If there’s one thing that female travellers have to think about that men never do it’s managing your period when you travel. It’s certainly inconvenient having to think about your period when planning a trip, but it shouldn’t keep you from travelling. Women all over the world deal with their period and have been doing so from the beginning of time, if you make preparations in advance, you can get through it.

Managing Your Period When You Travel

Prepare in Advance

Plan Your Trip and Travel Activities 

Managing your menstrual cycle is probably not at the forefront of your mind when your planning an exciting trip somewhere – and I don’t think it should be either.

However, if you have a regular cycle then it should be fairly easy for you to plan when to go away, unless you’re fixed to only travelling during school holidays or a particularly limited annual entitlement. 

Research Product Options 

Make sure you research your destination has in terms of options for periods. In many countries you’ll find tampons but they won’t necessarily have applicators, in some countries you’ll have to go in search of Western pharmacies, however, in some parts of the world the simple mention of the word periods can send people into hysterics. 

Disposing of Feminine Hygiene Products

Take disposable essentials with you on the journey, plastic bags are definitely a good idea in case the bathroom doesn’t have a rubbish bin and you have to hold onto your used sanitary items until you find the proper place to get rid of them.

Do not attempt to flush anything down the toilet!

Cultural & Superstitious Beliefs 

There are countries where the people have superstitious beliefs involving women and their periods. Many mosques and temples don’t allow women to enter while they’re menstruating. In certain countries women are unable to hold particular jobs simply because they menstruate. Some countries send women into isolation whilst they are on their periods. Meanwhile there are countries that don’t even allow the subject to be discussed.

As much as we may not agree with all of these opinions it is also important to be respectful of certain beliefs and locations.

What to Pack

Traditional Tampons and Pads

Depending on the length of your trip and you use traditional tampons or pads, you might want to bring your chosen brand with you. However  if you’re going on a long-term trip, you might want to consider other options instead of taking up unnecessary space in your luggage.

Reusable Pads and Panty Liners

Environmentally friendly options are becoming more and more popular, these include reusable pads, which come in maxi and mini sizes. The idea is that you simply wear and wash as necessary. The all-natural cotton pads don’t have the usual chemicals you’ll find in standard pads, and the highly-absorbent material lasts roughly 5 years.

Diva Cups

Menstrual cups, like the Diva Cup, seem like a great option for long-term travel because they’re good for several years. The instructions sound pretty simple: just insert, use for up to 12 hours, empty, wash and re-insert. I’ve never used one but from what I’ve read I would recommend that you test it out well before your trip.

Period Underwear

Another possibility is that you could try specific period underwear, designed to wear alone without the aid of tampons, and then washed. Most women tend to wear them as a backup to tampons, or on lighter days, but you might be able to get by with just the underwear and nothing else. As with everything, test in normal life before hitting the road.

Medications to Pack

Make sure you always have medication in your first aid kit in preparation for managing your period when you travel. This might just include Ibuprofen or Paracetamol, but if you happen to take prescription painkillers you’ll definitely want to make sure you pack these as well. Don’t forget that in some countries you may require a letter from your doctor in order to take medication through customs – check this first.

Heat Pads

If you’re flying on your cycle days try packing a reusable heat pad, these can be very good for eliminating back and abdominal pains. Cold weather hand-warmers can also be useful if tucked into waistbands.

Electronic Pain Relief

There are a number of electronic pain relief machines available. I’ve never used one myself so would be interested to know if and how they work for others. It is imperative that you consult your GP before using such a device as they may not be suitable if you suffer from certain medical conditions.

Comfy Clothing

Dress for comfort and plan for bloating. For some people this might mean yoga pants and  loose fitting tops, for some maxi dresses are a preference. Personally I only feel comfortable a pair of soft jeans and a loose fitting sweatshirt. I also like to pack a blanket scarf which doubles up nicely as a cushion.

Finally

Consider Skipping Your Period Completely

There are various methods for skipping your periods altogether. Injections, IUDs, tablets – speak to your GP, discuss the length of your travels, why you want to stop having periods and ask for their advice.

I spent years suffering from horrifically painful, heavy and irregular periods, trying a multitude of medications and painkillers, before finally a doctor recommended the progestin-only birth control pill, commonly called the mini-pill, taken every day at the same time it stops periods. 

For me it’s been an absolute godsend – I’ve been taking it for just over a year and apart from a little spotting in the first couple of months I haven’t had a single proper period, nor a single stomach cramp. Generally it’s made my life 100x easier. I don’t have to worry about buying ultra-thick sanitary towels, I don’t have to worry about being doubled over in pain or increasing my iron intake because of anaemia. 

It’s might not always be easy to remember to take it at the same time every day (I set an alarm on my phone) but after a while it will become a habit and in comparison to suffering the way I was I really don’t mind.

Do you have any tips for managing your period when you travel?

Let me know in the comments.