of situations of when we think you should seek medical advice and there is also guidance on the NHS website.

Can I wear Period pants or Swimwear in training and competition?

A specific period swim costume can be worn during training (at any time) or where competitions are held under Swim England Laws and Regulations. This includes all unlicensed and licensed swimming competitions, including Swim England national competitions across both age group and Masters Swimming.

Period pants can be worn underneath a race costume during training (at any time) or in competition at all events held under Swim England Laws and Regulations. This includes all unlicensed and licensed swimming competitions, including Swim England national competitions across both age group and Masters Swimming.

All items worn in competition must be made of textile material as per the current FINA Rules.
This policy does not permit a swimmer to wear two full swimming costumes. For competition a Certificate of Exemption is required to be submitted.

https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/updated-resources-swimming-inclusion/

Do you recommend any period apps?

There are a number of period apps available and some top flight sports teams have been very open about using them to shape their training, others are endorsed by elite and former elite athletes. If you are planning to use one of these apps be sure to research how the company uses your data and keeps it secure.

Where can I get further advice?

There is lots of advice available; some scientific some anecdotal. Be sure of the source of the advice especially if it involves taking supplements etc (discuss any such suggestions with your coach and GP). Talk to your friends to see what works for them but remember everyone is different. Here are a couple of links to sites that may help:

​Childline

NHS website