Of course, it’s not always easy to have to plan for restroom access and pack feminine hygiene products on your travels, or cope with cramps and discomfort when you’d rather be sightseeing pain-free. Staying at a luxury hotel with the conveniences of home is one thing, but period management becomes more complicated if you’re an adventure traveler planning, say, a physically exerting camping or hiking trip that involves pitching tents in remote locales. Not only is there no option to pick up Midol or just spend the day in bed, but there’s also potentially a whole new world of logistics to worry about, like finding a way to clean your menstrual cup, or packing out every tampon and pad used in a special bag.
Kaur shares that in these moments, she tries to focus on the fact that her body is “working” as it should. “It’s anxiety-reducing to feel that my body is cycling in a natural manner, even if it comes with logistical inconveniences,” she says. Byrne similarly works to reframe the challenges of her period if she gets it while traveling. “Pushing through the discomfort and pain of a period kind of makes me feel invincible, like I can do anything,” she says. “And that’s a great energy to have behind me when I’m out seeing the world.”
Every person’s experience of traveling while menstruating is different, though, and “pushing through” may not be as easy for those who suffer from severe cramps and pain during their period (also known as dysmenorrhea) which can be caused by conditions like endometriosis or uterine fibroids.
For project manager Eliza McMurray, 26, traveling with endometriosis can be “anxiety provoking,” especially the first few heavy days of her period. “Traveling while wearing [pads] is quite uncomfortable. Getting hot and clammy ‘down there’ whilst bleeding is super irritating and can really impact my mood,” she says.
If you’re dealing with severe pain, PMS, or heavy bleeding, talking to your ob-gyn can help you pinpoint the root cause and how to manage it. “If we have enough advance notice, we can often help decrease the amount of bleeding or pain you experience during your period,” says Jennifer Conti, M.D., an adjunct clinical assistant professor at Stanford University School of Medicine and co-host of the V Word Podcast. If someone has endometriosis, “one approach is to use hormonal contraception, such as the birth control pill, ring, or hormonal IUD, continuously to eliminate your period altogether” adds ob-gyn Lauren Streicher, M.D., clinical professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
McMurray used this method, recommended by her doctor when she was first diagnosed with endometriosis, until she “stupidly forgot to pack enough birth control pills” on a trip to South East Asia and Australia, forcing her to deal with more intense, painful periods. She says using a period tracking app is crucial for not only coming prepared with enough supplies and pain management tools like heat pads but for staying mindful of the stage of her cycle when mapping out her trips. “I try to plan excursions around what I will feel comfortable and able to do, and take breaks where I need to,” she says.
