Period Swimwear For Beginners: What To Know Before You Buy

We get it. Period swimwear almost seems too good to be true. If you’ve never used it before, you might be doubtful about its ability to keep you dry and secure while you swim, or even feel a little anxious about heading out in public while wearing them.

Everyone is slightly different, and as you learn more about period underwear and what works for you, you’ll gain the confidence to rely on these magical swimmers even on heavier flow days. Below, we give you some tips for buying your first period swimwear, address some common questions and break down the technology behind your period-proof swimmers.

The beginner’s guide to period swimwear

If you’ve ever suffered from uncomfortable period cramps, you know how therapeutic and soothing physical movement like swimming can be. But struggling with tampons, quick changes out of the water, leakage and the general stress of wardrobe malfunctions — it’s not a surprise that a lot of us simply skip getting into the water when we’re menstruating.

Enter period swimwear. Designed to give you the freedom to swim whenever you want, it’s an environmentally friendly, foolproof alternative to pads, tampons and menstrual cups that changes the whole game for water babies who hate missing out on their regular swims.

What is period swimwear and how does it work?

While period swimwear looks exactly like your normal bikini or one-piece, there’s a lot more than meets the eye in its design — mainly, in the gusset. Where normal swimwear just has a regular outer and lining fabric in this area, period swimwear has three layers of seriously scientific fabric:

• The innermost layer is a thin, absorbent material that can soak up 10 times its weight in under 2 seconds — so it’s great at capturing any blood or discharge (yep, you can use period swimwear when you’re not on your period too!).
• The second layer is a waterproof barrier that stops water from getting inside your swimsuit itself, ensuring the only thing your period swimmers are absorbing is coming from the inside.
• The final outermost layer is moisture wicking, giving you an extra level of protection and peace of mind.

Now that you know what’s going on inside period swimwear, let’s talk about testing it out for yourself.

Start with a trial run and prep your period swimwear

Part of what makes period swimwear so effective is making sure that it fits snugly and feeling confident so you can just go about your normal activities that you do at the lake, the beach or the pool. Period swimwear looks just like your normal swimmers — it isn’t bulky or uncomfortable, but you may want to do a trial run before you head out for the all-day pool party, just so you can get used to the feeling of wearing them and make sure that you’re happy with the fit. In order to get the maximum absorbency from your swimmers, please make sure you wash them before you wear them for the first time, this helps activate the absorbency fibres.

Do I need to wear a tampon with period swimwear?

Nope! Period swimwear is designed for light to moderate days of your period and can absorb up to 6 ml of liquid — a regular tampon or pad holds 5 ml. On average, you may lose between 10 ml and 15 ml blood in a 24-hour window while you’re on your period, so period swimwear accounts for a third of that. Pretty good numbers.

And unlike the experience of wearing tampons or pads in the water, where you need to contend with the extra amount of water being absorbed, period underwear creates that water-repellent barrier in order to only absorb period blood or other discharge. For

For heavier days you may want extra protection by using a pad or cup.

Finding the right cut for you

As we’ve mentioned, fit is a crucial part of what makes period swimwear a success. You don’t want any loose areas with your fit (it’s swimwear — when do you ever want a loose spot?), because these will mean potential leaks and stop the period swimmers from working their magic. Consult the size guide and err on the side of more fitted if you’re between sizes to get the best results.

Can I do serious swimming with period swimwear on?

If you’re going for more than a dip at the beach and you want to tackle your PB on lap split times, you might be wondering whether period swimwear is going to be up to the task. Good news! Period swimwear is made to fit securely even if you’re tearing it up in the lap pool, so you can do your regular routine or swim class in them, you might find the one piece period swimwear the most comfortable, or simply weat the period swimwear brief under your normal swimwear

What do you do with period swimwear after you get out of the water?

Take them off, rinse them in cold water and store them in a waterproof storage bag for safekeeping and to keep the rest of your bag dry until you get home to wash them.

Where to buy period swimwear?

If you’re ready to take the plunge and start enjoying the water even on your period days, Azure Belle has a range of discreet period swimwear that’s perfect for hitting the beach, stretching with some laps or just chilling by the pool.

With our range of women’s period swimwear in one-piece and two-piece styles and teen period swimwear designed for anyone trying out period underwear for the first time, you’re sure to find the perfect fit. Shop our period swimwear online today, and never miss out on swimming even when it’s that time of the month again.