Periods can be inconvenient and sometimes uncomfortable, but you should not have to quietly put up with symptoms that are making school, sleep, swimming or everyday life really difficult.
You do not need to diagnose yourself. If something does not feel right, tell an adult you trust.
Ask for help if period pain is getting in the way
Cramps can be common, but tell a parent, carer or healthcare professional if the pain:
- is severe or getting worse;
- regularly stops you going to school, sleeping, swimming or doing normal activities;
- is not helped by the things you usually use for pain;
- suddenly becomes much worse than your usual period pain.
If pelvic or period pain is severe or worse than usual and usual pain relief has not helped, get medical advice promptly. In the UK this can mean an urgent GP appointment or NHS 111.
Ask for help if your bleeding seems very heavy
It is worth getting medical advice if you regularly:
- need to change a pad or tampon every one to two hours;
- bleed through clothes or bedding;
- have periods lasting longer than seven days;
- need to use more than one type of period product together because one is not enough;
- avoid normal activities because of the bleeding;
- feel very tired or short of breath.
You do not need to work out whether your bleeding is officially "heavy" before asking for help.
What if I feel dizzy or faint at swimming?
Get out of the water safely and tell someone immediately.
Dizziness or fainting can have many causes, including not eating enough, dehydration, illness, heat or other health problems. Do not assume it is "just your period" and keep swimming.
Sit somewhere safe and let a coach or trusted adult know how you feel. If symptoms are serious or do not improve, you may need medical help.
What if my periods become very different or stop?
Periods can be irregular when they first begin.
If periods that had become established suddenly become much heavier, much more painful, very different, or stop for several months and you are concerned, tell a parent, carer or healthcare professional.
If you train a lot, missed or changed periods can sometimes be a sign that your body is not getting enough energy for both growth and activity. There are also many other possible causes, so do not try to diagnose yourself.
What if I am worried about food, body shape or training?
Tell someone you trust if you are deliberately eating much less because you think you need to be lighter for swimming, if you are frightened of certain foods, if thoughts about weight are taking over, or if you are often exhausted, dizzy or repeatedly injured.
Your body needs enough energy to grow and to swim.
What if the problem is embarrassment rather than pain?
You can ask for help with that too.
Maybe you are frightened of leaking, do not know what product works in water, hate the changing room or cannot work out how to tell your coach.
Those concerns matter even if nothing is medically wrong.
Who can I speak to?
Start with whoever feels safest and easiest: a parent, carer, coach, teacher, school nurse, pharmacist, GP or another healthcare professional.
If you tell one person and do not feel listened to, it is okay to tell someone else.
Remember
Getting support is not the same as giving up swimming.
Sometimes the answer is a simple practical change. Sometimes a healthcare professional needs to look into symptoms more carefully.
If your period is repeatedly stopping you living your normal life, ask for help.