Do you have the fear that they disembark in the middle of a stay at the beach or during a bike ride? Everything you need to know to enjoy your leisure in peace.
The English have landed, the ragnagnas… whatever you put it for menstruation, you’re never thrilled to have to put up with it during the summer. For many women, this bleeding is synonymous with discomfort. Thus, 74% of French women have already been prevented from bathing when they had their period and 65% do not put on swimsuits during this period (Ifop/Intiminasurvey, April 2021). Not to mention the pains that can sometimes nail to bed… But that’s forgetting that there are suitable protections and gynecological tricks that change a life.
Sport
No question of interrupting his favorite activity… especially since, against possible pain, physical exercise “is always effective in all its forms”, says Dr. Anne de Kervas- gifted in his book, the Intimate Life of Women (Odile Jacob). To go hiking, cycling, or following a yoga course, the ideal is to adopt menstrual panties, now offered by many brands(Blooming, Loop, Moodz, Nana, Saforelle…). The interest? Equipped with a very absorbent bottom, it promises an efficiency ranging from eight to twelve hours. No need to change protection every three to four hours, and it fits well in place! There are all sizes, shapes, and streams, even the most abundant. Thus, smoon’s Artemis model promises an absorption of 58 ml and Fava’s La Re.culottée guarantees a capacity of four buffers.
It’s smart There are menstrual clothes for sports. Special sign: they are lined with an absorbent layer. These include the Aura Noir legging from the Réjeanne brand and the TechFit Period-Proof shorts and tights from Adidas. To be worn in addition to the protections so as not to fear any leak while moving.
Comfortable in the water
Exit the preconceived ideas. Nothing prevents bathing during menstruation. However, it is better to avoid water at low temperature, “the cold can accentuate the pain of uterine contraction”, says Dr. de Kervas-gifted. On the protection side, the tampon can be replaced by the menstrual cup, more durable, often made of silicone, which is cleaned with water. And to avoid any trace of blood visible at the exit of the sea bath and the pool, change the tampon or empty the cup more often than necessary: every two hours instead of the four usually recommended.
It’s convenient Wear a “menstrual” swimsuit. Such as the Fempopanties, with a discreet absorbent part in cotton, which would have the capacity of two tampons and, fortunately, does not swell in the water! We find one-piece models at Modibodi or Plim (Swim’Plim), perfect at the beginning or end of periods, or which can be worn in addition to a tampon or a cup.
Not even bad…
No one wants to suffer, let alone on vacation… In other words, you have to think about slipping into your pharmacy kit suitable analgesics to be able to act as soon as possible. To relieve stomach aches related to menstruation, Dr. de Kervas-doué recommends instead an anti-inflammatory type ibuprofen, outside any infectious context, “more effective than paracetamol or antispasmodics”. This pain felt during menstruation is due to the production of prostaglandins, molecules that cause the contraction of the uterus. “Hence the interest, if the pains are recurrent and disabling, to resort to flurbiprofen, an anti-inflammatory that blocks the release of prostaglandins.” Talk to your doctor, who will prescribe it before you leave.
Attention, “aspirin is not recommended during menstruation and even two or three days before because, by thinning the blood a lot, this drug increases the abundance and duration of menstrual flow”. On the herbal side, think of yarrow, herbal tea or capsules, to limit spasms.
It’s useful too The good old hot water bottle has demonstrated its virtues on the pain of menstruation. And this, thanks to the heat it diffuses. It fits easily into the suitcase!
Safely
The heat combined with moisture is conducive to maceration at the intimate level, which promotes the proliferation of germs and can lead to vaginal infections. A risk that increases with the flow of rules… Thus, with regard to the composition, the choice of protection is crucial. “Prefer cotton, because plastics and synthetic fibers, such as polyester, polypropylene…, lead to a maceration favorable to mycoses”, advises Dr. Olivia Mouremble, gynecologist-obstetrician in Marseille. And to respect your body at the same time as the planet, opt for the 100% organic cotton: Love & Green or Flotampons, organyctowels, and tampons … Do you prefer menstrual panties? In this case, choose the gots certified raw materials, a label that guarantees the minimum organic cotton, or Oeko-Tex, which promises the absence of toxicity.
This is not recommended Douching. “They ‘strip’ the mucous membranes and reduce the flora of Döderlein, which protects against infections. In addition, the pH [degree of acidity] of the water is not adapted to that of the vulva, and frequent toilets in summer can be irritating. Dr. Mouremble recommends the use of special gentle intimate toilet cleaners, which respect the physiological pH. “Some, like Vea Intimo TT washing cream, don’t even need to be rinsed.” Convenient for those who go camping!
Long live freedom!
For those who want to forget them on vacation, it is possible to act on the menstrual cycle to suppress bleeding. “I offer this solution, for example, to young girls who have extremely painful periods and who plan to spend a whole summer at sea,” reports Dr. Véronique Cayol, a gynecologist-obstetrician in Paris. The decision must be made in consultation with his gynecologist. The procedure to follow is simple for those who are on a classic combined pill: simply do not pause between two platelets and take them continuously. Same principle for patches and contraceptive rings. “But no more than two cycles in a row,” says Dr. de Kervas-gifted.
It’s good to know If your period is abundant and bothers you all year round, you can discuss with your doctor the implementation of contraception based solely on progestational hormones (implant, IUD, or pill), which strongly reduces, or even eliminates, monthly bleeding. But this does not prevent “spotting”, small untimely losses.
Good for the budget and the planet
For menstrual panties, count an investment of 50 to 75 € for three items that wash and last five years. Followers of traditional towels can also find reusable models(Anaé, Plim…). Just like the unconditional stamps, which now have at their disposal references to pass in the machine(Puum, ImseVimse…).
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