DON’T DRINK THE WATER!  

That’s what everyone tells you. The guide books tell you where to go, what to see, how to order, and even how to deal with the currency. What they don’t tell you is how to protect your health and comfort. Here are some tips on traveling and your health.

Travel can disrupt your period, if you travel extensively. Your period may stop, be heavier or lighter. It is dependent on how your body adjusts to the stress. If only one period is affected, it is probably due to your recent activity. If it continues, consult your doctor.

Tampons and sanitary napkins can be expensive and may not be the brands you are used to using. It is a good idea to take a supply with you when traveling out of the country. PMS, in the form of fluid retention, can be worse on prolonged flights. You should drink at least a liter of water every two to three hours in flight. Get up and walk around at least every two hours to lessen fluid retention in your legs. You can take the same medication for cramps that you always take. Carry your medication with you. It may not be available where you are going.

Hot weather and dramatic temperature changes can promote yeast infections. It may be a good idea to take a supply of Monostat or other over the counter yeast preparations with you if you are traveling to a different temperature zone. If you have a history of yeast infections, always carry the medication you usually use with you.

Urinary tract infections can become troublesome on trips due to more frequent sexual activity and a more concentrated urine from not drinking enough liquids. If the water isn’t safe to drink, use bottled water. Continue to drink two liters of water a day. Try to urinate when you feel the need; don’t try to hold your urine. If you have a history of urinary tract infections, ask your doctor for a prescription and have it filled before you leave home.

You can suppress your period for a special trip or honeymoon if you take certain birth control pills. You need to plan ahead and discuss this with your doctor. She will give you detailed instructions. Adjusting the schedule of taking your birth control pills requires a little advance planning. For short trips, continue taking your birth control pills at the same time, using your home time zone. If you plan to be gone to a different time zone for more than two weeks, you need to plan ahead. Take your pills based on the new time zone before you leave. Diarrhea will not affect the absorption of your pills since they are absorbed by the stomach and not the intestines. However, vomiting will affect the efficacy of your pills. Wait for several hours after vomiting, until your stomach is settled and then take an extra pill. If you have vomiting for several days in a row, you will have break-through bleeding. You must then decide whether you want to continue with the pill pack or stop them and restart a new cycle. IF this becomes a problem, remember to use another form of birth control.

A word of caution: Please remember that AIDS is UNIVERSAL. Never, ever sleep with a stranger.