How to (Handle): Getting Your Period During A Vacation

Getting your period is never a pleasant endeavor, but it’s even worse when you look at your calendar at your upcoming vacation, which you’re just dying to finally take, only to realize that Mother Nature plans to curse your vagina the entire time. It throws a pretty annoying wrench into your plans of sweet cocktails and bikini adventures, but it doesn’t have to. Sure, you’ll have to deal with a few annoyances along the way, but there are ways to ensure you still have the most epic vacation possible even during your period.

First things first- pack the essentials. As much as you hate to, you need to pack everything you need for the beast that is your period. This includes tampons, pad, liners, painkillers, your extra comfy period panties (we all have them, don’t deny it) and whatever else makes that time of month bearable. Even if you’re not expecting your period, it’s always good to pack a few of these items just in case your body acts out of line.

Get active on your trip. It’s pretty normal for most women to want to curl up into the fetal position and accept defeat against the dragon- but fight the urge. Studies have proven that getting active on your period actually helps to relieve the symptoms of cramping, creates better blood circulation in your body which can reduce the heavier parts of your flow and gets rid of that annoying belly bloat. Even something as simple as a brisk walk or a light jog can do wonders towards enjoying the rest of your day.

Drink plenty of water. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! It’s all about flushing that body out. Water is always good for us, but it’s even more crucial during our lady time, and especially if you’re on a hot vacation and out in the sun. The last thing you want is to be dehydrated, crampy, whiny and bloated, so knock some H20 back between cocktails and your body will thank you for it.

Allow yourself to indulge, but get your nutrition in too. You’re on vacation, so you absolutely deserve a break on your diet. Enjoy the delicious foods. Have the fancy cocktail, but be sure to maintain some sense of balance by eating some good stuff too. Start the day with a green smoothie if you can, or just make sure to get some fruits and veggies into your day. What you eat before and during your period does impact how your body feels. That extra-large pizza can attribute to fiercer cramping.

Take bloat friendly clothing. This is a good rule of thumb for all vacations, but especially important if you’re expecting Aunt Flow. Light, flowy clothing that makes you look and feel amazing will give you that boost in confidence in your body. You’re on vacation and you deserve to feel and look your best no matter what other plans your body has for you, so pack a cute tunic and some A-line looks and sport your vacation glow with pride. No one will even know you’re experiencing lady hell.

Invest in a cute swim cover. Having a good swim cover will go a long ways in aiding your period vacation fiasco. Let’s be honest, having your period with all the nuisances of pain, bloating and irritability is stressful enough, you shouldn’t feel like shit about yourself on your hard earned break from reality. The swim covers these days can practically double as evening wear, so don’t be afraid to be the most fabulous babe at the pool or on the beach- you deserve it.

If you take birth control, consider not stopping the pill for your vacation. Another option that a lot of women opt for is skipping the week of placebo pills and continuing their regular birth control as a means of putting it off for another week for you to enjoy yourself. This can mess with your next cycle, but it might be worth it if the thought of braving your period while on vacation is unbearable.

Don’t let it ruin your days- stay focused on fun. Stay the course- don’t let your period ruin all the fun you’ve been itching to have. In reality, periods are just a minor setback, and with the right tools and self-care, you can minimize the blow to your body, and your vacation.

Finally, enjoy the sunshine and relaxation. This is your vacation, and you worked your ass off for this, so as annoying as an unanticipated shark week might be, it’s not the end of the world. Sip that cocktail and attempt to nuke the annoyances away. If you follow this guide, you’ll enjoy your vacation just as much as you would have sans period.