Is it ok to go surfing while on your period?

It’s a question we hear all the time, so we’ve decided to put it to bed for good and find out. Should we surf the crimson wave, or not?

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Everyone has their own version of period myths from growing up.

Some people were told that stepping into a swimming pool would end in total embarrassment, some were told it was super unhealthy to go in the sea while on their period and others were just told that they would certainly become a shark’s lunchtime snack.

There are so many different opinions out there, but is there any truth in any of them?

Is it bad for you to go into the water?

One of the worries that people tend to have about surfing while on their period is that the water will be bad for them health wise, either through infection from the ocean water or through the pressure put on your uterus through the water and activity.

Both of these worries are unfounded!

People worry that surfing while on their period will be bad for them health wise

First of all, sea water will not have any nasty effects on your body while you’re surfing on your period, just like chlorine in a pool won’t either.

Secondly, swimming is one of the best forms of exercise you can do when suffering from menstrual cramps and we say the same goes for surfing!

The water pressure has no ill effects whatsoever and the full body workout you get from an hours surfing will make you feel 100 times better, we promise.

What to wear

When we were little, we definitely remember being told that you shouldn’t go in the water when on your period,  because the water would show that you were and it would be totally embarrassing and awful.

As it turns out, that’s a load of rubbish.

The water will, most likely, stop your period for the time you’re in the water because of the water pressure pushing against your body.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t wear some form of protection against leaks however, especially if (lucky you) you’re standing on your board and out of the water for long periods of time.

Sanitary towels will become uncomfortable and basically useless in five seconds flat.

Tampons tend to be the easiest and most reliable product to use in the water, alongside the lesser known moon cups.

One product not to use however, is a sanitary towel. The towels soak up way too much water and will become uncomfortable and basically useless in five seconds flat.

We know many surfers who claim to go natural and not use anything in the water, trusting their experience of the water stopping the flow and of their wetsuits to hide any small slip ups if it doesn’t.

We would probably air on the side of caution ourselves, but it’s up to you!

Sharks

Finally, the big question. Can you surf in shark infested waters while on your period?

It’s a thought that has probably crossed all of our minds while we’re floating around in the ocean, feeling like a small toddler is using our uterus as a bouncy castle.

If a shark can smell a drop of blood from four  miles away, are we not in some serious danger?

Well, apparently not.

It’s not actually the blood that sharks are attracted to, it’s the amino acids within the blood and they are also present in sweat and urine and lets me honest, we’ve all peed in our wetsuit.

George Burgess of  the International Shark Attack File admits that “any bodily fluid probably is attractive to sharks. Blood, in any form, may be at the top of the list.”

However, he goes on to reveal that there is no evidence to support the idea that women have ever been more prone to shark attacks while on their period, with the majority of shark attack victims actually being male.

“My advice?” he says, “Don’t worry about it.”