Is it dangerous to exercise on your period? | Top 5 Female Exercise Myths

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Exercise in pregnancy isn’t safe? Should you change what you’re doing because of your period? Will a stark attack you if you swim while menstruating? Let’s talk about women/AFAB exercise myths that need to go!
RESOURCES
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28288...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9784805/
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** The information in this video is intended to serve as educational information and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/advanced practice provider. **
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[@lytaylor1204]

Shhhh don't let my (male) PE teachers hear that because this was my main way of getting out of PE classes for YEARS! I hate PE!

[@dietotaku]

I'm pretty sure my daughter could just say the words "I'm on my period" to her male gym teacher and immediately be told to sit out 😂

[@lytaylor1204]

@@dietotaku That's exactly what I did 🤣

[@nailsofinterest]

😅

[@melokatdogs]

That's funny, because 25 years ago it wouldn't work with any of our PE, unless we were in pain and we were discharged by a gyno. So no one could use this excuse, not even for swimming. We had both female and male PE, and none were falling for that ;-)

[@lytaylor1204]

@@melokatdogs wow that's interesting. I went to high school 20 years ago, and this worked on all PE teachers at both high schools I went to 😅

[@arcticxabyss]

I honestly don't mind getting any exercise while I'm on my period, but I find it's easier to do it if: I'm not in a ton of pain, or if my period is starting to feel like it's lighter than it was when I was on the first day of my period.

[@ginnyjollykidd]

I agree. The horrendous monster cramps didn't keep me from anything, though they did keep me walking fast because any time I stopped power-walking I hurt again. This was in the day of no ibuprofen and no Mirena. I'll say again that if I had ever had daughters I would have signed off on permission for them to get a Mirena IUD or whatever birth control they want. There is no reason for any woman to have to deal with the pain and mess of period if they don't have to. It's criminal to force them to.

[@arcticxabyss]

@@ginnyjollykidd yeah and nobody should ever feel like they HAVE to have painful periods for literally any reason whatsoever.

[@irenefavalli2236]

I usually go to the gym twice a week, but when my period is particularly heavy, I just skip. In those days I may get winded doing stairs and my head spins if I have to make some real effort. Better not have that while lifting weights or doing potentially dangerous stuff, but walking and ciclying helps a lot with the cramps

[@arcticxabyss]

@@irenefavalli2236 yeah and you don't want to end up getting seriously injured on top of that. 😅

[@JessieI]

@@irenefavalli2236, that’s what I was going to say, walking helped. Especially on a nice streamside trail under the trees. Helped my mood too.

[@heatherwallaert5165]

I remember when I was a kid I asked to go into the pool and then got called an idiot cause I forgot I was on my period. My parental figure was like "HOW DO YOU FORGET THAT YOU'RE ON YOUR PEROD" and its like...relatively easy if you're not having constant problems with your pad. But learning that you can swim while on your period makes me wanna sigh because calling me stupid over something like that wasn't even remotely necessary

[@nailsofinterest]

I'm so glad my mother actually knew that one! She gave me pads and tampons from day one. But said "tampons are for swimming." It was almost summer too!! Well, I guess as a youngster (11) tampons used regularly might not be the best, as they hurt me to put in back then.

[@tiarabrown9291]

I am an active person and was worried about not being able to exercise as much while pregnant. When I asked my OB, he said, "I see far more issues from people not moving around enough during pregnancy." He gave me the green light to do pretty much anything except skydiving or scuba diving. I will add that I have had two pretty routine pregnancies, so that factors in.

[@pokey5854]

I was active during both my pregnancies. I worked a very active job, as well as working out regularly. Idk who is saying this causes low birth weight, I had never heard this. My first was 9lbs 22.5 inches at birth. My second was 8lbs and 21 inches. I would have worked up until I went into labor but my employer requested I stop coming to work bc they didn't want me going into labor at work.

[@theraven3554]

I was also given the ok to continue my normal physical activity with the small warning that if it's painful, stop. That's it. If it causes you pain, don't do it. I lifted 50-90 pounds regularly until I was in my third trimester. When my own body got in the way, I reduced to 50 pounds tops and got lift assist with heavier items. Both my kids were born healthy, albeit my second was 5 weeks early but je was born 7.5 pounds and 21.5 inches and would have likely been near 10 pounds if I made it full term. My dates were accurate and we knew it as I got a positive pregnancy test, testing daily from 9 days post ovulation, on the 12th day which gradually got darker until the 17th day. My doctor confirmed that the early delivery was likely unrelated to my physical activity, as I reduced activity in the later trimester and experienced no pain or discomfort from the physical activity.

[@s.g2344]

agreed, I'll be the first to admit I'm not the most active person and I wasnt pre pregnancy 😅. But honsetly if I've had a bed rest day I usually feel awful the next day rather than getting up and going for a walk. Everyones telling me to take it easy as I nearly at the end but honsetly even just going for a 5-10 min walk helps 😊 xx

[@KristenK78]

@@pokey5854probably the same line of thought that believed educating women was harmful to their health-especially their reproductive health. Some dudes can’t get over the idea that women aren’t delicate flowers who need sheltering from everything. 😂

[@SomeoneBeginingWithI]

@@pokey5854 If you had very limited access to food, exercise would increase you calories you need so reduce the amount available for the baby. If you have access to enough food it wouldn't be a problem, but that might be where the "myth" originated.

[@Waiter_Demon]

For myth number three, I had to explain to my male friend that no, absolutely not, female athletes should not be losing their cycles. And he responded with, "Well my teacher told me that they should during sex ed." I'm still horrified.

[@wolfzmusic9706]

I think it's somewhat common for extreme athletes (like Olympians, etc) to lose their period because they exercise so much. At least I've seen that on medical websites and whatnot (that are credible).

[@juliachatwin3907]

​@wolfzmusic9706 it's common, but in no way normal or healthy. It literally always means the body is under such extreme stress that basic biological functions shut off. It also has a systemic effect due to hormones being completely out of whack when body fat goes too low.

[@westzed23]

There have been a few female tennis players mention that their period can affect their play. I can see this if you are in pain or having heavy flow or these premier athletes just know the minute changes in their body can affect their method of play. One new thing is that Wimbledon now allows female players to wear dark shorts to ease worry of leaks.

[@juliachatwin3907]

@westzed23 yes but many of these issues could easily be addressed through birth control or medication. I haven't had a proper period in over a decade thanks to my Mirena IUD. Having to be so underweight and overactive that it results in amenorrhea is crazy.

[@KristenK78]

I never heard it was supposed to happen, but in the early 90s it was generally taught as something normal in athletes, and nothing to be hugely concerned about. I’m happy to hear it’s no longer being taught that way, only something that might happen with elite athletes-and even then should be monitored.

[@user-rr3mt4vy1s]

post-pregnancy, faced exercise myths, a journey of cautious exploration. this video debunking myths resonates deeply. struggled with misconceptions on periods and pregnancy. Aspect Health subtly guided my wellness journey, offering a balanced perspective. the emphasis on exercising during periods and pregnancy aligns with my experience, challenging outdated beliefs. the myth about losing menstrual cycles as female athletes resonates, acknowledging concerns. appreciating the call for a nuanced approach, consulting doctors. each myth explored echoes my path toward understanding and embracing a balanced, informed exercise routine. grateful for shedding light on these misconceptions, paving the way for healthier choices.

[@cathleenc6943]

With my first pregnancy, I was in the military and continued a moderate level of our daily exercises while being allowed to do them "at my own pace" through the 8th month, and I had a much easier delivery than my subsequent pregnancies when I was overweight and less active on a daily basis. I feel that being in better physical condition helped me. With my 3rd pregnancy, I continued to ride my horse until my belly was too bulbous for me to get up onto the horse. My CNM advised me not to do any jumping while riding because she felt it increased the risk of falling, and I agreed. I had no problems from riding while pregnant, but I am also an accomplished rider who has been riding and showing horses since I was 12.

[@melokatdogs]

A friend of mine who was a doctor and was pregnant with her third child when we met rode her horse until the very last day of her pregnancy, and she was due+2 :-) She gave birth in two hours just a few hours after she went down her horse. No kidding, many people thought she was crazy but she just couldn't care less about what people had to say and as she wasn't having any problem she kept doing. She did the same with her fourth child and same, easy delivery. Might I had she was back on her horse in no time after that? 🙂

[@Anlbe1]

I’ve had lower back pain since a teenager with multiple injuries. Then I realised that I nearly always get these injuries in the three or four days before my period. Since I became aware of this and started to time my most strenuous workouts outside those days I’ve had far fewer problems….. don’t get me wrong I still work out on those days but by tailoring my activities I’ve had far less pain .

[@idiotically-everything]

Hell yeah, glad you found a way to manage pain. People always assume it's only for those with chronic pain conditions, but nope, tailoring things like exercise to make sure bad pain stays away is always a good idea. Pain is not just painful, it also has physiological and psychological effects in both short and long term. At least that's what my textbook says, but I am not yet a professional so don't take my words too seriously

[@JessieI]

Always smart to read your own body's signals to you.

[@user-em1qm3ut2y]

During pregnancy, your abs might react weirdly too. As an acrobat (not a pro, I do this as a hobby), I can tell you that there were some tricks requiring abs that became really really hard (almost impossible) even during the first months of pregnancy. Some were fine. I'm sure a specialist on abdominal muscles could explain this well. That was just weird *before* I knew I was pregnant. It's fine, but good to know anyway. :)

[@SomeoneBeginingWithI]

wow that's so interesting that you noticed the effects on your abs before you knew you were pregnant, I assume you were early enough on that you weren't showing yet?

[@RionRion]

I am not a specialist, but I believe that could be because your abs move slowly on the side of you belly during pregnancy, in order to let space to the baby 🤔 And go back to the original place after birth and recovert

[@Asongbook]

It doesn't seem to bother the belly dancers in my life.🤷‍♀️

[@user-em1qm3ut2y]

@@SomeoneBeginingWithI No. I was a couple weeks pregnant, thinking that my period was a bit late. I did not understand what was happening back then, until I had a pregnancy test.

[@user-em1qm3ut2y]

@@RionRion That makes sense. But some exercices (and I'm talking about acrobatic stuff, not everyday stuff) were difficult even during the first trimester, when the abs do not need to move yet. I guess they are "preparing to" in terms of hormons and then relax, which would explain why some women have a "pregnancy belly" at 2 months when the uterus is still really small.

[@aeltillialhae6805]

I deal with PCOS and Endo. The cramps I get are oftentimes so horrific that nothing helps, pain relief-wise. When cramps are more manageable, and I try to exercise, it exacerbates the cramps to the point I'm almost vomiting from the pain. The first 3 days of my period, exercise is an absolute no-go.

[@plantlady8045]

I’m the same way. I can’t even imagine exercising the first couple of days. I’m in bed, usually crying haha.

[@charliebrown1184]

Same for me. I have long, heavy and painful periods due to hypothyroidism and exercise is also a complete no-go for me for most of my period, it almost instantly makes the cramps and pain significantly worse. Mine usually last around 2 weeks and by the end of the second week I can usually manage more even if I haven't fully stopped bleeding yet.

[@kyliecallaway5273]

I just had my second baby a week ago. I did a lot more walking this pregnancy and didn’t have heart burn or swollen ankles. I also pushed for 5 minutes! May not have been the exercise but I do believe it helped!

[@savannah4439]

Congrats on your second baby!!

[@juliachatwin3907]

It was probably partly the exercise and partly that you had already given birth previously. Primigravidas tend to have longer labours than women who have previously given birth.

[@lindamarshall3485]

Labour is hard work, and it stands to reason that if you're in better shape, you'll be more up for it.

[@SapphireLily13]

Congratulations and well done ❤️

[@JessieI]

Pushed?

[@pollypocket3508]

When I was in high school, I noticed that my period cramps were slightly less painful when I was doing sports vs when I wasn't.

[@TheCleanTheory]

So you mentioned relaxin, and I did a little more research. Relaxin levels also rise about two week before your period, which track with my own experience because about a week before my period I have a "clumsy" week, where I am more prone to falling (and injury, the beginning of 2023 was really bad for this, nearly every month for 4 months I fell and was injured in some way). I already have weak joints, so I might be more sensitive to this than most. But at least I know that this is probably real and not just in my head.

[@biCARRIEous]

That's super interesting! I have an unspecified/undiagnosed joint and tissue hypermobility condition, along with being naturally very clumsy. I'm very interested in looking into this and paying attention to this even more now. 🤔

[@mylifewithmarmalade4624]

Yep. I have an SI joint that is always trying to wreck my whole life (old injury) and if it acts up it will ALWAYS be just before or during my period. So I try to be extra careful to do all my stability exercises and stretches and avoid anything likely to set it off at that time.

[@ulhi7564]

I have a back issue that is mostly under control by using different exercises to aid my posture. Still, posture is the best at the beginning of my cycle and it feels like my hips literally change their gradient over the course of my cycle and I haven't really been able to limit these changes more

[@thab284]

Endometriosis pain makes it impossible to work out during period 😢 it really fascinates me when girls say that periods dont affect their ADL, every month period is pure torture for me i really hate it and hate my body because of it . Edit : I did my laparoscopy surgery 5 months ago. It did help with some symptoms such as vomiting, headaches, fever, diarrhea, and nausea, but the pain is still the same, unfortunately.. Dealing with Endo is not that simple, I'm a very active person. I work out and do pilates 4 times a week, and I eat healthy vegan food, but still, the pain won't go away ( I refused to take birth control bills for personal reasons). My heart goes with all the women with chronic diseases, I feel you. Big hug❤️

[@KxNOxUTA]

Yup, this. I'm kind of glad these rumours gave way to getting out of sports activities when on my periods cause I was absolutely in pain. And I definitely would've at times needed to actually not he in school at all, cause I just ended up half of it in the empty infirmary room, laying down, cause sitting (on those blasted school chairs) was unbeatable at times. Forget concentration! 😅 Also very big hugs for you and I hope you're having treatment options. I'm through with surgery and most of recovery this year and it's a huge difference. (also pardon ahead for not replying, cause my notifications are unfortunately off due to YT featuring too many very rude responses and to few notification customisations.)

[@wolfzmusic9706]

I think it depends on how severe it is and if you're on anything to help (e.g. birth control). What I will say though is there's definitely something wrong with me (idk what but I think it's either endo, fibroids or cysts) and most exercises never actually helped with the pain. I do ab workouts now, so obviously it targets my abdomen, and I do these at least 3 times a week and this has helped significantly reduce my period flow. But I'm pretty sure it's cuz it's targeting my abdomen.

[@ah5721]

You can get an oblation if you don't want babies it will help.

[@amandawalker7739]

Yep same. go for a walk was something i was told. it made the pain so much worse.

[@Purpurinaazul19]

Same 😢 when I’m on my period I can’t even walk

[@annelaidlaw8634]

I did not workout while I was pregnant however my bathroom when I was pregnant with twins was 2 flights of stairs up 😂

[@user-di6cn2ne7u]

Sounds like a frequent workout to me!

[@crapstirrer]

I hypothesize most of the myths stem from the "ew, gross" response to menstruation.

[@KristenK78]

Or the idea that women are fragile creatures who shouldn’t exert body or mind, for fear of injury. Especially to those reproductive organs!

[@sarahchitwood735]

I’m 6.5 weeks pregnant, and a group fitness instructor, so this video was so reassuring because of all the details! (Even though I already spoke to my doctor, they were a little more vague.) Thank you so much for ALL the wisdom you share!! After trying to conceive for 8 months, I feel so much more knowledgeable because of you!! (Also so fun watching your videos knowing you’re a fellow Aggie!)

[@Miss-Anne-Thrope]

Swimming definitely helps with cramps, used to go specifically for that purpose. I haven't been swimming for years after being diagnosed with lichen sclerosus (it exacerbates my symptoms severely), but thankfully, the coil has completely stopped my periods altogether. If anyone is wondering about exercise while using menstrual cups, I jogged 5k and did karate class with it in and been perfectly fine even on heavy days. It was actually more effective than tampons (Super plus extra) that I used to leak through every 3/4 hours. I did use period knicks just in case (especially while wearing a white gi at karate class!), but I never really needed to because there was never an issue.

[@KristenK78]

The biggest thing I like about cups over tampons: tampons are, uh, indiscriminate about the types of moisture they absorb. As such, even needing to squish a cup for removal was way less painful than pulling out a tampon. Bodies are meant to stretch; they are not meant to go without lubrication in certain areas! Thank you for attending my TEDtalk. 👍🏻

[@anainesgonzalez8868]

Cups are so great ❤

[@ulhi7564]

​@@KristenK78definitely agree. Also found that the mess is smaller for me when I use the cup than with the tampons. After all a fully soaked tampon that is pulled out will necessarily drip to some extent, while a cup won't flow over once the right angle has been found. Also, the last few days of the period while using a tampon just hurt soo much...

[@joiedevivre2005]

I am so glad you do these videos. They are huge help to women & girls of all ages. I've recommended several of your videos to my friends to watch with their daughters.

[@hannamouse1]

Would you consider doing a full video on hypothalamic amenorrhea? It's something that I've had issues with in the past, and would love to see more on what you have to say.

[@anniejuan1817]

"I probably would avoid exercising outside in Texas in the summer." NO JOKE! I'm not even pregnant and I avoid THAT!

[@regulusmasamuneryuku8657]

It is okay to skip exercise if your body says no. Or to take it slow. I missed a bunch of PE cuz of intense cramping (no one told me this wasn't normal.) But that wasn't cuz I was on my period. The cramps caused me to pass out and I didn't wanna risk it. (Again. Not normal.)

[@mylifewithmarmalade4624]

Agree the whole cycle syncing thing is silly. People are way over thinking this. Now have I personally found avoiding a lot of salt, drinking extra water, and taking it easy on caffeine and alcohol just before and during my period help me avoid the worst of the PMS? Absolutely. I’m also probably gonna take it easy and maybe go for a nice walk or a nice restorative yoga session rather than hit the gym ‘cause I’m crampy and feel lousy and I’m only going to hate and resent the workout and make myself even more miserable. But restructuring my whole life? Who has the available time and brain space for that?

[@thehomeeclady]

Love your videos! I would really like to see a video about PMDD, or other severe symptoms caused by periods and when to see a doctor or how to adjust nutrition/exercise to see improvement. Thanks for all you do!

[@Sunweaver593]

When I was in high school, we couldn’t play full court basketball because our uteri would fall out from the constant running, sudden changes in direction, and abrupt stopping and jumping. No lie. It was frustrating. And dumb.

[@ulhi7564]

To be fair, I do think there is some truth to that. Given that pelvic floor health isn't taught, someone with posture problems/pelvic floor weaknesses might actually weaken their pelvic floor while doing some sports that don't immediately engage the pelvic floor. Of course basketball won't do any more harm than other ball sports, but if the goal of PE is that kids should learn how to move in a healthy way, then more time should be spent on pelvic floor health

[@TerrieES]

I read somewhere that historically women would "shock" their body with cold water during their period before going out, to slow their flow . I wonder if that's where the idea of slower flow when swimming comes from. I've swum in some pretty cold lakes and pools! (Also, if you're worried about hygiene in pools, worry about pee, not someone menstruating).

[@ah5721]

I actually find keeping my stomach warm while on my period helps me not have cramps

[@TerrieES]

@@ah5721 Yeah, but it wasn't about cramps. It was about not wanting to bleed on their dresses.

[@mirandacoulter888]

If you have a light enough cycle, you won’t see any blood when in a pool or even the bathtub. And like she mentioned, it’s the water pressure keeping it in and not that your cycle has stopped. But if you didn’t understand how water pressure can be greater than the force of your cycle, I guess it would look like it had stopped. Unfortunately, this belief has expanded way beyond that swimming can stop or slow your period. I came across a discussion online where some women were shocked that others were complaining about how messy showering can be. Because didn’t you know that being in water (including showers) stops your period! (All I could figure is that no one who believed this particular variant of the myth had ever had a period heavy enough that it remained visible despite being heavily diluted by the water.) But I’m wondering if the version you’re talking about came from a similar situation. A colder environment where they may have dealt with being submerged in cold water for whatever reason and noticed that it slowed things but mis-attributed it to the cold rather than the water?

[@catsaresocute650]

We actually talked about that in school. You can't bleed into water based on the way your vagina is build. You can only have like residue from before washing out

[@dawnkindnesscountsmost5991]

​@@mirandacoulter888 Gee, how lucky are some people who have never had their feet bathed in blood during their showers while on their periods? Then thoroughly rinse the tub afterward, of course. 😑😂 Before I began taking women's reproductive health medication (what I prefer to call "birth control," as it goes _W-A-A-A-Y_ beyond contraception), the first 60 hours or so of every period were heavy-flow days & nights, and blood baths while showering were regular occurrences. After I began taking women's reproductive health medication, both the heavy-flow days & nights and the bloods baths became things of the past; such a relief. 😌

[@ashleighray4996]

Do I know I can exercise? Yes. Does my endo allow it? No, sometimes I can't even stand up straight on my period.

[@Uhohohno319]

My friend had to stop running marathons when she and her husband were ready for kids because she stopped her period.

[@preciousmourning8310]

I used to swim with a pad on in my early teens (terrible idea because it just absorbs water) and a bunch of seals swam really close to me and seemed to be sniffing the water. I thought they could smell my blood, but they didn't hurt me.

[@queenmotherhane4374]

I’ve read that many of the warnings against exercising during your period come from Victorian times, when they didn’t have the menstrual products we have now, so leakage was a much greater concern.

[@xionmemoria]

I used to cramp to the point of falling over and bleed so heavily that I frequently got dangerously anemic. Up to and including tachycardia from blood loss. It took 9 Gynecologists (16 if we include ER) before one would give me a hysterectomy at age 30 this year. Before that, exercising on my period would be one step below popping a cyanide capsule. I am not the only woman to be ignored, dismissed, and gaslit by the field of Gynecology. If you don't feel up to exercising, do not.

[@meganrogers3571]

I recently had baby #3 and exercised throughout (I also had a decent exercise routine for #2 as well). I suspect that I had less back pain with this pregnancy because I had a stronger core going in. I had to modify my exercise as my pregnancy progressed (I switched to prenatal yoga and I have done water aerobics during pregnancy), but I really do think it helps. Birth is a physical activity! It makes absolute sense to me that maintaining a level of fitness is going to make a difference during birth and postpartum recovery.

[@sophieirwin3497]

Exercising on my period really helps, as it wards off the PMS grumps/over emotional tears. Plus I always want ALL THE FOOD, so exercise helps me go for healthier snacks/double helpings of a hearty dinner, as opposed to a chocolate sundae with a side of hot chocolate with all the toppings, plus a bacon butty to round off the meal 😂. I just have to be a bit more vigilant about when and what type of tampon I'm wearing (pads chafe too much if I'm running around). It's more on my heavier days as I swear gravity and exercise makes the blood come out faster! So I change before and after a class, and make sure I have some biodegradable wet wipes to help freshen up

[@KristenK78]

I definitely had issues with disposable pads and skin sensitivity, as well as tampons being painful to remove since they absorb EVERYTHING. Have you considered using a cup during exercise? They can often hold more fluid than a tampon, be used for a longer time interval, and don’t dry you out.

[@katherineheasley6196]

Even back in the '80s when I had my first sex ed classes in elementary school, the film we watched said swimming was fine with a tampon. You just have to wonder what some people have been told. As for exercise, I find it helps my cramps a lot. I'm sure there's a good explanation for that.

[@pinkrose8272]

It's not the easiest for me to exercise too much on my period because of my symptoms. I do not get cramps oten but I get very tired, and lethargic. Making it harder for me to stay focused and safe. I also get very nauseous. Like it is easily the most annoying part of the moth for me and I just feel vaguely sick through out the proccess. Also I have a history of losing consciousness. That is caused not directly by period but by a bunch of factors which includes being on my period along with other stuff like dehydration (I forget to drink water sometimes but I'm working on fixing that and it has helped a lot), high amounts of pain, tiredness, overheating, and other stuff like that. Basically if too many stuff happens at once that can make me feel too weak. It raises my chance of losing conciouses for a few seconds or at the very least raises my chance of also over heating. Like I could be fine one second but if I hit a threshold I can start getting side effects. So I am always careful, but way more cautious on my period and am less likely to do a strenuous work out on it because of that fact. But I still work out on my period but instead of a multi hour long trail walk. I take shorter walks nearby and stuff like that. This usually makes me feel way better as I usually feel like trash on my period and even something that small for me really helps me alleviate some of the symptoms. It is all about knowing what your body needs and listening to that while staying safe but also not just being all sad just because its your period. Just because I am on my period I am not going to stop living my life I just adjust and be more cautious when needed.

[@colleen6644]

I lose consciousness too! Eating and drinking water are things I often pay attention to now (I forget sometimes). The number of undiagnosed concussions I had is... not insignificant. Still working on a balance of exercise while listening to my body and getting the right nutrients so I don't lose consciousness unexpectedly.

[@pinkrose8272]

@@colleen6644 I have never had a concussion from what I know. I have always been very careful. I hope for the best for you and I am happy I am not the only person with this problem because even though my doctor says I am normal everyone I tell looks at me funny.

[@colleen6644]

It feels heartening know someone else experiences a similar issue. I fell several times unexpectedly while walking on hard surfaces before I learned my warning signs and taking them seriously. I'm doing fairly well these days 😊 Good vibes your way!

[@scarlettredding]

Exercise actually helps my cramps if I can motivate myself to do it. I do everything I normally do when I'm on my period lol

[@foamyrocks87]

I exercise all the time on my period, I find it helps out

[@jennyh4025]

In my experience (and my friends) I would say „do what feels good“ because sometimes you have too much pain and others feel better when they do exercise.

[@queenmotherhane4374]

One day in high school, my daughter was having bad cramps, and her (female) biology teacher gave her some low-impact leg exercises to do to increase blood flow, and they really worked. I often used them myself.

[@MrsUzumaki]

Last time I exercised on my period I ended up in so much pain I crawled into my bed and urged myself to pass out. For those who just can't move on their periods, I see you. It's okay, you do NOT need to exercise, you don't have to swim, you don't have to do yoga. For every comment you read about everyone else singing praises about exercising during menstruation, don't ever let it make you feel bad. Take the week off. Eat whatever the fuck you want. Get back on it when YOU feel okay. You're normal.

[@melokatdogs]

I think that's the point: there is no real rule. Listen to your body and your feelings and don't let anyone tell you what you should do if you don't feel like it ;-)

[@charlottetooth1457]

I was told that you should not start a new sport or exercise while pregnant, but it was OK to continue with something that you are already doing. I was riding and caring for my horse my entire pregnancy, and my doctor was fine with that. He told me I could continue riding for as long as I felt comfortable, but to avoid high-stress riding like jumping or galloping/cantering. But gentle riding was fine. I was also told that I would know when I had to stop - and for me, that was around 8 months, when I was getting so large that my center of gravity started to change. That is when I gave up riding, but I continued to care for my horse because no one else was going to do it. I was also lifting 25kg feedsacks my entire pregnancy, because that was what I was doing pre-pregnancy - again, someone had to care for the animals.

[@msjess07]

I felt better after I workout on my period, gets all that gas out lol😅

[@strawberrykatnz]

😂😂 Your editor is gold haha insert appropriate word addition here. Very glad you mentioned the swimming, more people needed to hear it! I personally find and argue that exercising consistently throughout your cycle day-in-day-out, even if it's just walking makes a massive difference to period pain etc. Consistency is key for a smoother experience. Though I realise that would not necessarily apply to many people with endo and other issues because that's a bit different.

[@themoo_spl]

I really appreciate that when you were stating the myths in the second one, that you changed the video and audio so no one could take it out of context

[@MusikGirl23]

The only reason I’m less active is the first day or so when flow is heavier and I’m just more uncomfortable and intense stuff makes it more uncomfortable. But the other days, just fine, and even on that first (or second day-sometimes the flow is heavier second day) I’m not exactly just staying sedentary as I don’t drive so just going about my day to day activities I’m walking. I just might not go for my hour long walk that one day.

[@LilyEvans1996]

I know people talk about periods a lot but I haven’t heard the ovulation days being mentioned a lot. And for me those are the most painful ones now. Migraine for days, that pain that comes from an egg being released (with the unpronounceable name haha mittenshnitzel or something haha)

[@amandamcquade1272]

😢😟🥲 It's called mittelschmerz, but I like your attempt at the obscure German descriptive name (meaning Middle Pain). I only learned the word 8 years ago when I experienced it for first time...Yikes!! 😱🔥😢 I had ginormous, numerous fibroids that were proliferating like...🐰🐰🐇🐇🐇 and I was bleeding HEAVY 3 weeks out of 4.🩸🩸🩸 Hysterectomy 7 years ago, Ovaries just fine. 🫒 Poor critter, that right side ovary 🥚 went through...that scary Mittelschmerz along with me! 🫡🥚🤕😵‍💫💛🩹🩹

[@katiesautter]

I love your videos MDJ! Thank you for continuing to be you ❤

[@AmandaDarcell]

I wish I new about the starting an exercise routine while pregnant! I wanted to have a healthier pregnancy with my last but still thought this was true so I didn’t exercise at all. I should have at least started walking the neighborhood. So glad old myths are being debunked, our own children will have healthier pregnancies and experiences because of it. I was thrilled with my last birth that I was able to eat in the hospital! And with her being posterior, plus a longer labor (Fri-Sun), I definitely needed those extra calories to get her out!

[@KxNOxUTA]

Oh yeah, I heard some of these. I guess with the swimming one, I can kind of imagine that there may be cramp related concerns for some of us. I generally am more susceptible to cramps and I do not like cold, which the water tends to be. But then again, I have a weird body. I have PMS and I have/had endometriosis. So it makes perfect sense to ne why that advice would be floating around. You don't want anyone swim and then start sinking due to a sudden cramp. 😅 But since people with periods and just minimal discomfort exist and even ppl feeling more relaxed with exercise, it's great to address that there's no general rule, but rather individually valid concerns at most. 😊

[@mustashcolision]

i love the scrubs you wore during the ad they are super pretty

[@Name..........]

Exercising was actually what had started my pms symptoms...but I also did have a cyst. They didn't really bother to do any checks or plan to keep track of it in the future. But either way bleeding every time you Exercise is not fun.

[@78jtfvhiuuygiuyg]

I get super anxious during my period and working out is a must

[@ladyinblqck]

I’m an acrobat, who’s not really naturally flexible. Well, that flexibility SOARS on my period 😅 No idea if there’s an actual anatomical reason for it, but I kind of enjoy doing flexy stuff on my period, since I’m lucky for it not to immobilize me and I have better ranges instead 🙈

[@hsihdbssbcjtzksk7426]

I love your content so much, it has changed my life in so many ways. I hope you will keep uploading things regardless of views.

[@kscott2655]

Claude, no matter how long it's been between when I see your videos, I'm always glad to see them. Keep on. We'll welcome you back when you can.

[@Toffnm]

Question relevant to the exercise myth! Is it safe for an obese pregnant person to continue or even start losing weight during pregnancy by going on a diet of healthier foods? Would the calorie deficit be unsafe for an embryo or fetus, or possibly leave a higher risk of complications/miscarriage? I'm asking out of curiosity, because I've heard that obesity may lead to higher risk of miscarriage, and I wonder which alternative (being obese vs. calorie deficit) is the lesser evil.

[@KxNOxUTA]

I'm not a doctor and cannot answer that and also this is absolutely something you should ask your own doctor who knows your individual case and risk factors. However maybe a helpful information is, that in general any permanent diet change that can be long term and is merely an adjustment towards replacing unhealthy foods with more healthy ones, should rarely have negative side effects, other than it taking a few weeks of your gut microbiome throwing a craving fit, cause the bacteria specialised on the unhealthy foods is dying and sending emergency signals to convince you to give them back their food. While the bacteria specialised on wanted foods and their components, thrive and take over. So, if it's not cutting away on your overall recommended daily calory intake for a pregnant person and it's healthy food, then that shouldn't be concerning. What SHOULD be concerning, is if you are not comfortable with your diet adjustments and stress yourself out in regards to weight loss. Stress is not something you wanna be having. That's why I think it's a question for your personal doctor. As it's a matter of what you're specifically doing and there's too many variables to give any general rule. Plus, adjusting weight while trying to track weight gain due to pregnancy sounds kind of challenging. 🤔

[@simolanayak2370]

Some of my best distance bike rides have been on day 3 or 4 of bleeding

[@Will-O-thee-Wisp]

For periods, I usually paused because of feeling sick, bad cramps and activity made the bleeding even heavier, where I was already heavy. During my pregnancies (mid 20’s), I tried to stay as active as I could, but previous damage to my right hip (when I was 19 it was damaged), meant even walking was hard and painful. Had moments where my hip would basically give out too. Still trying to get help to fix it, as I would love to be able to go for longer than 10 minute walks, and I’ve missed hiking and cycling.

[@lindamarshall3485]

Have you tried water aerobics? I have a lot of joint issues and I find them really helpful - on dry land I just cannot go hard, but in the water I can.

[@KristenK78]

I broke my leg in 7th grade. Two months in either a full-leg plaster cast or below-the-knee fiberglass, crutches, the whole thing. Afterwards, walking too long would definitely throw my hip out of whack, but typically recover in a day. 18 years later while pregnant, there were points where it felt like my leg just couldn’t bear weight. Or I’d end up favoring one leg over the other. I’d lay down on our bed and ask my husband to literally tug on my left leg to try to relieve whatever was going on with my hip. It’s hard to explain exactly what it felt like, but it was horrible!

[@Will-O-thee-Wisp]

@@KristenK78 Other than the breaking of a leg, it sounds really close to what I had to deal with, with my hip. I was told at one point that one of my legs was shorter than the other, but nothing went from there. And it felt like the leg should have been pulled as it felt like it was too far in the socket and pushing on nerves if that makes sense? With my first I tried to keep pushing through, which meant I waddle limped often, and with my second I didn’t over push as I had seen what damage I had previously done in the first pregnancy and I didn’t want to add more. Being 22 and 24 with a bad limp was not something I wanted to make permanent or need some sort of hip replacement earlier in life.

[@Will-O-thee-Wisp]

@@lindamarshall3485 Honestly, I might look into that. And who knows, maybe in the future I’ll have a physiotherapist that might recommend that, or give me progress.

[@jessicaroseelizabethp.7911]

I like the information about athletes and period changes. I had gone 6 months without a period when I was young and in a pre-professional ballet company, and so the gynecologist had prescribed hormonal medication to make sure my body would absorb plenty of calcium during those adolescent years!

[@carinaraymond2]

I used to sprint to catch the bus, but when I’m on the first few days of period, if I run I feel like death from head to toe. It is like shaking a fizzy drink.

[@adambomber96]

You continue to be one of my favorite channels on youtube. We should all exercise all at times, just maybe noncontact during pregnancy.

[@fireygal7512]

I agree with the last one, swimming can help with cramps during a period. I personally prefer an exercise belt. One of those ones you wrap around the waist and adjust the level of vibrations from it. It's technically little shocks. It just doesn't feel shocking. 😂 I use one on the level 2 setting and it seriously cuts the pain almost in half. The muscles relax, and it just helps with the discomfort.

[@sarahharris1512]

About being more prone to injury at certain times of your cycle: I've dislocated a kneecap on day 1 of my cycle 3 different times! And in the first four days postpartum after my daughter was born, I dislocated BOTH kneecaps. So hormones definitely play a part in my ligamentous laxity and tendency for injuries!

[@GingerHoliday]

Before I got my first period, I asked my mom (a nurse) if I could start my period while swimming. I asked bc I was scared that might happen. She told me that wasn’t possible. I really wonder if she actually believed that or if she just said that so I wouldn’t worry about it.

[@barefootgirl67]

I remember in gym class in 10th grade in 1984...we lied to the football coach that we couldn't participate in class that day due to cramps. He was like, Go Sit Down, disgusted lol. But when you got the female coach and tried that, she said, Exercise is good for cramps, get on the field! 😂

[@beltingtokra]

I got a new 10k pb when on my heavy day in August, no idea how, it was roasting 😂 happy new year!

[@vnokesCO]

Re myth #1: Exercise actually helped my cramps. I would go on a bike ride when they got really bad. It was the only thing that helped sometimes.

[@jethro4453]

Not necessarily saying it's healthy, but in college it wasn't unusual for me to miss a period or two during preseason training for soccer. I didn't change my eating habits or anything; it seemed to be caused by the sharp increase in exertion and exercise

[@DavidBaumann77]

I only came here this morning (and found an appropriate video to comment on quickly) to mention every time I see your name pop up on my recommended page it gets me singing the Aqua song Dr Jones lol. Good morning. Hope you're having a good day. ❤

[@SomeoneBeginingWithI]

Please could you do a video on pregnancy in people with hyper mobile joints or connective tissue disorders like EDS? You mentioned relaxin making the joints looser, is this especially a problem in people who are already hypermobile? What about conditions like POTS which affect blood pressure?

[@biCARRIEous]

A few months back, I had my tubes removed and discontinued long-term, continuous birth control. The only thing I have noticed about exercise since resuiming having periods is that abdominal strengthening exercises seem to be especially uncomfortable. Not sure if it's because of scarring or maybe things aren't quite back to normal healing-wise, but I find stretching and range-of-motion exercises helpful for the back pain, especially.

[@KxNOxUTA]

Please take it slow and be careful. Surgeons are a tad notorious for grossly underestimating the length of recovery times in their recommendations 😅 And also, it's an average, meaning some ppl need significantly longer. If you had an endoscopic procedure and small sutures, then that is one thing, but if you had a belky cut, then that absolutely compromises your abdomen. The type of cut will also make a difference. And some people have things like hypermobility disorders and issues with their tissues. And you'll not see how it heals internally. I had my endoscopic endometriosis surgery + Scalpingectomy (aka tube removal) + Hysterectomy (aka uterus removal) Then a month after a belly cut and ureter re-implantation into the bladder. A surgery complication result. That was end of February and March and only now am I slowly starting to be able to be on my belly for reading etc. And tense my abdomen. Usually they say you can start LIGHT exercises a month after. And then start to SLOWLY increase from there. Aka being only a few months after surgery, may be too early for you individually. And it may take a year, sometimes even two, before you start feeling "back to normal". Aka surgery recommendations often seem to be based on regaining of basic capability to function, but not necessarily cover challenging and direct strain to the surgery location. 😂

[@ah5721]

Thank you for this info. I just got my tubes removed yesterday

[@ariahauser4224]

I've been doing Tae Kwon Do for nearly 12 years since I was 8 years old. In the late summer this year I'll be trying to get pregnant. While I can't wait to be a mother, I'm not looking forward to leaving TKD. Also I have hypermobility (symptoms point to hEDS, but no diagnose yet), so I'm going to have to be careful when my joints get even more instable than they already are. Already, every time I spar or train intensely I can expect to walk away with a fresh minor injury to bother me for a week or so. Anyway, I'm glad that the advice now is to keep exercising. I'll have to speak with my provider to figure out what is safe with my hypermobility (my hips already dislocate randomly, and I'm sure that's going to get worse), but glad the advice has changed from what it was for my grandmother.

[@ezzybridger552]

The my copilot program is around 100$ a month for those who are wondering. So with MDJ’s discount it’s 80$ for the first month.

[@abd_humour]

Thanks!

[@MamaDoctorJones]

Thanks for being here!

[@akalyaahilan310]

Can you make a separate video about different conditions that can cause very abnormal period cramps. And information about every condition?

[@lynnebucher6537]

I knew a woman who continued to ride her horse bareback until 2 weeks before delivery, when it became uncomfortable. She was just riding at a walk on trails when we went out together.

[@Asongbook]

My heart sib was assigned pt while pregnant and it helped her out (I was super glad because it solved a problem she had with the previous pregnancy and had again and earlier with the last one)

[@MNP208]

PBS NewsHour just posted a video about hyperemesis gravidarum titled "Research uncovers link between hormone and severe morning sickness during pregnancy" .I didn't realize they used Zofran pumps for this!! Dr. Fejzo who tells her story... heartbreaking!! Another women's health issue ignored.

[@natalieJe10]

Would you be able to do a video on hysterectomies? I've watched so many but it was all people who had it done. I would love another doctor's perspective on them in general. Who they believe should and what made them come to that choice. You know, just a good old informative video. You're the best! Thank you

[@kellysnover1852]

The sports injury/cycle phase connection is interesting. I actually blew out my ACL in high school(2008) playing softball(I was sliding into second on a double play in a game). 15 years later and I still wonder why it happened

[@kristineapodaca3173]

I'm 53. When I was 10, my mom gave me a box from Kotex with product samples and a little booklet that encouraged girls to carefully maintain their "daintiness" and avoid exercise, baths, and a ton of other everyday things. I didn't even know what dainty meant at the time

[@MomtoaFullHouse]

My 16 year old daughter is a competitive swimmer. She started her period when she was 10. She has swam, practiced, and even competed while on her period more times than I can even count. She has always used period swimwear and it works GREAT! It is absolutely amazing. She has never had a leak, even at swim meets that last 6+ hours. Currently her favorite set up is wearing period bikini bottoms under her regular swim suit. Can't even tell.

[@Catseye189]

I don't exercise on my first or second day as it makes me bleed heavy with painful cramps. If my third day is light I might do some gentle exercise.

[@tingtingboll]

Yeah that whole center of gravity thing hit me like a truck. One week I was doing squats just fine and the next I couldn't stand up from a squat 🤣 Note to self

[@annarobin6535]

So many people tell me that I immediately have to stop using my bike when they learn that I am pregnant (in a european, bike-friendly town, on my old women's bike with a low top tube so I don't even have to lift my leg to get on and off...) I'm not exactly racing, I just have to get around somehow! Some weeks ago I discovered the "recommended sports during pregnancy"-poster in my physiotherapist's waiting room. On which "bike as a means of transportation" has a prominent spot. I snapped a picture and whenever someone now tells me to stop using my bike, I just pull out my phone and show the picture without saying a word. I am now seven months pregnant and my pregnancy diabetes is so much easier to manage than in my first pregnancy, where I basically restricted myself to walking. Then again, having a two-year-old is a sport in itself, so in any case I was going to be more active this time!

[@jessiekalff]

I was very active through both my pregnancies…and did daily yoga.. I recovered extremely well after both my pregnancies…both physically and mentally.. And put this down to my active lifestyle… 🌈🌈🌈

[@danni9611]

I wonder if you may be able to do a video about Vasa Previa as well.

[@charlesterry2480]

Id like to see you react to mystery diagnosis

[@kmetz878]

I bike commute, and I continued to bike commute well into my pregnancy. I had pelvic pain while walking from about month 5, but biking didn't seem to bother me until about month 7 or 8 and my OB said it was fine so I continued biking until about 2 months before my due date. 😁 I'm also someone who's been a runner and swimmer since high school (now a triathlete, go figure), and there is zero reason why your period should stop you from any of those activities. My period's heavy too, but with the right tampon/cup it's not a problem...and it actually makes for a way more bearable period if I exercise regularly and continue to exercise through my period.

[@aemmathis]

I've been a lifelong athlete (D1 collegiate athlete, regular runner and weight lifter). My doctor cautioned me from lifting weights during my pregnancy even though I have no risk factors - needless to say I'm seeking a new gyn to see me throughout the rest of my pregnancy.

[@KatMerriam75]

I'm well into menopause now but I would like to know why my body would push out a tampon. I always had to use pads and hated it. My cramps were horrible. I'm happy to say I have been period free since August of 2016. I had a hysterectomy but they left one ovary.

[@cs4887]

15:11 I have been told (and experienced myself actually!) that the flow slows down with cold water swimming. But it takes a bit of time for it to happen

[@shallowexistences]

you remind me of the OBGYN version of Mr. Ballen! similar mannerisms

[@CaraMarie13]

My plan was to do some light workouts during my period. As it turned out, anything that involved bending, laying down, turning, stretching, lifting, and so on was not a part of my bodies plan. I have a position when am on period and now I know why.

[@katjaeye]

multiple times now, I have had an ovarian cyst rupture (at least i think that’s what it was) during really intense cardio on my period, nearly causing me to pass out from the pain😭. I hate it, because I feel like it’s only a matter of time till it happens again if I keep exercising 😅

[@wrenfritsche9153]

Haven't seen the video yet but I always felt better with exercising on my period.

[@Asongbook]

I would make small changes in food and exercises just before my cycle to manage cramps and mood. The food may have been placebo, but the stretches? Oh I could feel that working! YMMV.

[@performancephd1547]

I have EDS and was bloated from my period during a workout. I felt some pressure, but ignored it. The next morning, I sneezed and tore my abdomen (muscles too tight and stretched at the same time with limited connective tissue causing umbilical tear). My doctors have banned me from working out during my period. I fully recognize that this was a rare imperfect storm. I wonder if incidents like mine feed the myth for the majority.

[@divergentmind2023]

i never did anything different when i was younger but after my 40’s i don’t feel like doing a lot because i don’t feel well so i wait until i do

[@zahldineh]

I've heard that you SHOULD exercise when on your period because of the endorphins released.

[@AnnaRenee]

You mentioning relaxin makes me curious about how hyper mobile folks do with pregnancy, does being hyper mobile help or hinder your recovery and such?