Difference between revisions of "Cope With a Heavy Period While on Holiday"

[[Category: Menstrual Cycles]]

#Look into different kinds of birth control. If your period tends to be very heavy and you're not yet on birth control, talk to your doctor about your options. Both birth control pills and intrauterine devices (IUDs) can make your periods lighter and reduce cramps.<ref name="rf1">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072477/</ref>

#*You may also want to talk to your doctor about whether prescriptions pain pills, anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, and/or antibiotics could help with your heavy periods.<ref name="rf2">https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003150.htm</ref>

#Consider skipping your period entirely. Several kinds of birth control — including birth control pills, the patch, and Depo-Provera — allow you to skip your period. If you’re able to plan ahead, consider eliminating the problem entirely.<ref name="rf3">http://toolkit.bootsnall.com/womens-travel-guide/aunt-flo-on-the-road.html</ref>

#Be prepared for surprises. Even if you’re not scheduled to get your period, consider bringing some supplies. Travel can disrupt your cycle, even if your period is usually super regular, and you don’t want to be caught off guard.<ref name="rf4"> http://www.intimina.com/blog/menstruation-travel-tips/</ref>

#*By that same token, don’t necessarily start to panic if you are late or even miss a period while traveling. This can be caused by stress, changes in eating or exercising, jet lag, or some combination thereof.<ref name="rf5"> http://gogirlguides.com/solo-female-travel/late-period-while-traveling-dont-panic/</ref>

#Consider more travel-friendly supplies. [[Use a Menstrual Cup|Menstrual cups]] take up less room in your bag, are environmentally friendly, and can be left in for up to twelve hours. Try them out the month before you go to make sure you are comfortable with the process.<ref name="rf4" />

#*Conserving space is especially important if you tend to bleed heavily. In addition to painkillers, pads, tampons, or menstrual cups, you might want to see if you can squeeze in a heating pad, vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium, and iron supplements if you are anemic.<ref name="rf2" />

#[[Deal With Cramps|Deal with cramps]]. You probably already know to take a pain reliever, but you’ll enjoy your time at the beach or pool more if you take extra precautions to avoid cramps.<ref name="rf6"> http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2013/07/4-ways-to-deal-with-your-perio</ref>

#Choose your materials wisely. Consider tampons or a menstrual cup while hiking or camping. They’ll take up less space in your backpack, and they’re a better bet than pads if you’re worried about attracting bears. Since bears are attracted to scents, make sure you choose unscented products!<ref name="rf7"> http://hikinglady.com/hiking/this-one-is-for-the-girls/</ref>

#Leave space in your backpack for supplies. In addition to pads, tampons, or other materials, you’ll need some or all of the following: painkillers, extra bottled water, tissues or toilet paper, and tons of Ziploc bags. All of this will take up space in your backpack, so you might have to get rid of something you normally bring.<ref name="rf7" />

#Stay clean and fresh. Since you often won’t have access to bathroom facilities, bring unscented hand and/or body wipes, and keep antibacterial gel handy. These items can be helpful for all hikers and campers, but you’ll find them especially useful when you have your period.<ref name="rf7" />

#Dispose of used pads and tampons safely. Wrap them in tissues or toilet paper, put them inside of a Ziploc bag, and then put the bag into a Bear Canister (obviously a different one than you are using for your food.)<ref name="rf7" />

#Stay hydrated. Again, this goes for all hikers and campers, but it is especially important when you are on your period.<ref name="rf7" />

#Think about how much you will need, and pack accordingly. Don’t assume that you will be able to find extra supplies on your trip, especially if you are heading off the beaten track. You will almost certainly not be able to find the specific brands and products that you like to use. Even if you do, you do not want to interrupt sightseeing just to find them.<ref name="rf8"> http://blog.helloflo.com/5-tips-tricks-traveling-abroad-period/</ref>

#Bring plastic bags, tissues or toilet paper, sanitary wipes, and hand sanitizer. Of course, you should never flush pads or tampons, but you may find yourself in an area where you cannot flush anything. Since waste disposal practices vary among cultures, there also may not be trashcans in bathrooms. You will need to be prepared to hold on to your materials until you get back to where you are staying. Wrap your used pads or tampons in tissues or toilet paper, store them in a Ziploc bag, store the bag in your purse or backpack, and clean your hands.<ref name="rf9">http://blog.helloflo.com/5-tips-tricks-traveling-abroad-period/</ref>

#*When you do have access to toilets, take advantage of them, but depending on where you are going, don’t necessarily expect to find them regularly.<ref name="rf4" />

#Focus on comfort. Getting your period while on vacation is not only inconvenient — between cramps, bloating, and other issues — it can also be uncomfortable. But you don’t want to miss out on the fun, and being active can actually alleviate some of these symptoms. So ditch the tight jeans, and revel in the comfort of yoga pants, soft t-shirts, and knit dresses.<ref name="rf8" />

#Go sightseeing. As much as you might want to stay in your hotel room, physical activity can alleviate the symptoms of a heavy period. Go for a long walk that takes you past as many landmarks as possible.<ref name="rf1" />

#Use your period as an excuse to experience local cuisine. Healthy snacks can also alleviate some of your period symptoms. Seek out local produce and other healthy foods that you wouldn’t be able to get at home.<ref name="rf8" />

#*While there is no evidence that food can reduce bleeding, many women find that following a healthy diet can make heavy bleeding easier to deal with.<ref name="rf1" />

#*Since very heavy bleeding can lead to anemia, seek out iron-rich foods like meat, legumes, leafy greens, and whole grains.<ref name="rf1" />

*If you are on birth control pills, be alert when crossing time zones. 9:00 your time will not be 9:00 where you are traveling, but your body doesn’t know that. Use a time zone calculator, keep a watch set to your local time, or slowly adjust the time at which you take your daily dose (no more than one or two hours per day, never going more than twenty-four hours between pills).<ref name="rf10"> http://advocatesaz.org/2014/06/02/lets-talk-contraception-birth-control-and-travel-how-to-stay-on-schedule/</ref>

*Make sure you always protect birth control (and other medications) from heat and humidity, which can affect their efficacy.<ref name="rf10" />