Be sure to consider that you may be sweaty and smelly if you choose not to shower after gym class. Choosing not to shower works best if the activities during class do not cause you to sweat much or if you have gym at the end of the day. Consider talking to your gym teacher if you are uncomfortable showering at school during your period. He or she may let you do a less strenuous activity that will not require showering afterwards.
No matter what your locker room is like, it is possible to shower during your period without drawing any unwanted attention to yourself, so don’t worry!
You can play sports with any kind of menstrual protection, so choose whichever method you find most comfortable. [2] X Research source If you need to swim during gym class, you will need to use a tampon or menstrual cup because sanitary napkins will absorb water from the pool. [3] X Research source If you have communal showers that offer no privacy, a tampon is probably your best option because you can leave it in while you shower and change it in the privacy of a toilet stall afterwards. A menstrual cup may also work as long as you do not have to empty it during your shower.
If you plan on bringing pads or tampons into the shower area, make sure they are in a waterproof bag. If they get wet, they will no longer be effective. If you use a menstrual cup, you don’t need to bring any extra supplies with you, but you will need to plan on removing the cup and rinsing it off. [5] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source If you are using pads, you may want to consider packing a clean pair of underwear with a pad already applied so that you will be able to change into them quickly after your shower. Just be sure to keep them in a separate bag so the pad stays clean and sanitary.
If you use a tampon, you can keep it in while you shower if you wish. You may want to do this if you have a heavy flow, as it will prevent any blood from getting on the shower floor. If you are wearing a pad, you will need to remove it in order to shower. Depending on the size of the shower area, you may be able to keep your clothes on until you are in a private area. This will make it easy to remove the old pad. If you have privacy, a shower is the perfect opportunity to remove your menstrual cup at school because you can rinse it out without having to use a sink. If you are having a light flow and do not need to empty your menstrual cup, you can leave it in while you shower. [6] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Keep in mind that if you remove any old sanitary products or put on any new ones while you are in the shower area, you will need to have a discreet way to dispose of them when you leave the shower. It’s a good idea to bring some toilet paper (in a waterproof bag) into the shower area with you so you will have something to wrap up the pad or tampon in. If there’s no room to remove your old tampon or pad in the shower area, remove it in a toilet stall right before your shower.
It’s best to wash this area with warm water only, as soap can disrupt the delicate pH balance of your vagina. Always clean this area from front to back to avoid spreading bacteria from your anus to your vagina. If you’re using a communal shower, wash yourself as much as you feel comfortable doing. You can always take a more thorough shower at home, so you can make it as quick as you want.
Remember that you can avoid this by leaving your tampon or menstrual cup in place while you shower, which is probably the best option if you have communal showers.
If you have a private shower area, you can insert your new tampon before you leave the area. You may even be able to put on your underwear and a new pad in the shower area. If you can’t do this in the shower area, go straight to a toilet stall to put on your new pad or insert your new tampon. If you left your tampon in while you showered, you can wait until after you have gotten fully dressed to change it. Keep in mind that you may get blood on your underwear while walking between the shower and the toilet area with no pad or tampon, especially if your flow is heavy. You can solve this by putting a little bit of tissue or toilet paper in your underwear or by wrapping yourself in a towel and not putting your underwear on yet.
It may be more comfortable to put on the rest of your clothes in the main part of the locker room. If you are using a pad, you may want to try to put your underwear on before you leave the shower and then put the rest of your clothes on in the changing area. If you left your tampon in while you showered, you can leave the shower, get dressed, and then go to a toilet stall to change your tampon.
If you change your sanitary supplies in a toilet stall, there is usually a disposal container right there, so you won’t have to worry about finding a trash can.
