5 Ways To Take Control Of Your Sexual & Reproductive Health While Traveling

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year are fast approaching, which means that it’s the prime season for holiday travel. Though you might be worrying about seeing your annoying family or focused on how to pack your suitcase at the last minute, there are other factors to consider during your travels, such as managing and maintaining your sexual and reproductive health.

Though traveling feels like an escape from your regular schedule, there are still aspects of our typical routine that we can’t escape (taking birth control pills, using condoms, maintaining an ideal pH balance, etc.) or aspects that we could likely skip if need be, but probably won’t (masturbation).

To avoid any mishaps and manage expectations, here are five things you should know about maintaining your routine sexual and reproductive health practices while traveling:

When crossing time zones, take your birth control pill every day during the timeframe from your original time zone.

When taking the contraceptive pill, it’s essential that you take it every day at the same time. Giulia Guerrini, the lead pharmacist at the digital pharmacy Medino, says, “This means that when you’re traveling across time zones, you need to ensure that you’re still taking your pill at the same time as your home time zone.”

“The progestogen-only pill must be taken within the same three hours each day and the desogestrel progestogen-only pill must be taken within the same 12 hours each day,” adds Guerrini.

It’s also worth noting that other forms of contraception, such as the ring and patch, are not as time-sensitive as the pill, as the ring is changed every three weeks and the patch is changed weekly.

You can skip your period by starting a new pack of pills earlier, but there may be some drawbacks.

Staci Tanouye, MD, FACOG explains, “If you skip the placebo week, take your pills continuously, and skip your period, the pills maintain the same thin lining and continue to prevent any thickening of the endometrium.”  However, the downside to this is that the longer you continuously take your oral contraceptive pills, the more likely you are to get breakthrough bleeding and spotting due to a lining that’s getting too thin and therefore unstable.

“It’s not at all harmful, just annoying,” Tanouye elaborates.

If you’ll be out of town when your refill is scheduled to arrive, the likelihood that you can get over-the-counter birth control varies significantly by country.

If you’re in the US, emergency refills can usually be transferred to a local pharmacy, but there is the risk that insurance won’t cover it. If you’re traveling out of the country and you’re not able to access your birth control abroad, use condoms or internal condoms to prevent pregnancy and STIs.

“If you’re abroad in Europe, you can ask your doctor to give you a prescription to use in another EU country, also known as a ‘cross-border prescription,” adds Guerrini.

In cases like these, the best thing anyone can do is plan. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist, explain that you will be away from home, and request a larger prescription.

If you’re going on a vacation with your lover, be mindful of policies regarding unmarried couples staying in the same room.

Laws are not made equal. Even in the U.S., laws vary from state to state, so you can imagine the differences when you cross the international border. Some countries are welcoming to unwed couples, solo travelers, and the LGBTQ community, but many countries across the seas are not. When traveling, make sure you research the considerations you need to take while planning your travels with a partner.

You can bring sex toys when you’re traveling, but there may be restrictions.

 

According to TSA regulations, flying with adult toys in the U.S. is generally permitted. However, whether your sex toy makes it through the checkpoint is up to the TSA officer handling your bag. Keep in mind that not all countries have the same regulations as the U.S. when it comes to sex toys. Some countries that may not allow you to travel with these personal items include India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Maldives.

Ultimately, regardless of what method of birth control you use or what kind of sexual activity you’re planning on doing while you’re traveling, it’s always best to consider every scenario before you leave. By considering every possibility that may happen, you’ll at least be prepared to take any necessary measures and have less to worry about while you’re on vacation.