Wild bathing sites 'must be made safer for women'

COLD water swimming is growing in popularity among women but more support is needed to make wild bathing sites safer and more accessible, a study has found.

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A team of researchers, led by experts from University College London (UCL) and including at the University of Plymouth, surveyed 1,114 women in the UK between the ages of 16 and 80 about their habits in relation to cold water swimming.

Of those who participate in wild swimming, a majority (64%) said they usually did so in the sea and most (89%) said they swam all year around.

Researchers also found menopausal women who regularly swim in cold water reported significant improvements to their physical and mental symptoms, while the activity was also found to improve menstrual symptoms.