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COLORADO Diver Training
720-422-1839
COLORADO Diver Training
720-422-1839
Menstruation
MENSTRUATION - Are you at a greater risk of experiencing Decompression Illness, DCI, if you dive 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 proven to be enough of a difference to be an issue. One retrospective review of women divers (956 divers) with DCI found 38 percent were menstruating at the time of their injury.
In one Air Force study all of the women who developed Altitude Decompression Sickness were in the first 14 days of their menstrual cycle, and this has been supported by a recent study which showed an inverse correlation between the number of days since the start of the last menstrual period and the incidence of Altitude Decompression Sickness.
SHARKS AND MENSTRUATION - There are few reported shark attacks on women, and there is 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. So the amount of blood you would loose during a dive is very small. And if you are wearing an tampon and a wet suit there is usually not much blood loss. Also, it is known that many shark species are not attracted to the blood and other debris found in menstrual flow. This may even be a shark repellant.
What To Do - In general, diving while menstruating does not seem to be a problem as long as normal, vigorous exercise does not increase your menstrual symptoms. As long as the menstrual cycle poses no other symptoms or discomforts that affect your health, there is no reason that you should not dive. However, based upon available data, it may be prudent to dive conservatively if taking oral contraceptives 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 proven to be enough of a difference to be an issue. One retrospective review of women divers (956 divers) with DCI found 38 percent were menstruating at the time of their injury.
In one Air Force study all of the women who developed Altitude Decompression Sickness were in the first 14 days of their menstrual cycle, and this has been supported by a recent study which showed an inverse correlation between the number of days since the start of the last menstrual period and the incidence of Altitude Decompression Sickness.
SHARKS AND MENSTRUATION - There are few reported shark attacks on women, and there is 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. So the amount of blood you would loose during a dive is very small. And if you are wearing an tampon and a wet suit there is usually not much blood loss. Also, it is known that many shark species are not attracted to the blood and other debris found in menstrual flow. This may even be a shark repellant.
What To Do - In general, diving while menstruating does not seem to be a problem as long as normal, vigorous exercise does not increase your menstrual symptoms. As long as the menstrual cycle poses no other symptoms or discomforts that affect your health, there is no reason that you should not dive. However, based upon available data, it may be prudent to dive conservatively if taking oral contraceptives while menstruating.
