hi im sure this has been asked before but i have to know. for any ladies that have gone through basic do you think it would be easier to get the DEPO shot and avoid having a period? im asking because im sure they dont let you out of formation to handle things, nor would they let you skip swiming test in the navy because of your period, right?

my first question is...why would have to avoid swimming because of your period?
Sorry to be blunt but theres no reason not to provided your using tampons or a menstrual cup...the cup being probably even better because theres no string to wick bacteria.You can also tuck or cut the string ...the elastic on your swimsuit wont let it poke out or anything if your worried about being embarassed.
And on the subject of DEPO...some women don't get their periods on it...others such as myself had a lovely 9 week long period that made me pretty anemic. If your already on the pill ask your dr about taking it continuously w/o a break..its safe and effective with most non-triphasil pills.
either way good luck

I recommend the depo because I didn't have a period for the entire year and a half I was on it. Your other option is to take birth control pills and just skip the green ones (or whatever color the 7 day placebo pills are in your brand)

You will not be afforded any special treatment due to your cycle, such as not swimming or running. I have found that running and swimming actually make your cramps lessen over time and your flow lighter. But that might just be me.

quote:

Originally posted by EMTB2000:
my first question is...why would have to avoid swimming because of your period?

Because if she's like me, there isn't a cup, pill, shot, or plug around that will stop the red tidal wave during the first 2 days. I never could go swimming during my period.

Some women just react different to BC measures, so I would test these methods out first beforehand.

(I couldnt take the shot myself. It made me extremely moody, angry and downright insane. Not to mention I gained a lot of water weight. I couldn't wait to get it out of my system, but that's just me. Might work great for you!)

Good luck.

finally! ok can you have tampons in boot camp? i mean you dont get to go to the store 4 awhil so whats the deal if you have it as your processing in? i myself have a awful flow i can be completely clear fro 3-4 hours and then soak through a extra super abrobensy tampon, and pads you can forget it there isnt a single one good enough, plus the idea of running and what not eith them is inconcivible to me. so will they let you keep you tampons when you get there?or at least provide them? and what happens if you were pting or in class and you just flood yourself?... i mean do they just let you sit there and bleed all over yourself...omg and if you were in an intergrated division!


can you tell i have a huge phobia of this...

SMR,

Accidents happen. You just drive on. Rest assured you will be expected to run and conduct Physical Training (PT) when you have your period. You won't get any special concessions for it, and males DO NOT want to hear about it. PT is only 1:00 - 1:15 so you can get a new tampon in before, then change right after. I found the more physically fit I get the shorter my periods get. So it has been a win/win situation for me. Maybe it will be for you too!
As far as I know you have to provide your own tampons and pads.

As for your last concern about integrated divisions they are all integrated. They don't even do all female basic anymore, so you will be around males. Don't worry so much about being embarrassed. Males have a tendency to crap in their pants from time to time (no really, I've seen it more than once) and we bleed on ourselves sometimes. That's life. You become so close that things like that aren't a shock anymore. Try not to worry.

so u are allowed to take tampons and pads down with u to basic, thats cool cause i was nervous about that.

I use the cup and it holds quite a bit and is way more comfortable that tampons or pads. I can't even imagine wearing a pad while doing PT

My Depo experience was terrible! I had terrible breakouts, pain, excessive bleeding and mood swings that I never had before. If you haven't already been on Depo, I most definitely wouldn't get the shot just before Basic because everyone reacts differently and it could be a bad thing for you.