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Travelling and seeing the world's beauty is a joy for all of us. It broadens our horizons, shows us new ways of being and offers an escape from the monotony of everyday life. For women travellers, these journeys can throw up lots of problems. One of the most frequent is dealing with menstrual cycles as we trot across the globe.
Here's our guide to seven essential menstrual hygiene products to carry with you on your travels for a comfortable experience.
A relatively new product in the market, pain relief patches work on a cooling effect principle. They are an easy solution for managing period pains as the patches contain menthol and eucalyptus oil which have a soothing effect. The medicinal qualities of the patches also relieve discomfort. There are no side effects and the patches themselves are made of herbs, are chemical free and non-invasive.
Menstrual cups are slowly gaining popularity because they are designed to be reused and are biodegradable. A menstrual cup consists of a small stem and a silicone cup. Unlike pads, a menstrual cup is inserted for 8-12 hours for the blood to collect, after which it can be washed and reused. Most of the cups are made of silicone and some of rubber. They are extremely popular with regular travellers because they can be easily cleaned and don’t require frequent changes.
The pH level of the vagina differs from the rest of a woman's body so intimate washes are specifically designed to cater to the pH level. Keeping the vaginal area clean becomes all the more important during periods, especially if you are travelling. The wash also helps in keeping away odour and stickiness and keeping the area dry. It also prevents fungal and bacterial infections and helps in breeding lactobacillus, a good bacteria which keeps the vagina healthy.
Heating pads are wonderful tools for alleviating menstrual cramps. They are generally used on the lower back and lower abdomen area and are said to relieve the uterine wall muscles and abdominal muscles. The heat generated also has a soothing effect, thus relieving women of cramps and pains. An electric heating pad can also be used as a substitute because it has the same effectiveness.
While a lot of individuals prefer to avoid taking medicines to curb the pain, it becomes essential to do so if you are suffering from severe periods, heavy blood flow and unbearable cramps. Check with a medical professional first and carry a pouch of pain relief pills that have no side effects and work fast. Use them if you are travelling to remote places and other remedies are unavailable.
Tampons are made of either cotton, rayon or a mix of the two. They are small sponge-like devices meant to be inserted into the vagina where they absorb period blood. They should be changed 4 to 8 hours. Tampons are ideal if you want to engage in water-based activities as they eliminate the fear of leakage and staining, unlike pads. They are also environmentally-friendly.
In most public restrooms, the available products for handwashing are either missing or may have been used by multiple people. As a rule of thumb, carry your own hand sanitiser to prevent infections, especially if you are on your period. Also carry a disposable bag of your own because menstrual products need to be disposed off thoroughly and should not be flushed down the toilet.
