Is there anything more disheartening than the moment you realize you’ll have your period on vacation? Whether you’re a bride going on a romantic honeymoon or a woman planning the next big adventure, dealing with the extra burden of menstruation is one of the worst aspects of being female.
Cramping, irritability, upset stomach, bloat, and bleeding—no one wants to deal with any of it when traveling. This is supposed to be a time for mental escape. While it’s hard to stop Mother Nature in her tracks, there are some actions to take if you’re wondering how to stop your period on vacation.
Of course, it is important to note that some methods require help from a healthcare provider. Additionally, time is a huge factor when altering a woman’s menstrual cycle. This is especially important when it comes to birth control, such as securing doctor’s appointments and allowing one’s body to adjust to new pharmaceuticals. Therefore, act quickly to increase your odds that your vacation will be period-free.
Best Options to Stop Period
Planning a special event or a romantic getaway but concerned about your period? Worry no more! Here are both medicine and natural options if you’re researching how to stop your period on vacation.
How to Be Comfortable on Vacation With a Period
Unless you’re open to taking pharmaceuticals (which we discuss below) there’s really only so far natural methods that can help. For this reason, naturalists should expect to have a period—so now, let’s discuss some things you can do to be more comfortable on vacation with a period.
🩸🗓️ Period Survival Pack
As a digital nomad, getting my period while traveling is unavoidable. We are constantly on the go, so each month I unpack my period panties and travel on. Dealing with menstruation when on vacation is such a pain, so if you can’t avoid this time while traveling consider preparing a small period survival pack.
- Relief Tablet: Bring some period relief tablets to help with headaches, backaches, fatigue, cramps, and bloating.
- Black Absorbent Period Underwear: Prevent leaks and stay confident during long trips by absorbing black period panties.
- Personalized Travel-size Supply Bag: The perfect-sized travel pouch for medicine and other girly things.
- Various Feminine Hygiene Products: Two-in-one products take up less space and make it easier to pack.
Natural Methods
Some travelers may want a more natural method of stopping their period. Unfortunately, there is no direct food or supplement that naturally contains progesterone, the hormone that plays a huge role in one’s menstruation cycle. Instead, foods and supplements can help balance hormones, such as progesterone, and maintain a healthy weight.
Natural supports can include:
- Foods: Beans, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, nuts, pumpkin, spinach, and whole grains. Some naturopaths recommend eating 1 tablespoon each of sunflower and sesame seeds every day to boost progesterone.
- Herbal Supplements: Herbal supplements can help improve progesterone levels. Common options include Vitex, ashwagandha, and maca.
- Vitex: Widely used to regulate menstrual cycles, Vitex is a chaste tree berry that boosts LH production, increasing progesterone levels. It’s effective for lengthening the luteal phase, alleviating PMS, raising mid-luteal progesterone, and lowering prolactin.
- Ashwagandha: Traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha reduces stress, supports thyroid and adrenal health, and enhances overall well-being.
- Maca: Beneficial for both female and male fertility, maca supports the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, balancing FSH, estradiol, and progesterone levels.
Pharmaceutical Methods
Using pharmaceuticals to modify your cycle must be implemented with the help of a healthcare provider. In many countries, pills will require prescriptions from a physician. However, knowing what options are available will help guide the doctor-patient conversation.
Here are some pharmaceutical methods to stop your period:
- Norethisterone: Norethisterone 5mg tablets are a prescription medication meant to be taken a few days before a period is due to start, delaying your period until you stop taking the pills. This medication seems like the fastest plan of care when you don’t have the luxury of a lot of time.
- Continuous Birth Control Pills: There are pills designed in an extended or continuous fashion. These include medications like Seasonique (period every 84 days) or Lybrel (no scheduled periods).
- Honeymoon Pills: Made of synthetic Progestin, Honeymoon Pills can delay the start of your period, sometimes up to 17 days. These work by keeping the body’s progesterone levels raised which prevents the breakdown of the uterine lining. This medication does not prevent pregnancy because it does not stop ovulation so a backup birth control method will be needed.
- Extending Current Birth Control: For those on an established birth control method, a healthcare provider can guide how to use it to delay the start of your period. This includes starting a new pack of birth control without taking the sugar pills or keeping in your Nuvaring for an extra week for a 4-week cycle.
When manipulating your cycle with medication, it is highly recommended to seek the guidance of a healthcare practitioner. They can walk you through potential side effects, and the proper dosing, and advise if a backup birth control method is needed to avoid pregnancy.
Although it seems straightforward, you’ll be out of your normal routine when on vacation. Therefore, don’t forget to pack your medicine and take it as instructed by your doctor or pharmacist.
Don’t Let a Period Define Your Vacation
To conclude, pharmaceuticals offer the best guarantee to stop your period on vacation. However, supplementing with natural methods will help keep a woman’s body healthy and balanced during this time.
Hopefully, with the available methods, you can relax and celebrate your special occasion without interruptions.
