How often do you change your travel plans due to periods? Do you postpone your trips, or make no changes to your plans during your period?
How often do you change your travel plans due to periods? Do you postpone your trips, or make no changes to your plans during your period?
r/AskWomen
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No, I just suffer and swear to plan my vacation around my period next time. Which doesn’t happen, because my period has the tendency of coming +- 4 days, so unless I only plan it right in the middle of a cycle, I never know. I also change plans on day 2 and 3, like not doing anything vigorous or with water that day.
I usually plan trips that include walking, lots of it. So I will try to switch things and maybe cancel a few excursions, make sure there are restrooms where I’m going. But that’s it.
Only twice I cancelled a trip, but they were day trips with the car or train to nearby cities we’ve been to many times.
I skip most of my periods now, so this isn’t really an issue, but I never attempted to plan around it before. Most trips would be booked far enough out that I don’t think I could have accurately avoided it even if I tried, and there are other considerations to timing that would take precedence.
I change my periods….
I just live my life and take extra painkillers
I’m not that coordinated. Today was my heavy day: I went to a museum, a Broadway show, and then flew NYC to San Francisco. Grateful for Super+ tampons.
I don’t chamge anything
No. I go on my planned trips. I bring pads and tampons with me.
I refuse to skip plans or plan my life around my period. It can be uncomfortable and annoying, but I do my best to make it work. I’m very regular and have a pretty light period thanks to my IUD.
That said, I’m an avid runner and I do plan my training around my cycle. I’ll never skip a race because of it, but having my period on race day definitely sucks.
Never? But if it makes any difference, most of my trips are international. I’m not gonna dole out at least $250 because of it.
If it’s just some domestic one… well, I don’t see me changing that either.
That depends on the trip. If I’m gonna be somewhere where hygiene is less accessible, then I’ll cancel. I wanted to go camping but there’s no bins (there’s toilets though), and no showers. I canceled.
When I was in an ldr, I used to stop my periods for visits to my partner.
Other than that, I’ve never changed pre paid plans like anything that involved flight tickets etc. However, I do try and avoid going to the office (hybrid working), or I may ask for a raincheck if it’s a coffee / dinner date with friends if its the first couple days of my period. Those are potato days and I prefer not going out on potato days.
Never. I just bring a few pads/tampons every trip to me you off until I can get to a store if it comes. My period seems to come almost every time I have a flight even if it’s not my time of the month, which is probably stress induced.
I’ve cancelled a few one day trips because I got my period that morning or the evening before but I wouldn’t cancel a multiples days long trip or a vacation because of it.
If I’m on vacation, I might change up my plans a bit on the first day or two on my period, though. Like visiting a historical town instead of going on a hike that day because I want to be somewhere where I can access a bathroom and I don’t want to get cramps or the period shits in the woods.
I track my period with an app and try to plan around it. My periods are usually very consistent so 8/10 times it works out fine, but I’ve never changed plans because my period accidentally came early. I’m not skipping a trip to Norway because my body decided to act up lol
Never. I am on birth control and they are mild and last 3-4 days.
I just get through the day like I normally would. Life doesn’t stop when I’m on my period, so I figure having fun shouldn’t stop either.
I dont change them. My periods are super irregular.
Of course not, no one has time for that. Also my period is pretty unpredictable so I cannot realistically do that
I try and avoid swimming on my period, because tampons can hurt me and I don’t like using them. But if it’s unavoidable I’d rather swim then not
I do stay home about 3 days. It hurts too much and I am exhausted.
Never occurred to me to change plans unless maybe for example swimming but not necessarily.
I used to have heavy periods, cramps and general not feeling well (when younger) but just bit my lip and went on with my plans.
I did not cancel the trip, it was just that there were no such circumstances or opportunities. But it happened that I canceled all my birthday plans because of my period and spent the whole day in bed because I didn’t feel well. Canceled meetings with friends who came from another city. Because you feel so bad that even getting out of bed to go to the bathroom during the day is hard labor
No I just deal with it. Pack some tampons and make sure I have ibuprofen with me. Maybe have a bit of a lazy day eating snacks if need be
Always end on a work trip during my period so couldn’t change it even if I wanted to
If your periods are debilitating to the point of needing to schedule vacations around it, you might want to have it checked by a gynecologist
Other than if it’s a water-based vacation
I’m super regular and my Fitbit tracks my periods, so it’s very quick and easy for me to see when they’re going to be. So yeah, if we’re planning things I try to make sure it’s either when I’m not on, or at least not at the beginning of my period (when it’s most painful).
Before I could track it like that though, nah I’d just wing it and skip the period of it was going to be an issue.
It’s just a period, not a disaster, unless you realize you’re bleeding right as you’re about to jump into the pool or the sea.
I habe the blessing that my periods are consistent and regular, so I know in advance the first day I will be pretty much useless due to pain, but after that is just gradually better. I think the problem is rather the days leading up to my period when I feel the worst, bloating, ugly hair, nasty skin, just overall not myself. Last time, I had been working out and exercising to look the best for a trip, sadly landed exactly soon before my period so I felt ugly most of the time haha all my hard work gone as I look completely bloated 😅 and my huge ass pimple surely shined in the pictures
I adjust my birth control so if for some reason I’m getting my period while on vacation, I move it by taking my non-hormonal pills a week early
In this economy???
My periods come and go as they please. I cannot live my life waiting for them. So I just bring pads and painkillers whenever I travel.
Plans change slightly like I might not be up for some activities but I’ve never changed travel plans for my period
No, not at all. My periods aren’t bad though, just a mild inconvenience
I don’t change them. My period hears I am going on vacation and ALWAYS insists on going. That B will come early or late if she has to just to come along.
My body: oh?! You got some vaca planned? Say hi to your periode four days early this month and five next month.
I planned my trip to be around ovulation. Now I will fly out the day my period begins.
Not usually. In the past I’ve taken medication to delay it if I’m going away with my husband or a festival or something. Other than that, carry on as normal.
For the most part I just continue on. Though, after my baby my 1st day is HELL. I’m basically bed ridden with cramps and no safe amount of painkillers or heating pads help with the cramping.
I stopped menstruating several years ago and love the freedom, but while I still did I suffered from both dysmenorrhoea and menorrhagia that got worse with age, so travel had the potential to range from damply uncomfortable with painkillers to outright hellish without them. My first solution was a Keeper and strong painkillers that I started taking two days before I was due. My second solution was the Pill, taken without break for months on end. It meant dealing with occasional breakthrough bleeding and mild cramps, but nothing that panty liners and ibuprofen couldn’t help with. I never let it stop me from travelling, nor plan around it, but I remember one occasion where I took a “stay in bed with candy and a book” day while travelling.
Some friends of mine who had bad dysmenorrhoea got the coil and it stopped periods altogether for some and made them lighter for others. Depo Provera (injectable contraception) can do the same.
I don’t change anything because I got really lucky with my periods. I don’t suffer too much. I only get some VERY mild cramping – uncomfortable feeling but not painful
I don’t. It’s a ginormous hassle and menopause can’t get here soon enough, but I carry on. It helps that I don’t enjoy swimming or camping.
Never. I’ve always had fairly unpredictable periods so I carry tampons and liners with me pretty much all the time anyway. Literally every bag I own has at least one tampon lurking in a pocket somewhere.
The only time I’d even think about planning ahead would be if I was traveling to somewhere where I knew it would be difficult to buy period products – then I’d make sure I had a good supply in my suitcase.
Back when I had one, I used a tracking app since they were pretty regular. (Though heavy & painful, ugh) I would plan vacations, etc based on when the app says I would be on my period. Oh it says it should be the 15th-22nd of that month? Better go on vacay a good week & a half before, or wait til after. Stuff like that. I was always paranoid & would pack pads juuuust in case & use google maps to look around where I was staying (if in the US) for CVS/Walgreens/Walmart/Target in the event of needing more.
I’ve since had a hysterectomy, 2 years ago next month, and now I don’t have to worry anymore. haha.
I avoid vacation during that time of the month
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I don’t change anything, just make sure to have some ibuprofen handy.
Never. Just come prepared – meds, supplies, etc.
I got engaged. I was on bcps, so I literally counted ahead 1.5 years to find a date for the wedding that did not include my period – right in the middle of the cycle so I had 2 weeks buffer on either side.
I did this whenever I could plan ahead. Even with bcps my periods could be worse than that elevator waterfall in The Shining, so yeah I didn’t want to go anywhere during that time.
I scoot my placebo week to either 2 weeks before or the week after the trip. I’m not dealing with all that on a trip where I’m either supposed to be focusing on work or having fun
I used to aim for vacation during the good time of the month (follicular/ovulation) to live my best life, but then I thought it’s actually better to relax on vacation during luteal instead of being in the office. So kind of either way. But if it’s a beach vacation I would definitely try to avoid period dates
I don’t and wouldn’t change anything. Periods are gonna period.
I have endometriosis so I try not to vacation during it, but sometimes it can’t be avoided. If I’ve already booked, then I just figure out a way to tough it out, but if I get to do the booking, then I purposely choose it when I won’t be on my period. Recently found birth control that limits my period to once every three months so that helps.
Never?
Like, I don’t have endometriosis or anything and cramps can be breathed through (I’m anaphylactic allergic to a lot of OTC painkillers). Life isn’t stopping because I’m on my period and if I paid for a trip I’m going to make the most of it.
I’ll skip a period since I take the pill. It’s much easier than changing vacation plans. I realized after I booked my summer vacation this year that I should be having my period during that same week. So I skipped it last month to give my body time to adjust properly to the change and so I should get it the week before my vacation now and I won’t have to worry about it at all.
I don’t change my plans. I bring Tylenol and pads, extra underwear and I make sure to exercise even if I’m on a trip, and usually it all goes well. Worse that can happen is that I can’t go in the water (because I don’t use tampons).
Never?
Never
I always pack painkillers and pads even if I’m not on my period just in case it comes unexpectedly
Worst case I go out to buy junk food
I also only buy black underwear so if I accidentally leak it doesn’t show a stain after washing if it’s stubborn
I’m on birth control, so I’ll just skip my period if it’s going to happen during a trip
Never. Traveling distracts me and I forget I’m on my period.
My periods sometimes aren’t predictable due to bad genes unfortunately. I don’t change any plans and I just deal with it as it comes! Yeah I might be uncomfortable but I’m going to be uncomfortable no matter where I am so why change my plans?
With the birth control I’m on I don’t get periods anymore. And I’m so glad, I don’t have to cancel or postpone anything anymore
I don’t really change anything — I usually just manage through it. I actually just got back from Japan last week and had my period the whole time. My back was killing me, but I made sure to take some days off to rest.
I had (have…?) endometriosis. All of my travel plans were made around my period. And if I ever made plans really far in advance, it almost always ended up being on my period when it finally came time. I got to the point that I would only plan things 2 to 3 months out. I hated going on trips and spending 2 days being miserable.
I had a hysterectomy 9 months ago and it has changed everything! I’m finally free.
has never even occurred to me
Uhhh never…
Pre ablation….all the time. Post ablation… never!
Yes, if at all possible I do because my periods are horrendous. If I’m travelling for a longer time I’ll get a nicer hotel and just rest for a couple days and take it easy. If I’m still at home and my plans are flexible I’ll postpone the trip a couple days.
Although my periods can be extremely heavy (super tampons & overnight pads those first few days), I do not get much pain.
So they dont affect my travel plans, but i do get extra scared when I stand up. Im accident prone no matter how often i change my products.
Absolutely not. A period is a minor inconvenience (for me), changing plans would be completely ridiculous.
Having my period affects very little in my life except for swimming. I don’t like wearing tampons so I usually don’t swim when I’m on my cycle. Other than that, take some painkillers and do whatever.
Not anymore since I don’t get a period!🤑
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Never. I might plan my beauty treatments for a trip to before and after my period. The first day of my period is usually the worst. I pop a few Midol, and if we’re traveling it would just be a rest day. At the same time though – I’m not one to plan my vacations or travel to a tee.
birth control bayybeeee I never have to have it when I dont want to
No changes. Even with BC this shit is unpredictable in many ways.
I don’t. I just rawdog that shit.
I’ve never changed my plans because of my periods. I might be a little more uncomfortable but it’s totally tolerable.
When I was on birth control I would plan either my trip or my period around the other…when I stopped birth control that ability went out the window and I discovered that my period likes to start within the first 24 hours of a trip. My favorite was when it started on the plane to South Korea. I had supplies only because I’d never unpacked them but no painkillers…it sucked.
I usually try to plan around my periods, but if they come anyways, I just vibe it out.
I did a 4 day solo trip once and I started my period just as I got out of my house to leave for the airport. My itinerary was pretty extensive and I was sightseeing for 10 hours a stretch, so the only compromise was going into fancy restaurant cafes with clean bathrooms to change my pad
Never, but I have a mild fear of bathrooms outside my own home so If I’ve got a trip coming up to a place where I know the bathroom situation/s won’t be up to my own standards I take birth control to delay it a bit.
I started my period on vacation at 9 years old. Since then I think my body prefers to bleed while traveling. I’m just used to it but damn, so annoying.
Nope, carry on as usual. Tampons let me do whatever I want
I have boudior photos next week and was set to be done with my period but…my period decided to not come. Or is super late. If I didnt have this scheduled a year out I would reschedule
it depends. if it’s something „local” and on the „daily” then yes i might change plans if it occurs on the first few days bc i have PAINful periods. not heavy, just super painful. id rather rest & redo it later than suffer more and have a bad mood.
if it’s an international trip i would not cancel, as u always book it in advance and theres much more to it. i have never had my period during travels as i try to plan it that way.
Never, but it sucks if I have my period on a beach or pool holiday because I don’t use tampons or a cup.
My periods are regular. I can estimate their arrival and at least know the week to plan for, and give myself that window. So I plan around my period. I don’t usually plan things more than a couple months in advance though so that’s pretty simple for me. The only plans I change are the things I eat the first day or so. I might move a workout to the next day. And chocolate goes on the grocery list. Lol. I find other women that wreck all our plans due to their period to be very tiresome. But I understand that some people have very irregular periods or they refuse to use tampons or they struggle to manage their pain. I’ve just got mine figured out by now, I’m 37.
The only thing I change is outfit choices. Particularly if I’ll be traveling long distance and/or on a plane. Periods happen, life doesn’t stop because of them. I’m not going to plan my life around something inevitable or miss out of fun because of it.
Honestly, if I canceled every trip because of my period, I’d never leave the house 😅 Painkillers, heating pad, and a little rage—suitcase essentials.