Women's Health

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All things being equal, female travelers tend to endure more health-related headaches and complications than male travelers do.  Thus, this section deals with many of the feminine health concerns you might experience during your medical vacation.  This section should be read in conjunction with our more general discussion on Travel & Health. 

Menstrual Cycles

Because extensive travel and jetlag can throw-off menstrual cycles, but be prepared for irregular flow and erratic periods (early, late, and missed).  Disruptions in your cycle might occur regardless of how “regular” you typically are back home. 

The best way to prepare for irregular menstrual cycles is to carry plenty of tampons or pads with you at all times.  And because many women complain that switching brands causes discomfort or even infection, be sure to stock up on your preferred brand before getting on the plane.  Although many medical tourism countries cater to international crowds, you can’t always count on their having exactly what you need when you need it. 

Contraceptives

Condoms are readily available in most medical tourism destinations, but it’s always a good idea to take plenty with you, whether you plan on engaging in intercourse or not.  Having too many condoms can be annoying.  Having too few can be dangerous. 

Even though birth control pills are becoming more common around the world, you should take enough of your own supply to last the entire trip.  Having a backup set is also not a bad idea.  However, you’ll need to adjust your schedule accordingly when you fly across times zones.   

For shorter visits (1-15 days), many women prefer to keep taking the pill at regular 24-hour intervals.  So if you normally take your pill at 9:00 in the evening, and your destination is exactly 12 time-zones away, then you would begin taking your pill at 9:00 in the morning (local time).  For longer medical tourism vacations, many women prefer to slowly adjust their schedule by an hour or so each day so that they eventually end up taking their pill at their preferred time of day.   

Because every woman’s body is different, your safest bet is to consult with your physician before the trip.  Schedules that work for some won’t always work for others.  You should also be aware that certain antibiotics and medications (like various anti-malarial drugs) can reduce the overall effectiveness of birth-control pills.  So be sure to consult with your physician before you begin taking any medication.  And depending on the type of procedure that you receive during your medical vacation, you might need to approve the list of post-operative medications with your domestic physician as well. 

Cystitis & Yeast Infections

If you’re one of the few women in the world who has never experienced cystitis or yeast infections, consider yourself lucky.  Both are fairly common, and both seem to happen with greater frequency in hot, humid climates.  Even the best preparation can’t always protect you, but the following tips have proven useful for many women in the pastt:

• Wear loose cotton clothing that allows for plenty of ventilation and mobility.

• Shower often.  In tropical countries, it’s not uncommon for travelers to bathe two or three times a day.

• If you are prone to yeast infections or cystitis, be sure to bring along plenty of medication with you.

• Stick with purified water and/or cranberry juice (no ice).

• Avoid making contact with toilet seats (easier said than done, but necessary all the same).

Toilet Paper

Always, always, always carry toilet paper when you travel.  This ever-so-common luxury is sometimes lacking in many parts of the world.  And when we mean lacking, we don’t mean that some stalls and facilities have temporarily run out of paper.  We mean that there was never any toilet paper meant to be in that bathroom in the first place.  Even at upscale restaurants and hotels that cater to Western visitors, you won’t always have access to toilet paper. 

Medication

Although medical tourism countries typically have most of the prescription drugs that you’ll need, it’s best to bring the essentials with you.  But because airport security can be fairly strict, be sure to keep all medication in its original packaging.  To read more about traveling with meds, visit our Medication & Prescription Drugs section.

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