Don’t Let Your Period Ruin Your Vacay With These Helpful Tips

You’re all packed and ready to go on that big trip you’ve been planning for months, but there’s one nagging detail you’ve only just considered: your period might be crashing your much-needed vacay. But don’t let your cycle throw a wrench into your plans just yet! With the following tips, you’ll be ready to tackle anything that comes your way without sacrificing an awesome time.

Pack so you’re period-ready

First things first – even if you’re not expecting your period, you should always pack the essentials, just in case. Depending on what you prefer, that might include tampons, pads, panty liners – because where you’re going might not carry what you need. If you anticipate menstrual pain, talk to your doctor about bringing over-the-counter painkillers And don’t forget those home remedies like vitamin D, chamomile tea or a heating pad, to help make any pain or discomfort more bearable. Better safe than sorry, right?

Be prepared for irregular periods

We know that traveling is stressful enough, but adjusting to a different time zone can wreak havoc to your hormones, causing your circadian rhythm–the body’s internal clock that determines when we stay awake or sleep—to go haywire.1 Fluctuations in our sleep cycle can trigger hormones that can disrupt our menstrual cycle.2 If you continue to have missed or irregular periods, you should talk to your doctor.

Combat jet lag

Jet lag is no picnic. Symptoms can surpass the obvious exhaustion to include trouble falling and staying asleep, difficulty concentrating and staying focused and digestive issues. All that adds more stress to the body which, if combined with your period, can make you feel even worse. To minimize the effects of jet lag, plan these strategies so you can better handle your period3:

  • Adjust to your destination’s time zone before takeoff. If you’re traveling east, get to bed earlier a few nights before you leave. If traveling west, try to stay up a bit later.
  • While on the plane, relax and get some rest while keeping hydrated before, during and after your flight.
  • Avoid caffeine and alcohol if you’re trying to adjust your sleep cycle.

Stay active

Rest and relaxation is a definite must while on vacation. But if cramps and bloating are preventing you from having a good time, you might want to squeeze in some workout time to help with your symptoms. Studies have shown that getting active during your period can help relieve cramping, reduce fatigue and improve your mood.4

When it comes down to it, we can’t always plan our travel time around our monthly cycle, so try to roll with it and have a good time – you’re on vacation, after all! Chances are, if you can take some precautionary steps to minimize its impact, you’ll hardly even mind that your period is tagging along.

For women suffering from heavy periods, however, having your period on vacation can take over the entire trip. If your period is heavily interfering with your quality-of-life, be sure to consult with your doctor to learn about potential treatment options

References:

  1. Schechter A, Biovin DB. Sleep, hormones and circadian rhythms throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy women and women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Int J Endrocrinol. 2010; doi:1155/2010/259345 ↩︎
  2. Jehan S, Auguste E, Hussain M, et al. Sleep and premenstrual syndrome. J Sleep Med Disord. 2016;3(5): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5323065/ Accessed January 29, 2018. ↩︎
  3. Choy M, Salbu RL. Jet lag: current and potential therapies. P&T. 2011;36:221-224, 231. ↩︎
  4. Office on Women’s Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). https://www.womenshealth.gov/menstrual-cycle/premenstrual-syndrome?from=AtoZ#references. Accessed February 21, 2018. ↩︎

Get to Know Your Body

Advocating for your health starts with knowing your body – that means knowing what’s considered normal vs. abnormal – so you can guide conversations with your doctor. Take our quiz to better understand what your health symptoms might be trying to tell you.

My period frequently lasts longer than 7 days.*

Yes

No

I consistently use more than 1 tampon/pad every hour.*

Yes

No

I frequently pass large blood clots the size of a quarter or larger during my period.*

Yes

No

My lower abdomen is swollen. I look pregnant in my mirror.*

Yes

No

I feel like I have to pee all the time, even at night — sometimes it’s hard to go and it disrupts my sleep.*

Yes

No

My periods are extremely painful and debilitating – heating pads and painkillers don’t cut it.*

Yes

No

I feel like my life revolves around a never-ending or unpredictable period, causing stress and anxiety.*

Yes

No

Periods are a pain, but they shouldn’t run your life. Continue on to view your results. Remember, you are not alone in this journey.

We’re committed to helping women reclaim their uterine health. If you want the latest information on women’s health, updates from our blog, and more, please fill out the form below.*

*By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing emails from Hologic Gynecological Surgical Solutions. Opting in is not required to view your quiz results.

This information will be treated in a confidential manner. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms.
Neither Hologic nor any of its data or content providers shall be liable for errors, delays, or inability to deliver new data or for the inability to provide this service due to errors arising from the transmission or delivery of email, erroneous contact information in our database, or technical difficulties.

This site uses cookies and related technologies, as described in our privacy policy, for purposes that may include site operation, analytics, enhanced user experience, or advertising.
Okay

Let's End the Pain of Heavy Periods & Fibroids

Find a Physician near you who performs these minimally invasive procedures.

Know you’re dealing with fibroids? Search for the Acessa procedure or MyoSure procedure.

Suffering from heavy periods? Search for the NovaSure procedure.