How to deal with period during a long-haul flight?

Question

I'll be on an 8 hour flight next month and I've just realised it will coincide with the first or second day of my period, which is really heavy and uncomfortable.

I use pads, not tampons, and I'm worried about having to go to the toilet every few hours, with the massive ques and all.

Does anyone have any tips on coping with this?

Answer 1

erm just use comfortable, absorbent pads. theres not really a lot more you can do. do you never use tampons? recommend you try them, but its up to you.

you will have to go to the loo more often, but theres nothing you can do about that.

make sure you have pills on the plane in case you have bad pain.

good luck!

Answer 2

My first suggestion would be to use a menstrual cup or softcups as these can be used for up to 12 hours at a time without health risk or leaking, regardless of how heavy or light your periods are, they are more comfortable and easier to use than tampons – but of course it all depends on why you use pads, if it is just because you prefer them then fair enough, if it is for fear of tampon risks then there you go. Being as I work in women’s health I of course never recommend you use tampons, they are very unhealthy and unhygienic so it still baffles me that anyone even still uses them. If you decide you need to use something internal I personally recommend the menstrual cup brand Divacup http://www.divacup.com - FYI they offer a 12 month money back guarantee, so you could always use them this once and send it back for a full refund if you don't want to keep using cups.

On the subject of menstrual products, you wear pads but what type of pads? I would suggest that if you use commercial pads or cloth pads that you switch to cloth, homemade, padded panties or period belts – the reason being that these will be a whole h**l of a lot easier for you when it comes to changing as there will be no disposal to worry about, they will be a lot more comfortable when you are sitting through the flight as they will stay in place and not make you sweaty – padded panties or period belts especially as belts sit closer to your body as well as offer more protection due to their length, padded panties are just like wearing normal underwear. You may be able to get away with wearing them throughout the whole journey as these won’t make your groin sweaty or expose you to chemicals so you will be able to wear them for longer without so much a health risk or risk of smell. Personally I recommend Lunapads http://www.lunapads.com or Reddy’s http://www.reddyspads.com

It comes down to this – you have your period, we all know you have your period, and if that means having to take your time in the bathroom then so be it! Nothing to worry about, h**l get yourself what I’ve got, a little pin badge with “I’m menstruating, deal with it” :o)

I’d say to also take a period kit with you, take things such as clary sage to deal with menstrual cramps if you get them (although of course prevention is better than cure!) just rub it on your tummy and it works much better than painkillers, a change of underwear just in case, some scented bags you can get from pharmacy to put your used pads into, some body spray (bathrooms in planes stink), and so-on.

Layer your clothing just in case you leak or black clothing, or if you use cloth pads then you can add extra liners to give you additional protection just in case you need it.

You know some women actually wear nothing at all? Some even learn when their body is about to release the blood so that they can empty it in the toilet when they need to – yeah, so you’ve not going to do this, certainly you’re not going to learn that skill within a short space of time, but point is that you don’t need to worry, just keep pads with you and if your pads are absorbent enough and comfortable enough than you could go the whole flight without changing, at worst just one change.

Answer 3

You can't really "cope" with your period...It's something you HAVE to deal with, and don't be embarrassed, just do what you have to do!

Answer 4

Make sure you bring some extra pads with you that are long and thick so you wont have to keep changing them.  

Answer 5

get the most abosrbant pads u can

Answer 6

usually on a trip like this I would wear both a pad(overnight pad cuz they are longer) and tampon..then after 4 hours I would take out the tampon and insert another...the pad usually stays pretty dry when I do that but its a back up Ya know...if the pad does need changing then change that too...and right before your going to land or after change them again....otherwise you have to deal with changing your pad more often if you are that heavy...try tampons a couple of times b4 your period...if your a virgin use regular size tampons if you have had s*x then you might be able to handle a size super.....but just know that if you do wear a super and you are a virgin that they expand so taking them out might be uncomfertable (which is why i suggest regular) :)

Goodluck

Answer 7

Very very large pads and underwear you don't care about, then ask to switch to get an aisle seat if you can. Take a painkiller before you take off and whenever you're able stand up and walk around to help with the discomfort.