There was nothing I dreaded more than getting my period as a teenager.

At the time I was living with an undiagnosed and untreated chronic illness, and one of the most frustrating symptoms was heavy and frequent menstruation. I was also an active swimmer in the middle of my Bronze certifications, working towards becoming a swim instructor. During those three years, I missed out on a lot of in-water time.

I felt embarrassed and alone. I’d sit on the bench during classes, fully dressed while the rest of my classmates swam laps and practiced vital life-saving skills. When I’d come in the next week I needed to practice twice as hard to make up for lost time, so I wouldn’t fall behind the rest of the class. I remember one class coming in, cramping and sick, and being told that I had to be in the water. Our final evaluation was coming up, and there were still in-water rescues I needed to practice. It was non-negotiable.

I cried in the change room and put my swimsuit on, hoped nobody would notice, and got in the pool.

At the time period wear wasn’t as widely accessible as it is today; had it been all those years ago, I know for a fact that I personally would have greatly benefited from having access to discrete and water-safe menstruation products.

I’ve spent the last ten years teaching girls of all ages swimming and life-saving skills, and I know the discomfort that unfortunately comes with swimming on your period. One summer I was teaching a young teenager in my backyard, and I received an email from her parents saying they might need to reschedule that week. No problem, it happens; we booked a make-up. But then my phone rang, and it was that student.

“Hey- I’m really sorry but I might miss this week, I’m on my period.”

And my heart sank.

We stayed on the phone to figure out the next steps. She wanted to swim, but she was worried about the obvious. Our makeshift solution at the time was to layer up swim bottoms and keep some Advil on hand, and later that day she was at my house on time for her lesson.

Period poverty and stigma is a global issue, but here in Canada we still struggle at times to provide women, girls, and menstruating folks with access to the care and resources they need. According to a Plan International study, 82% of Canadian respondents who have periods agreed that period products are too expensive, and agreed that they should be made free in public places like restrooms. Another 78% said they feel they need to hide their period in professional or educational spaces, with 51% feeling the need to hide their period in their own homes.