Medical FAQs

Here's a list compiled over the years of commonly asked questions. The list was created by DAN MDs and represent specific, evidence-based recommendations our member should take into consideration.

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What are the effects PMS will have on me when I dive?
Premenstrual Syndrome, or PMS, is a group of poorly understood and poorly defined psychophysiological symptoms experienced by many women (25-50 percent of women) at the end of the menstrual cycle, just prior to the menstrual flow. PMS symptoms include mood swings, irritability, decreased mental alertness, tension, fatigue, depression, headaches, bloating, swelling, breast tenderness, joint pain and food cravings. Severe premenstrual syndrome has been found to exacerbate underlying emotional disorders. Although progesterone is used in some cases, no consistent, simple treatments are available.

FITNESS AND DIVING ISSUES

Research has shown that accidents in general are more common among women during PMS. If women suffer from premenstrual syndrome, it may be wise to dive conservatively during this time. There is no scientific evidence, however, that they are more susceptible to decompression illness or dive injuries/accidents.

Also, individuals with evidence of depression or antisocial tendencies should be evaluated for their fitness to participate in diving: they may pose a risk to themselves or a dive buddy.

I would like some information regarding the best contraceptive method to use, more compatible with diving. I am oriented towards the copper-based intrauterine device (IUD), which does not involve taking hormones.
At present, there are no medical indications that favor one contraceptive method over another with regard to being exposed to decompression stress. There are no clinical trials or data on the IUD, however I do not see any particular contraindications with regard to its use while diving.

As a rule, if no side effects or a documented greater individual risk of thrombotic events are present (but this would also affect the prescription of the contraceptive), also the use of oral contraceptives does not have any contraindications connected to diving.

This said, the practice of choosing more conservative dive profiles is strongly advised (dives without decompression stops, no more than two dives a day, maximum depth within 30 meters, bottom time within 70-75% of the maximum limit, possible use of Nitrox with dive times calculated for air).

I have a question concerning breastfeeding and diving. My wife and I have just had a baby. She is still breastfeeding and if everything goes well, she would like to carry on for the next 4 months at least. On the other hand, she is eager to resume diving. And I wondered if the nitrogen that gradually saturates our tissues and which will necessarily go into the milk can have an impact on the baby. We dive at a maximum depth of 30 m and stay within the limits of no-decompression diving. Have any studies been done in this field? What could be the impact on the baby? I think my wife will express her milk before diving so that she can feed the baby with non-nitrogenated milk, but how long does it take for nitrogen to desaturate the breast tissue?
There is no accumulation of nitrogen in breast milk, and even if this were the case, drinking this milk would not cause any risk of decompression in the baby. Your wife can therefore resume diving a few weeks after giving birth (in general, it is recommended to wait at least 3 weeks to recover from the “trauma” of childbirth and hormonal changes).

In the first few months, we recommend to stay within the limits of “no-deco dives”, i.e. dives which don’t have mandatory decompression stops – after all, the bodily changes induced by these 9 months of pregnancy should not be underestimated.

Only one disadvantage may occur when your wife dives during the months she is still breastfeeding: the pressure exerted by the dive suit on the chest and on the breasts could (in some cases) reduce milk production (it is a known technique for woman who want to stop breastfeeding, to wear tight clothes or bandages around the chest).
But as your wife will not wear the dive suit all day, this risk isn’t very high.

Is it safe to breastfeed an infant after diving?
Yes, it is safe. A mother’s breast milk is not adversely affected by diving, and there is no risk of decompression sickness for the infant.

Although nitrogen accumulates in all of the tissues and fluids of the mother’s body, washout of inert gas occurs quickly after a safe dive.
Insignificant amounts of nitrogen may be present in the mother’s breast milk, but it is inert and poses no risk to the infant. However, because of the possible risk of bacterial growth on the skin under a suit, careful cleansing of the breast after diving and before feeding may help prevent systemic illness.