No, you should not wear a sanitary pad while swimming.
Why Pads Aren't Suitable for Swimming
Pads are designed to absorb menstrual blood. However, their absorbent material quickly soaks up any surrounding liquid, including water. When submerged, a pad becomes completely saturated, losing its absorbency and potentially becoming heavy and bulky. This renders it ineffective for its intended purpose and creates an uncomfortable, unsightly mess. The water also compromises the pad's adhesive, making it less secure.
Several sources confirm this: Multiple articles and online forums (Reddit, Quora, U by Kotex) explicitly state that pads are unsuitable for swimming. They will become waterlogged and ineffective. Even with swim shorts as a cover, the pad will still absorb water and become bulky and uncomfortable.
Alternatives for Swimming on Your Period
For swimming while menstruating, tampons or menstrual cups are recommended alternatives. These internal menstrual products remain effective even when submerged in water.
- Tampons: These are absorbent cylinders inserted into the vagina.
- Menstrual Cups: These are small, flexible cups that collect menstrual blood inside the vagina.
