Periods and traveling

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UGH! Any ladies ever had their periods while traveling by airplane? I remember coming back from Seoul S Korea to Northern Virginia when I was 17. It was August and very hot and it was the first day of period while on plane. I felt awful! So if my periods are on time, that means when I fly back from Seoul to San Francisco in Nov that I may get my period the whole flight But at least it will be the fall and I will be in business class. But whether I fly first, business or coach, having a period is no fun! The smell of the airplane will make me sick. Hopefully the plane won't be hot. I know when I first get on plane it can be a little hot, but then the AC gets going and I'm fine. Any ladies though have problems with plane? I know that TSA can be a pain with having to take off shoes and at times the guard touches you with that wand looking thing. I don't mind that. The times that I do travel by plane is when school is in session. I can't stand summer, so I rarely travel. I have had periods while traveling to visit my relatives 4 hours away from where I live but that's fine. But imagine 14 hours on a crowded plane traveling overseas. Periods, long travel, summer no good. Maybe I'll be lucky and my period will come Nov 3?

Ick. 20 years ago I had to take a school trip to South America from Alabama. The trip lasted 3 weeks and when I was packing, I forgot to take that into account, so didn't bring any stuff with me. I didn't speak Spanish either, so I didn't know what to ask for even if I could manage to find an appropriate store.

That happened when I was returning home from Florida last year. I was boarding the plane when I felt it, and I was wedged between two husky guys for TWO HOURS while my period was going.

Thankfully, we made it to Chicago before it got too bad, and I could... clean up, so to speak.

It would be a hassle but I think if you got on a birth control pill, you could manipulate the time frame you'd have your period so you wouldn't necessarily be having it during your flight. Or try one of those pills where you only have a period every three months or so?

It seems like every time I have to fly (and I fly a lot) I'm either having my period or a UTI or some kind of endometriosis issue. Not fun.

Yeah periods and plane flights can really suck. Fortunately it rarely happens when I have to travel on a heavy, cramping day. Light days are ok for travelling. The only thing I can think of is to be 100% prepared with pads, tampons, pain meds, nothing to upset ur stomach, and whatever u might use to relieve cramps. And basically try to sleep majority of the flight, bring a travel pillow. For me, I get tired on my period so I normally sleep a lot and I use a heating pad + meds to relieve cramps.

Madeline makes an excellent point about the pill - I find it really makes a positive difference.

Ai_Ling - also an excellent point, best way to have all bases covered.

If you really hate it and want to avoid periods, there are many ways in which you you can shift/move/skip your cycle using oral contraceptives.
If not, tampons or diva cup it is.