Time of the month and diving

[DolphinDreams]

Originally Posted by MelissaExplainsItAll

I am going for my AOW certification in a few weeks. The only problem beside being really scared about the deep dive is i'm scheduled to have my period.
IF GROSSED OUT EASY STOP READING

On the first and sometimes second day of my period I get it really heavy. I got through roughtly one super plus tampon every two and a half hours. I'm interested in using the cup but I'm worried I would still have the same problem. Anyone else who has a similar situation with any ideas I would greatly appreciate it.

I am the same way. I just got the cup, this is my first time using it, but from my experience so far I can go probably 6 hours with the cup before emptying it. that's a big improvement!

[acceb0721]

That's good to know about the sharks. I have been wondering about that. Thanks for the info.

[mona]

(sorry if this is TMI)
Not sure if others have had this experience but while diving one month this season even though I was at the end of my cycle I experienced unexpectedly heavy bleeding while diving. I wasn't alarmed simply thinking that my body was responding that way due to pressure changes placed on my body while diving. Thing is though was that even while using the super absorbant tampon I had some bleed through....can be a bit embarassing and just not something I really want to have to deal with on a regular basis.
I have started to use the Instead cups. Although I have yet to dive with them I have found I don't need to change it as often as tampons even on the heaviest of days. I have just recently obtained the Diva cup but have yet to try it on dry land or while diving. I have given it a 'dry run' and it is very comfortable. I like the idea that it is an environmentally friendly option and hope it will reduce some of the hassle of diving while on my period (won't need to worry about finding a place to run to and take care of business or have embarrasing leaks, etc). I'll report back on my experience once I've had the opportunity to use the cups (Instead, Diva) while diving....might be a while though as it is winter now and I dive wet so no diving until early spring

For anyone interested in trying out the Diva Cup, I ordered mine from iHerb.com...got it for just under $16 US (you can save $5 on your first order using the referral discount code KAS493); received the order promptly; pricing may vary based on shipping option you chose. Tip: if you use the Instead cup you can actually reuse it if you had to empty it and didn't have a spare one with you.

[Shenanigan]

Originally Posted by mona

(sorry if this is TMI)
Not sure if others have had this experience but while diving one month this season even though I was at the end of my cycle I experienced unexpectedly heavy bleeding while diving. I wasn't alarmed simply thinking that my body was responding that way due to pressure changes placed on my body while diving. Thing is though was that even while using the super absorbant tampon I had some bleed through....can be a bit embarassing and just not something I really want to have to deal with on a regular basis.
I have started to use the Instead cups. Although I have yet to dive with them I have found I don't need to change it as often as tampons even on the heaviest of days. I have just recently obtained the Diva cup but have yet to try it on dry land or while diving. I have given it a 'dry run' and it is very comfortable. I like the idea that it is an environmentally friendly option and hope it will reduce some of the hassle of diving while on my period (won't need to worry about finding a place to run to and take care of business or have embarrasing leaks, etc). I'll report back on my experience once I've had the opportunity to use the cups (Instead, Diva) while diving....might be a while though as it is winter now and I dive wet so no diving until early spring

For anyone interested in trying out the Diva Cup, I ordered mine from iHerb.com...got it for just under $16 US (you can save $5 on your first order using the referral discount code KAS493); received the order promptly; pricing may vary based on shipping option you chose. Tip: if you use the Instead cup you can actually reuse it if you had to empty it and didn't have a spare one with you.

Ordered one, just got it today and noticed that you get "perks" for referals via the referal discount code. Don't really care if it works! Just thought it should be disclosed.

[dmdoss]

im sorry, but when I seen the topic this is what came to mind.

[Suther2136]

From the DAN web site. There is tons more at DAN Divers Alert Network : DAN Explores Fitness and Diving Issues for Women

Menstruation During Diving Activities
The Condition: Menstruation is the cyclic, physiologic discharge through the vagina of blood and mucosal tissues from the non-pregnant uterus. The cycle is controlled hormonally and usually occurs at approximately four-week intervals. Symptoms may include pain, fluid retention, abdominal cramping and backache.
Fitness and Diving Issues: Are women at greater risk of experiencing decompression illness (DCI) while menstruating? Theoretically, it is possible that, because of fluid retention and tissue swelling, women are less able to get rid of dissolved nitrogen. This is, however, not definitively proven.
One recent retrospective review of women divers (956 divers) with DCI found 38 percent were menstruating at the time of their injury. Additionally, 85 percent of those taking oral contraceptives were menstruating at the time of the accident. This suggests, but does not prove, that women taking oral contraceptives are at increased risk of decompression illness during menstruation. Therefore, it may be advisable for menstruating women to dive more conservatively, particularly if they are taking oral contraceptives. This could involve making fewer dives, shorter and shallower dives and making longer safety stops. Four other studies have provided evidence that women are at higher risk of DCI, and in one study of altitude bends, menses also appeared to be a risk factor for bends.
Are women at an increased risk of shark attacks during menstruation? There are few reported shark attacks on women, and there are no data to support the belief that menstruating females are at an increased risk for shark attacks. The average blood lost during menstruation is small and occurs over several days. Also, it is known that many shark species are not attracted to the blood and other debris found in menstrual flow.
In general, diving while menstruating does not seem to be a problem as long as normal, vigorous exercise does not increase the menstrual symptoms. As long as the menstrual cycle poses no other symptoms or discomforts that affect her health, there is no reason that a menstruating female should not dive. However, based upon available data, it may be prudent for women taking oral contraceptives, particularly if they are menstruating, to reduce their dive exposure (depth, bottom time or number of dives per day).

[Suther2136]

Oral Birth Control
Description of Condition: An effective and widely used method of preventing pregnancy. There are several types of pills available and most contain a combination of synthetic estrogen-like and progesterone-like substances. These substances prevent the rise in luteinizing hormone, which leads to ovulation. Also, oral contraceptives thicken and chemically alter the cervical mucus, making the uterine endometrium less receptive to sperm.
Possible side effects of oral contraceptives during the initial therapy include nausea, vomiting, fluid retention, headaches and dizziness. Oral contraceptives may also be associated with an increase in blood pressure and an increased risk of thromboembolic disorders (development of clot-like vein occlusions, which can lead to an emboli).
Fitness and Diving Issue: It has been suggested that oral contraceptives may increase a diver's susceptibly to DCS because of the hormonal changes, which may reduce venous tone and increase water retention. This could affect circulation and theoretically cause the blood to "sludge," which may interfere with the elimination of nitrogen from the body. To date, no research has found evidence to support this belief.
In fact, unless oral contraceptives pose a clinical problem for women, there is no data to show that their use during recreational scuba diving is a contraindication.
Additional Considerations: But what about contraception -- are there any specific hazards attached to contraceptive methodologies which women and their consorts should consider. Current thinking is that oral contraceptives do not impose any increased risks on women divers. Most oral contraceptives used in the USA carry a three- to four-fold increase risk of spontaneous non-fatal thrombotic events, while pills containing desogestre (and gestodene, a progestin commonly used in pills in the UK and other European countries but not in the US) may carry a 6-8 fold increase in risk compared to no pill use. When considering this increased risk of thrombosis, hyperbaric researchers have been speculated that oral contraceptive use might increase the likelihood of developing DCS or exacerbate the extent or severity of tissue injury by promoting more rapid and profound activation of the clotting cascade after a gas accident.
No animal studies have been done which support this hypothesis. On the contrary, one experiment of DCS was done with pigs wherein half of the pigs were premedicated with oral contraceptives and then subjected to chamber profiles inducing DCS injuries. The study found that extent of injuries was identical in the treated and control pigs. No human epidemiologic surveys of sufficient sample size to offer any information that is clinically useful have ever been done.
Recently the gynecologic literature has suggested that 50 percent of thromboembolic on oral contaceptives may be due to interactions of the medication with inherited clotting disorders, the most common abnormality being a protein substitution in the chain of molecules forming clotting factor V. This substitution renders factor V resistant to cleavage by activated protein C which would inactivate its pro thrombotic action. The resultant disorder is called activated protein C resistance.
Underlying coagulation defects have been implicated as increasing the risk of DCS. As a matter of fact, heritable clotting disorders have been implicated in idiopathic aseptic necrosis of the femoral head and a host of other vascular complications. Those populations with a high incidence of factor V Leiden mutation, the most common genotype responsible for this coagulation defect, should be alert to and aware of clotting disorders. Think of them when you encounter the unexpected, undeserved "hit" that just seems too severe for the dive profiles when reviewing the diver's log and history. And, of course, ask about oral contraceptive use.
Contraceptives Fact Sheet
Progesterone only pills, and long acting contraceptives (Norplant and Depo Provera)
The progestins, similar to those used in injectable contraceptives, all progesterone mini pills, and implants, have effects on inflammatory cells. High doses of progesterone have been found to help to stabilize cell membranes, and thereby limit inflammatory response to injury. Women with sickle cell anemia on high doses of progesterone have fewer and less severe sickle cell episodes. If progestins act to limit inflammation, it might be postulated that they could help limit the damage caused by the inflammatory processes that follow tissue hypoxia in gas accidents. If true, we also might speculate that long acting or high dose progestins might be the contraceptive of choice for women divers.

[mona]

Ordered one, just got it today and noticed that you get "perks" for referals via the referal discount code. Don't really care if it works! Just thought it should be disclosed.

Thanks for pointing that out. (I'll be sure to remember those kinds of details 'cause I can see how they could be a 'touchy' issue for some, thanks.)
Didn't cross my mind to mention...for no other reason than (1) didn't even think of it as I don't frequent that site other than for ordering my cup (2)wasn't my reason for passing on the info/didn't order from there because of that - I ordered there because it was the best price and I got a discount (3) I've only ever shopped online twice and at this particular site once; nothing else I would have a need to order from there.
I won't be benefitting from any 'perks' from that place but since I was given a discount coupon code with my order I figured I'd pass it along so others could save.

[Shenanigan]

Originally Posted by mona

Thanks for pointing that out. (I'll be sure to remember those kinds of details 'cause I can see how they could be a 'touchy' issue for some, thanks.)
Didn't cross my mind to mention...for no other reason than (1) didn't even think of it as I don't frequent that site other than for ordering my cup (2)wasn't my reason for passing on the info/didn't order from there because of that - I ordered there because it was the best price and I got a discount (3) I've only ever shopped online twice and at this particular site once; nothing else I would have a need to order from there.
I won't be benefitting from any 'perks' from that place but since I was given a discount coupon code with my order I figured I'd pass it along so others could save.

Well, I appreciated the discount!! Thanks!

[emt]

Originally Posted by DallasMarineBio

Ok, so I'm not a woman, but this thread caught my attention off the main page b/c working in the aquarium industry I've been asked this a hundred times...many people are concerned about diving in tanks with sharks at certain times of the month...Having seen literally hundreds of volunteers dive in very close proximity to sharks, many times during their period I can say that I've never seen any altered behaviour in the sharks, let alone aggression or interest.

The answer I got from DAN was that menstrual erythrocytes (red blood cells) are already lysed (burst) and do not have the same properties as live cells.

This makes sense to me from feeding many sharks 1st hand - if you collect a bunch of blood from frozen seafood and pour it in a shark tank, you will get a reaction - but pour in some blood from fresh seafood and you have a feeding frenzy on your hands in under a min.

Just my $0.02 - for what it's worth

Thanks, I have had this question asked also. Thank you for the answer.