Questions for women triathletes

I never had that problem - had a hysterectomy before I started with tri's... sorry I'm no help

What does she do in training? Or does she take time off every month?

What length is the tri?  Tampons.  You can swim with them no issues.  If it is a sprint she should have no issues, but if an HIM then I'd probably keep some extras in transition and hit the bathroom either out on the bike or in T2 (um, unless she's pretty fast).

Edited by bzgl40 2010-05-19 11:54 AM

I see in your planned races it is a Sprint.
She should be fine with a tampon? Is this not an option or something?
Kinda confused on the question here since as someone else said doesn't this come up in training as well?

 

 

Playtex Sport tampons

This is why I hormonally suppress my period - either a tampon (I also prefer O.B.) or nothing if it is really light - if she is just spotting then sprints are fast enough that the pad in her trishorts will protect her.

Is this an OWS? Wont sharks be attracted, just asking? Dont yell  at me.

I've done sprints and just worn tampons.  It works fine.

If she is wearing dark shorts with a pad in them (the fabric pad of the shorts, I mean) then that should be OK if it's light and just starting.
If it's heavy - tampon.

I am done having kids, so I had a surgery called endometrial ablation where they kind of blasted away the uterine lining, and now I just have two days of spotting each month and that's it. I figured I am 33 and I could be still getting my period until I am 50 or older, and for what? I had asked my doc about avoiding getting my period for my ironman, and how I really don't like the pill. This was his suggestion.

More info than you needed, but posted here more for any women who might be reading this thread. One website to learn more is NovaSure.com.

Do a search on this board for "diva cup"

It is only a sprint, and the amount of blood lost is pretty minimal. She would be safe in the ocean.

Thanks everyone, I will pass along the info.

Diva Cup.  Once I got used to it I vowed never to use tampons again. 

I've always set my pill schedule such that I don't have my periods on the weekend. But I use tampons anyway, so it's not a big deal.

Amazon or Whole Food

Google is your friend

oops double post


Edited by KathyG 2010-05-19 8:31 PM

x2 on timing with the pill and tampons.  Next question?  


<< goes to google diva cup, never heard of it >>

For those that use the Diva Cup (or the like), may I ask why? I mean, what about it makes you prefer it to tampons?

Just curious--the idea of it honestly seems (to me) way more trouble than it's worth, but people seem to LOVE it, so I want to know why...

Well, for me I could never find a brand of tampon that didn't leak.  Not to mention that I couldn't flush them at our house (old plumbing system), and of course I had to change them several times during the work day (no big deal, just something to point out), and I always was annoyed at the price whenever I had to buy more.

With the diva cup it was a one-time purchase, no flushing issues (and using a lot less kleenex/toilet paper because of the lack of said flushing issues! ), no leaks, and I can go all day without dealing with it.  So to me, the diva cup is actually less trouble than a tampon.  YMMV, of course.

Although I no longer have a period due to Mirena I had the VERY painful experience of having the string of a tampon get situated weirdly during a bike/swim/bike duathlon that had me nearly in tears for most of the second bike leg of the race so that got me started looking for an alternative.  In addition, lessening the amount of waste I producing AND the less cost (pay for the Diva cup once and you're done) were very nice.  And I never had to worry about running out of tampons at the most inopportune time. 

But I love my Mirena so I'm sticking with it until I'm ready for kids. 

TMI WARNING - considered yourself warned before reading further.

Hijacking a bit here - I have used Instead Cups, not Diva.  While I absolutely love how much more comfortable it is, there are two things I hate.  First, it leaks during heavier days and when these things leak, OMG, they blow out!  So, is there a difference between Instead and Diva?  I would NEVER use one in a race because I would be too scared of the blow outs.  If I could resolve this issue, I would never use a tampon again. Second thing - getting them out without making a mess.  If you'd like to PM me for the sake of sparing the inquisitive men on the board the gory details, please do.  I seriously have trouble getting them out. 

To the OP, if she is on a monophasic birth control pill, she can just skip the hormone-free pills but I guess if you are a pharmacist as your screen name infers, you'd know this.  As everyone else has said, tampons work just fine.  Definitely no pad in the pool.  That's just a nasty thought!