It’s sun, summer and a lovely temperature in the water, not a given in Norway. That very week you get your period, but you just HAVE to bathe. what are you doing news meets the sisters Ester (23) and Jenny Kittilsen (24) on a sunny summer’s day on the beach in Bodø. Both say they bathe when they have their period. – I’m a bit like that in that I think it’s nicer to bathe than I think it’s unpleasant to have your period, says Jenny Kittilsen. The medical students from Sweden, Maja Berglund (23) and Maria Køkeritz (25) say you can do everything even if you have your period, but it is a bit tiring. – It can be a bit stressful. When you get out of the water, the tampon is wet, and then you have to change it, says Maria Køkeritz. These two Swedes, Maja Berglund (23) and Maria Køkeritz (25), are spending their summer holidays in Bodø. Photo: Matilde Mørk / news The four women news met on the beach use tampons when they bathe while on their period, but there is a newer alternative: the menstrual cup. Research on the menstrual cup Few women use a menstrual cup, even though it has been shown to be a safe alternative. This is shown by a new study that includes over 6,000 women in France, Japan and Indonesia. Forskning.no mentioned the study first. Now the researchers have tried to find out why. The reasons are, among other things, that the women in these countries had too little knowledge about how the menstrual cup works, they thought it was uncomfortable and that it could have adverse health effects. The women see positively that there will be more challengers on the field, other than pads and tampons. What do you do when you have to bathe while on your period? I use pads. I think periods work fine. Tampons work for me. I swear by the menstrual cup. I skip my period with birth control pills or the birth control ring. I use long-acting contraception that stops menstruation. I don’t bathe when I have my period. I don’t use anything, just bathe anyway. Show result – I think it’s great that there are more options, such as the menstrual cup, says Jenny Kittilsen. Ester Kittelsen has thought about the fact that there is a lot of waste that comes from using pads and tampons. She also says that bathing with your period can require a little planning. – It’s just a little management. You have to be in a place where you can change afterwards, says Ester Kittilsen. – You can cook the menstrual cup in the storm kitchen, says Maja Berglund. But what alternatives actually exist? Public health nurse Siri Nymo Olsen has experienced that young people can find it a bit embarrassing to talk about periods. Photo: Private Siri Nymo Olsen has a lot of experience in talking to young people about periods from her job as a health nurse in the school health service and the youth health center in Bodø. – Dreading swimming is something that happens again and again, says Olsen and explains it by the fact that many people think periods can be embarrassing to talk about. She says that the most important thing is to use what you are most comfortable with. Here are the health nurse’s assessments of the alternatives: Menstrual pads for bathing These are panties with a built-in pad. It is designed as an alternative to pads and tampons that collect the blood during menstruation. Advantages: These are panties that can be bathed in. These can be used several times. One of the manufacturers of the briefs, Lindex, writes in an e-mail that after swimming the briefs must be rinsed until the water runs clear and then they can be used several times. According to the manufacturer, the panties keep the period even during bathing. Disadvantages: Should not be used for too long in the bag on holiday. One of the manufacturers of the panties claims that it is only necessary to rinse them and wash them at 30 degrees. Health nurse Siri Nymo Olsen says that you should wash them at 60 degrees, to be sure to kill the bacteria. Absorbs bath water so you have to change and rinse after bathing. There may be unwanted bacteria in the bathing water that the panties attract. Tampon This is a small firm roll of a material that absorbs poo. The tampon is inserted into the vagina and prevents the menstrual blood from flowing freely out of the body. Advantages: Stops leaks also when you want to bathe. The tampon can be easier to insert than, for example, the menstrual cup. Can be purchased at most resorts in the world. Cons: It should be changed at least every 4 hours, regardless of how much you bleed. It can be a disadvantage when you are travelling, as it becomes uncertain how often you have access to a clean toilet. To avoid smell, discomfort and infection, it may be a good idea to change tampons more often when you are in hot areas. The tampon should be changed shortly after bathing. Both because it can fill up with water and because the pool water can lead to unwanted bacteria in the vagina. Pad An insert that absorbs menstrual blood. The pad has a sticky side that attaches to the panty. Pros: It’s easy to use, it doesn’t take much practice to put it on. Is easily available at most resorts in the world. Disadvantages: The bandage absorbs all the bag, including bath water. If you are going on a beach holiday, you should therefore choose something else. Bacteria thrive in blood and when you are in a warmer climate it becomes important to change the bandage more often than you do at home. If not, it can lead to discomfort and a bad smell. Menstrual cup This is a small, malleable cup made of medical silicone. The cup is placed in the vagina and collects the menstrual blood. Vacuum prevents the cup from falling out. Advantages: The cup does not fill with water when you bathe, and can thus be a better alternative than the tampon. The menstrual cup can be in the vagina for up to 12 hours. This means that you are not dependent on clean toilets as often. You can sleep with it. It is more environmentally friendly, as it can be used for several years. When used correctly, it will not disturb the Ph balance in the abdomen. Cons: Inserting and removing it from the vagina can take some getting used to. When you are travelling, it can be challenging to sterilize it well enough. The cup must be boiled for at least 5 minutes before use. Vitus pharmacy writes on its website that the cup should be rinsed in hot water before you put it back in after emptying. Bacteria thrive in blood, so it may be a good idea to change it more often. Alternatives that can stop your period If you want to prevent your period on holiday, you can take advantage of the effects of hormone therapy. There is no conclusion that gives the answer to what works best for everyone, says Stine Andreasen, head of department at the Women’s Clinic at Nordlandssykehuset in Bodø. Stine Andreasen is head physician at the women’s clinic at Nordlandssykehuset in Bodø. Photo: Induvita AS People are individuals with different needs and therefore you should talk to your doctor about what is best for you. – This must be individually adjusted to each individual patient and their life situation, needs and wishes, says Andreasen. For a person who has a fixed routine in their everyday life, one pill a day can be a simple matter to remember. For others, this is not as easy, and then long-acting contraception may be a better alternative. Birth control pills and birth control ring The birth control pill is basically a contraceptive that consists of hormones. To prevent bleeding, you have to skip the sugar pills and take a continuous treatment. There are different types of birth control pills, with different amounts of hormones. – The lower the hormone dose, the lower the bleeding control, says Andreasen. The P-ring is a flexible plastic ring that is placed in the vagina and contains hormones. You insert and remove the ring yourself. It works like birth control pills, but it only needs to be inserted every three weeks. – You can either take it out and take a week’s break where you bleed, or insert a new ring directly and not bleed, says Andreasen. Advantages: Bleeding control on birth control pills and the birth control ring is usually better at the start of treatment than on long-term contraception. It is easy to start and stop, and no intervention is needed. When you stop taking the pill or take out the contraceptive ring, the hormones are out of the body within days. The P-ring must only be changed every three weeks. Disadvantages: If you use birth control pills with lower amounts of hormones, there is a greater risk of bleeding disorders. If you use birth control pills with higher amounts of hormones, there is a greater risk of unwanted hormonal side effects. Some people may experience breakthrough bleeding when using birth control pills continuously. This can be solved by taking a three-day break from treatment, and then starting again. After finishing treatment, some people may experience delayed menstruation. Long-acting contraception The three groups of long-acting contraception are the hormonal IUD, contraceptive injection and contraceptive stick. This is contraception that is fixed by the doctor or other health personnel. Advantages: Long-acting contraception is very safe, as you don’t get user error. When the hormonal coil and the birth control stick are removed from the body, the hormones are also out. May provide better bleeding control over time. Disadvantages: You may experience some intermittent bleeding, especially in the start-up phase. With the contraceptive injection, the hormones can remain in the body long after the last injection has been taken. This can make it more difficult to get pregnant, because it can take a long time before you achieve a normal cycle. Hormonal treatment with cyclic progesterone These are tablets that can be used both to postpone menstruation and to treat irregular bleeding. The tablet works by provoking menstruation, and thus you will not bleed for the next four weeks. Therefore, this could be an opportunity if you see the bleeding week colliding with the swimming holiday. – Much more often we use this in medical treatment for ladies who have bleeding disorders, says Andreasen. She says that this option can be used to prevent menstruation that collides with other things, but that you can just as easily use birth control pills. The downside to this option is that it is not a contraceptive. It therefore does not protect against pregnancy. Do you have a story about periods and bathing? Feel free to tell us! Hello! Welcome to dialogue at news. Since you are logged in to other news services, you do not have to log in again here, but we need your consent to our terms of use for online dialogue Published 10.08.2024, at 20.17
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If you get your period while on holiday, you can do this – news Nordland
