{"id":21587,"date":"2023-05-05T19:20:17","date_gmt":"2023-05-05T17:20:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=21587"},"modified":"2023-05-05T19:21:04","modified_gmt":"2023-05-05T17:21:04","slug":"how-travel-impacts-your-period","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-travel-impacts-your-period\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does Travel Impact Your Period?"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve all been there. You\u2019re taking a road trip to visit your parents, and suddenly your period comes a few days earlier than expected. Or, you\u2019re visiting another country, and you\u2019re wondering why it hasn\u2019t come yet. When it does come, maybe it\u2019s longer or shorter than you\u2019re used to, or it\u2019s more uncomfortable than normal. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re wondering whether or not you should be worried, don\u2019t freak out yet; No matter if you\u2019re frequently flying for work or digital nomad-ing it across a different continent, travel often impacts the menstrual cycle in a variety of ways. Let\u2019s discuss some reasons why your period may be affected by travel, and how to deal with it.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Periods Work<\/span><\/h2>\n

First, let\u2019s break down how your period works. Your <\/span>menstrual cycle<\/span> is regulated by the hormones secreted by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, which are essentially part of your brain. This means that any changes in your physical or emotional state, from dietary abnormalities and physical exhaustion to stress can put your hormones out of whack and result in absent or irregular menstrual periods. Ovulation requires proper hormone balance, so if your hormones are imbalanced, your periods will be symptomatic of that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ways Travel May Affect Your Period<\/span><\/h2>\n

Your body is a wondrous, self-regulating machine that knows when things are different than it\u2019s used to or are not optimal for function. Your period is often a direct reflection of your body\u2019s response to various environmental changes. Here are some ways that travel may impact your period.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stress<\/span><\/h3>\n

Your menstrual cycle is controlled by a delicate interplay between many different hormones, but there are two key regulators that are directly linked to stress and travel: cortisol and melatonin. Think about how much stress is involved in just planning a trip, much less the amount of stress you go through getting on and off a flight, finding things in a new place, navigating a foreign environment, and dealing with different time zones. Even a relatively simple trip can raise your stress meter. Stress causes your <\/span>cortisol<\/span> and melatonin levels to fluctuate, leading to a shift in your ovulation schedule, and a period that shows up later or earlier than you expected.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting Sick<\/span><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s easy to get sick when traveling, with all the coughing and sneezing people on planes and plenty of foreign germs in airports, taxis, and restaurants. Illness can also stress your body out, and when traveling you\u2019re inevitably going to be exposed to different types of bacteria and viruses than you\u2019re used to. On top of that, you may not be staying adequately hydrated or getting your proper nutrients (maybe you\u2019re living off fry-ups and beer while hostel-hopping in the U.K), making your body even more susceptible to sickness. When your body\u2019s working\u00a0 overtime to fight off disease, your period may be affected. Altitude, and the accompanying altitude sickness, is another potential factor to keep in mind as you track your period on a ski trip or do a long trek through high mountain ranges.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleep Issues<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are many ways travel can disrupt proper sleep patterns, which is necessary for your body to function properly. Traveling through different time zones or changing environments may disrupt your <\/span>circadian rhythms <\/span>– your body\u2019s internal clock- and impact sleep quality. Your circadian rhythm directly influences your hormones, sleeping habits, and other bodily functions. If you\u2019re forced to catch some Zzzs on a plane or bus, or are crashing on a friend\u2019s uncomfortable couch with no AC, you likely won\u2019t be as well rested as you would be at home. This confuses your body and it will try to figure out how to get back to its normal schedule, impacting your period.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Changes in Diet and Exercise<\/span><\/h3>\n

As mentioned before, when\u00a0 you\u2019re traveling you have much less control over what and when\u00a0 you exercise and eat. Of course, this isn\u2019t necessarily a bad thing; sometimes we need a vacation, so enjoy that margarita on the beach, the gym will always be there! But, changes in exercise and diet do impact your hormones. If you\u2019re eating local foods, indulging in alcohol, partying frequently, and waking up at odd hours, it may add additional stress to your body and thus alter your menstrual cycle.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Traveling on Birth Control May Impact Your Period<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re taking contraception, then your period should be regular, as travel doesn\u2019t directly impact your birth control. That is, unless you forget to take it on time. Changing time zones can make it difficult to take your pill at the right time, and your endogenous hormonal schedule may also be thrown off as your body isn\u2019t sure what time it is. To prevent any contraceptive slip-ups, and avoid menstrual irregularities, try to be extra aware of changes in time zones when taking birth control, and account for the <\/span>number of hours<\/span> rather than the time of day.<\/span><\/p>\n

How To Manage Your Period When Traveling<\/span><\/h2>\n

Travel may cause your period to be irregular for a number of reasons, so don\u2019t stress. Enjoy your trip and all it entails; eat delicious foods and rest when you need to. If you think there is something abnormal about your period, or if irregularities persist for months after you\u2019ve adjusted to a travel schedule, consult with your OB\/GYN. Ultimately, the important thing is to know your body, and knowing your period is a key part of that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve all been there. You\u2019re taking a road trip to visit your parents, and suddenly your period comes a few days earlier than expected. Or, you\u2019re visiting another country, and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":21558,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[47,199],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow Does Travel Impact Your Period? - Intimina<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-travel-impacts-your-period\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Clara Wang\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-travel-impacts-your-period\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-travel-impacts-your-period\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Clara Wang\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/bbe3f8278393bf7331406726c01dc98c\"},\"headline\":\"How Does Travel Impact Your Period?\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-05-05T17:20:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-05-05T17:21:04+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-travel-impacts-your-period\/\"},\"wordCount\":941,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"menstruation\",\"periods\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Menstruation\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-travel-impacts-your-period\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-travel-impacts-your-period\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-travel-impacts-your-period\/\",\"name\":\"How Does Travel Impact Your Period? - Intimina\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-05-05T17:20:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-05-05T17:21:04+00:00\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/how-travel-impacts-your-period\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Intimina\",\"description\":\"A Health and Wellness Resource for Women\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Intimina\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":543,\"caption\":\"Intimina\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intimina\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intimina\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/intimina\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/intimina\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCR_3_GPO6pkhDiFU9TZRdYA\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/bbe3f8278393bf7331406726c01dc98c\",\"name\":\"Clara Wang\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/14e167ac7508f07119df82d0c5a7d445?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/14e167ac7508f07119df82d0c5a7d445?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Clara Wang\"},\"description\":\"Clara Wang is a freelance writer based in Nashville, TN but often found abroad. 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