Swim England Competitive Swimming Hub
Information for Female aquatic athletes on managing your period
September 28, 2022What is the Menstrual Cycle?
The menstrual cycle is normal in girls and women and it is perfectly safe to still go swimming when bleeding on a period. It starts during puberty and is a sign that a girl’s body is preparing for reproduction. There are lots of changes that occur to a girl’s body during this stage in life such as breast enlargement, pubic hair growth, under arm hair and increased fat mass around the hips which are all a normal part of becoming an adult.
Menstruation also known as the period is the time when a girl bleeds and is normal in healthy females. The bleed can last between 3 and 8 days normally and occurs on average every 28 days in a normal cycle but can vary between 21 and 45 days when you first start your period. Eventually this will settle down to 21-35 days. The average age for a girl to start her period is 12, but it can vary between 8 and 15 years of age.
