Bends and menses
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scubabunny
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First of all Alf..welcome to the board!
Your concern is a new one to me, but I'm curious to see the responses. I normally don't dive the first few days of "that time", but its more due to cramps and just not feeling "right". In never thought about the possible dangers.
Your concern is a new one to me, but I'm curious to see the responses. I normally don't dive the first few days of "that time", but its more due to cramps and just not feeling "right". In never thought about the possible dangers.
I can figure several reasons-
-first of all, your body doesn't function exactly the same as it normally will. Anything that causes the body to perform differently than the ordinary, is a potential risk. Same goes, for example, for diving after a BIG dinner, or for diving after not eating at all.
-Another reason is loss of blood and liquids. This causes reduction in blood volume, and results in somewhat reduced niterogen removal process.
Just what I could figure off handed
-first of all, your body doesn't function exactly the same as it normally will. Anything that causes the body to perform differently than the ordinary, is a potential risk. Same goes, for example, for diving after a BIG dinner, or for diving after not eating at all.
-Another reason is loss of blood and liquids. This causes reduction in blood volume, and results in somewhat reduced niterogen removal process.
Just what I could figure off handed
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Hi Alf,
This question is a long way from being definitively answered by scientific inquiry, but there is a bit of research evidence. One study suggests that women taking oral contraceptives may face an increased risk of DCS by diving during menses, and another suggests that menstruation appears to be an altitude DCS risk factor.
Some dive medicine experts & agencies recommend that women, particularly those actively taking oral contraceptives, dive more conservatively during menstruation, e.g., fewer dives per day/per vacation, shallower & shorter dives, and increased length of safety stops.
This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
This question is a long way from being definitively answered by scientific inquiry, but there is a bit of research evidence. One study suggests that women taking oral contraceptives may face an increased risk of DCS by diving during menses, and another suggests that menstruation appears to be an altitude DCS risk factor.
Some dive medicine experts & agencies recommend that women, particularly those actively taking oral contraceptives, dive more conservatively during menstruation, e.g., fewer dives per day/per vacation, shallower & shorter dives, and increased length of safety stops.
This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
For those interested in an 'in depth' discussion of this subject - please go to our web site at http://www.scuba-doc.com/dsp2263.PPT .
This is a large Power Point download but is well worth you while and will give you all the pros and cons of the subject by Martin Quigley, MD - one of the consultants for Diving Medicine Online. Dr. Quigley is a diving medicine specialist as well as a Board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology; trained by UHMS and NOAA in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine; active PADI Instructor, certified Cave and Trimix Diver; faculty member at April 2001 DAN Dive Medicine CME Course.
scubadoc
Diving Medicine Online
http://www.scuba-doc.com
This is a large Power Point download but is well worth you while and will give you all the pros and cons of the subject by Martin Quigley, MD - one of the consultants for Diving Medicine Online. Dr. Quigley is a diving medicine specialist as well as a Board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology; trained by UHMS and NOAA in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine; active PADI Instructor, certified Cave and Trimix Diver; faculty member at April 2001 DAN Dive Medicine CME Course.
scubadoc
Diving Medicine Online
http://www.scuba-doc.com
Dr Deco
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Dear alf:
This question is often asked. The evidence for scuba divers is that menses and DCS are not related.
Dr Deco
This question is often asked. The evidence for scuba divers is that menses and DCS are not related.
Dr Deco
The Iceni
Medical Moderator
Hi Alf,
The British Diving Diseases Research Council have done some work with the Royal Navy on the incidence of DCI in lady divers at various stages of the cycle. A preliminary report was presented to the recent annual meeting of the British Hyperbaric Association.
First the bad news. There appears to be a greater incidence of DCI in female divers during days 1 to 21 of the cycle (surprisingly not during menstruation). I understand it is postulated therefore that this may be due to the effects of progesterone and perhaps in consequence female divers, as a group, are more at risk of DCI than are males.
Now the good news. It is also thought that this is more likely to be due to the fact that more females dive during days 1 to 21 of their cycle (for obvious reasons). Unfortunatley there are no statistics to determine the true rate of DCI with respect to the number of dives actually undertaken by women, or indeed by men.
As with much research the results pose more questions than they answer!
Regards,
Paul
The British Diving Diseases Research Council have done some work with the Royal Navy on the incidence of DCI in lady divers at various stages of the cycle. A preliminary report was presented to the recent annual meeting of the British Hyperbaric Association.
First the bad news. There appears to be a greater incidence of DCI in female divers during days 1 to 21 of the cycle (surprisingly not during menstruation). I understand it is postulated therefore that this may be due to the effects of progesterone and perhaps in consequence female divers, as a group, are more at risk of DCI than are males.
Now the good news. It is also thought that this is more likely to be due to the fact that more females dive during days 1 to 21 of their cycle (for obvious reasons). Unfortunatley there are no statistics to determine the true rate of DCI with respect to the number of dives actually undertaken by women, or indeed by men.
As with much research the results pose more questions than they answer!
Regards,
Paul
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