Travel health checklists usually focus on the obvious — vaccinations, malaria pills, stomach medicine. They often miss the women-specific issues that turn good trips into miserable ones. Plan ahead and they're solved problems.
Period management abroad
Bring more period products than you think you need (some destinations don't sell what you're used to). Menstrual cups (Mooncup, OrganiCup) are excellent for travel — no replacement needed for 12 hours, washable. Period tracking app to anticipate. Pack adequate pain relief if you typically need it.
For long trips during which you don't want to deal with periods: GP can prescribe a continuous contraceptive pill or norethisterone (period-delay tablet).
UTIs and yeast infections
More common during travel (dehydration, new bacteria, swimming pools/oceans). Pack: D-mannose powder (UTI prevention/early treatment), Canesten or equivalent (thrush treatment) over the counter where available. For recurring UTIs, GP can prescribe standby antibiotics to take abroad with you.
Prescription medication planning
Bring full prescriptions in original packaging plus prescription letter from GP (essential for controlled substances in some countries). Enough for trip + 50% extra for delays. Carry in hand luggage, not checked. Time-zone management for chronic conditions (diabetes, thyroid, etc.) — discuss with GP before long-haul trips.
Hormonal contraception and travel
Time zones don't significantly affect contraceptive effectiveness for most types if you stay within 3 hours of normal time. For >6 hour time zone changes, pill timing can drift; adjust gradually over 2-3 days. Sickness/diarrhoea reduces effectiveness; bring backup (condoms) for any GI illness during trip.
Pregnancy and travel
Most airlines allow travel up to 36 weeks (28 weeks for some routes); doctor's letter required after 28 weeks. Travel insurance: check pregnancy coverage explicitly — some policies exclude. Avoid: countries with active Zika virus (concerning early pregnancy), high-altitude destinations, areas without good medical care.
Most women-specific travel health issues are solved by planning before the trip. Five minutes of thinking ahead beats hours of trying to find international pharmacies.