Women’s Health in Diving
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Women’s Health in Diving
Diving affects the body in complex ways, and women may experience certain physiological factors that are unique to them. From menstruation and menopause to pregnancy and hormonal changes, understanding how these can interact with diving is important for safety, comfort and confidence in the water.
Below you’ll find a selection of published research exploring aspects of women’s health and physiology in diving.
Women and Scuba Diving
J.E. Cresswell & M. St Leger-Dowse (1991)
As scuba diving grows in popularity, more women are taking to the water — and with that comes a need to better understand how diving interacts with female physiology. This paper reviews evidence on menstruation, pregnancy and hormonal changes, and explores whether these may influence decompression sickness or other diving-related risks.
Comparative Data from 2250 Male and Female Sports Divers: Diving Patterns and DCS
M. St Leger-Dowse et al. (2002)
This study analysed data from 2,250 sports divers to compare diving habits and decompression sickness risk between men and women. When experience was taken into account, men were found to have a 2.6 times higher incidence of DCS than women.
Decompression Sickness in Women: A Possible Relationship with the Menstrual Cycle
Vivienne Lee et al. (2003)
This paper investigates a potential link between menstrual cycle phases and the risk of decompression sickness in female divers, providing insights into hormonal influences on dive safety.
A Prospective Study of Reverse Dive Profiles in UK Female Recreational Divers
M. St Leger-Dowse et al. (2004)
A study examining reverse dive profiles (dives where ascent follows a non-standard profile) among female recreational divers, assessing implications for decompression risk and safety practices.
Problems Associated with Scuba Diving Are Not Evenly Distributed Across a Menstrual Cycle
M. St Leger-Dowse et al. (2006)
This paper examines the distribution of diving-related problems across the menstrual cycle, highlighting times when female divers may be more susceptible to decompression illness or related symptoms.
Scuba Diving and Pregnancy: Can We Determine Safe Limits?
M. St Leger-Dowse et al. (2006)
This article reviews available research to explore potential risks of diving during pregnancy, summarising current evidence and recommendations for safe practice.
A Relationship Between the Menstrual Cycle and Decompression Illness: Is the Evidence Building?
M. St Leger-Dowse et al. (2006)
This paper reviews emerging evidence on how different phases of the menstrual cycle may affect the risk of decompression illness, highlighting areas for further research.
The Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill and the Assumed 28-Day Cycle
M. St Leger-Dowse et al. (2007)
This study examines the potential implications of the combined oral contraceptive pill on the assumed 28-day menstrual cycle and explores its relevance for female divers in relation to decompression risk.
Diving, Menstruation and Reproductive Health
Presentation
This presentation, compiled by the DDRC Healthcare Research Team, explores key questions around women’s health and diving. It looks at decompression illness (DCI) risk differences between men and women, the effect of the menstrual cycle on DCI, and the implications of diving during pregnancy. The presentation draws on several decades of research and includes data, discussion, and literature for further reading.
Compiled by the DDRC Healthcare Research Team, updated 2024.
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2024 Cellular pre-adaptation to high O2 in standard cell culture confers resistance to H2O2-induced cell death
Biomedical|2024
2022 Takotsubo cardiomyopathy findings on cardiac magnet resonance imaging following IPO
Clinical|2022
2021 Impact of growth media and pressure on the diversity and antimicrobial activity of sponges
Biomedical|2021
2021 Flying after diving: a questionnaire based evaluation of pre-flight diving behaviour in recreational cohort
Diving|2021