Period Pointers for the Summer

Period pointers for the summer

Warmer weather is finally here in Michigan, which means today we are going to review some period pointers for the summer! After such a particularly long winter, I am so excited to spend some much needed time outdoors absorbing some natural vitamin D from the glorious sunshine! And with warmer weather comes opportunities for all sorts of water activities: swimming, lazy river tubing, or just floating on your giant float on your little kids’ pool during naptime… hey, you gotta find the glam in the day-to-day when you can! With the change in weather, I always find myself being extra mindful of reminding clients of how the routine of menstrual products can impact their charting during the summer. The following are some of my favorite go-to tips:

-          Tampon use on heavy and moderate days of bleeding only: Look, I totally get it. Every woman has her routine of products she likes to use, particularly when wanting to feel comfortable in 80+ degree heat. If charting with Creighton, tampon use is discouraged on the light and very light days of menstrual bleeding as there is no way to tell if mucus is present. Instead, the use of a mini-pad or liner is preferred on the light and very light days of the period. If a tampon product must be used on a light or very light day, the woman could at least pay attention to the sensation upon insertion or removal of a tampon. If a very distinct feeling of definitely dry is noted upon removal, then the observation would be considered dry, and observations would continue to be made throughout the day. As with any tampon use, it is discouraged to leave a tampon inserted for greater than 4-6 hours to reduce the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome.

-          Menstrual cup use on heavy and moderate days of bleeding only: The menstrual cup has been gaining significant popularity in recent years due to its convenience, decreased risk of TSS, as well as its sustainability, resulting in less product waste from traditional tampons or pads. While a great option for heavy and moderate days of bleeding, menstrual cup use on days of light and very light bleeding is discouraged since sensation cannot be determined on the light and very light days. If a menstrual cup is used on the light and very light days of bleeding at the end of the period, a woman must count the day as a day of missed observations, which means counting the days as fertile and considering the next three days fertile as well.

-          Swimming is like showering: In terms of making observations when swimming, it is critical that a woman makes an observation before swimming as well as immediately after swimming. I frequently compare this to when shower and practicing Creighton: an observation needs to be made before showering and immediately after showering. An obvious concern is with toweling off after swimming: a woman should towel off with her swimsuit on and then proceed to make an observation. Due to the nature of mucus, it will not be washed away with swimming. It will still be present for an observation to be made.

-          Cotton is best: Undergarments should be made of cotton or at least with the lining or gusset made of cotton. Cotton works best to absorb moisture. In contrast, a synthetic fabric repels moisture, which can make things seem extra “wet” when making observations. In order to reduce confusion with observations, stick with cotton undergarments for better airflow!

Charting with Creighton through all the fun of summer is totally possible so both you and your chart can thrive! If you would like to discuss any of the above in more detail, reach out to one of our practitioners today!

Source: The Creighton Model FertilityCare System: A Standardized Case Management Approach to Teaching, Book I Basic Teaching Skills, Hilgers, et all, 2017