Sports and Periods: Challenges, Benefits, and Activities to Prioritize

Back-to-school season is here, and with it, the return of sports! You’re feeling motivated and on a roll, so it would be a shame to stop everything or pause your sessions and workouts just because your period has shown up!

Who hasn’t been excused from PE class because of their period? Today, things are different. You choose to exercise for pleasure, not because you’re forced to like in middle or high school. Sport should above all be a moment of relaxation and joy, a little break just for you in your daily life. Including when you’re on your period!

It would be a pity to miss your squats/abs/glutes session because of your period! So which sport is best during your period? Which period protection should you choose? Menstrual cups or period panties? Which washable, reusable period protection is best suited to physical activity?

Loulou is here to take the pressure off when it comes to sport and periods. We also share information about the little-known benefits of a good workout and guide you towards the best types of physical activity to choose.

While some won’t be bothered by this at all, for others it’s far from obvious. Lacing up your trainers and pulling on your leggings on a period day is simply unthinkable for some of us.

When you’re bloated, experiencing stomach pain, abdominal cramps, and fatigue, it’s hard to find the motivation to exercise. There’s also a certain fear of worsening the period pain you already have.

Lack of energy, motivation, and good mood—in short, nothing aligns to get you to roll out your yoga mat or pick up your dumbbells!

Once the issue of leaks is solved (thanks to the right period protection), sport can do a lot for you during those few difficult days. Among other things: peace of mind, joy, energy, calm, reduced pain and a sense of well-being.

In short, with exercise you feel better. You feel good in your body, in your skin and in your head. That’s true at any time, and even more so during your period. After more than 30 minutes of effort, the endorphins released boost your mood and ease period pain. You feel proud of yourself, strong and more confident.

Exercise improves blood circulation and oxygenation of muscles and organs. It’s also an excellent way to avoid water retention and bloating. Sport also helps you unwind, think about something else, let off steam and release tension.

During your period, you need to listen to your body and respect your limits. You’re not training for the next Olympics! We’re not talking stats or timing here. The goal is simply to find a form of exercise that suits you.

Not very sporty? Why not simply go for a walk? Grab a bottle of water and head out. Walking at a brisk, steady pace wakes up all your muscles and improves your blood circulation. Your blood pressure and stress levels drop. Why not meet up with friends and walk together? You can chat easily and the time will fly by! In town or in the countryside, it’s a truly accessible, ideal and complete activity.

Do you like walking? Invest in a walking pad. It’s the best investment you’ll make—you won’t regret it. Put on your favorite show and start walking!

And why not take a little dip? Thanks to our menstrual swimsuits or our Loulou menstrual cups, you can swim laps without worry or fear of leaks. Swimming relieves your back and also massages your sore stomach. The result? A wonderful feeling of well-being and a pleasant tiredness guaranteed when you get out of the pool!

Yoga is the star of activities to do during your period. But be careful, yoga isn’t for everyone. Those with limited mobility may find it hard to move smoothly and hold poses. This can lead to more frustration than relaxation! If you still want to give it a try, start with a beginner class and, above all, choose a gentle yoga style rather than a dynamic one at first.

And why not a fitness session without cardio or jumping? You’ll engage your muscles and work on your tone. During your period, you might want to focus on an upper‑body session, targeting arms, shoulders and chest. Core exercises are also excellent for working your whole body without impact. In fitness, there are countless exercises that can be adapted to how you feel and what you’re capable of, all without weights.

Your favourite sport shouldn’t have to stop just because you’re on your period. Worried about leaks or stains? With Louloucup period and intimate protection, you can stop stressing. Super‑absorbent period panties or ultra‑reliable menstrual cups – the choice is yours!

Do you have a heavy flow and want to dive into one of your signature fitness sessions? You can combine a cup with period underwear if you’re worried about leaks. It’s always an option to guarantee excellent protection. Otherwise, feel free to explore our adorable collection of heavy-flow period underwear 🥰

Our favorite for a dry workout even with very heavy periods? Without a doubt the Menstrual underwear for very heavy flow Liv. A simple, seamless black period panty that’s ultra-reliable, with an absorbency equivalent to 5 tampons.

If your periods are light, normal, or medium, our medium-flow period panties are more than enough to absorb all your menstrual blood, even during intense exercise and lots of movement.

If you haven’t already, discover our menstrual thongs. These absorbent undies are super discreet and invisible under your workout leggings or shorts.

Also check out our plus-size period panties collection to enjoy your fitness sessions with total peace of mind.

Our favorite for sports?
Definitely the Émilie style. This seamless medium-flow period panty is invisible under your workout leggings, so you stay protected without any fashion faux pas! This absorbent period panty is discreet and remains invisible, even under the tightest clothing.