# Should Menstruating Women Avoid the Ocean?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-menstruating-women-avoid-the-ocean/406833>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 5, 2007, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-menstruating-women-avoid-the-ocean/406833 "2007-06-05T14:12:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-menstruating-women-avoid-the-ocean/406833/21 "2007-06-07T04:46:52Z")

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[QUOTE=Autolycus]  
While menstrual flood has very little blood, unless my health class, and more importantly my past amorous adventures, have been extremely mistaken, there is a fair amount of bleeding during a period.  
[/QUOTE]

Depends what you call “a fair amount”. Generally speaking, women average a fluid loss of about 60mL in a “normal” menstrual period, but as high as 240mL may be “normal” for some women. Of that, about 30-50% is blood.

So that’s half a cup of blood, maximum for a healthy woman, over a week’s time. Generally it’s more like 2 Tablespoons over a week’s time. Most women don’t pass the same amount of fluid every day, either, so the bulk of that might be on days she’s not swimming. I might use a tampon on my heaviest days while swimming, but my lightest I just don’t bother.

[Mayo Clinic cite for 60-240 mL figure.](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/menorrhagia/DS00394)  
[The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists cite for 30-50% blood statistic.](http://www.greenjournal.org/cgi/content/full/98/5/806)

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**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-menstruating-women-avoid-the-ocean/406833/22 "2007-06-07T20:20:00Z")

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[QUOTE=WhyNot]

So that’s half a cup of blood, maximum for a healthy woman, over a week’s time. Generally it’s more like 2 Tablespoons over a week’s time. Most women don’t pass the same amount of fluid every day, either, so the bulk of that might be on days she’s not swimming. I might use a tampon on my heaviest days while swimming, but my lightest I just don’t bother.  
[/QUOTE]

Well it sure seems like more than that when you’re riding the crimson wave. :eek:

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**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-menstruating-women-avoid-the-ocean/406833/23 "2007-06-07T21:34:21Z")

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[QUOTE=Autolycus]  
Well it sure seems like more than that when you’re riding the crimson wave. :eek:  
[/QUOTE]

Sure does. Try measuring out 2 Tablespoons of Coca-Cola and pouring it on your countertop. Liquids spread out to cover an unbelievable surface area. (This tip brought to you by my lactation consultant - I called her up crying over spilt breastmilk, and she pointed out that it probably wasn’t nearly as much as I thought it was. She was right.)

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