There’s nothing like a good, long trek when you want to get away from the smoky bustle of the city. The air smells crisp and clean atop a lush green mountain, and that could be the perfect refresher that one needs to get re-energised to face another week of the rat race. But, there’s also nothing like the ruination of your excitement right before the anticipated weekend, when your biological tap starts to leak!
As if periods were not hard enough already, they sure can come in the way of fun plans, especially when it comes to travelling long distances or when on an adventure trail. The topmost worry on a trekker’s mind, when it comes to braving the climb while on periods, is the disposal. There’s no way that one can litter the abundantly green forests or leave terrifying trails of used sanitary napkins on the pristinely white snow. But it is also inconvenient to keep used napkins or tampons in the same bag that you have your next meal in.
Heather Hansman, a travel blogger and journalist swears by the IUCD or the Intrauterine Contraceptive Device. The contraceptive option, she says, eliminates periods for up to three months, making it a very comfortable choice. But this option is contested by gynaecologist Pushpa Latha, who is an expert on sustainable menstruation options. The owner of Lalithaa hospitals in Bengaluru has guided hundreds of people to convert to using the menstrual cup.
She says, “All IUDs do not eliminate periods. But there are IUCDs which release progesterone that makes periods scanty or completely eliminate them for about two months. It is a device that is inserted into one’s uterus, which can only be done by doctors. I would not recommend this method for somebody whose family is not complete. Even though ever so slightly, there are chances that it could cause infection and so, there is a certain amount of risk to this method.”
Dr Pushpa Latha adds that there is another alternative that sportspersons and adventure enthusiasts are resorting to these days. “There is an injection that makes periods very scanty or even completely eliminates them for about three to five months. It is not too expensive and has no side effects,” she says.
Still, the star of all the methods definitely seems to be the menstrual cup. Ankita Kumar, a traveller who has backpacked alone through South America, is of this opinion. She explains, “I took part in a survival camp where I went into the jungle for three days with nothing but a mosquito net and a mat. I was on my period then and the cup was a life saver!”
However, Heather, in her blog, explains that even though many people suggest the cup, it is gross to sterilise it in the same bowl in which you will probably make breakfast the next morning. To this, Ankita explains, “You only need to sterilise the cup once before your cycle and once after. So, even if you are going away for a month in the jungle, you can sterilise it at home and leave. You only need a little bit of water to rinse the cup before you use it again and you don’t have to worry about littering the area. It is very comfortable because you don’t have to worry about bearing a painful rash from a sanitary pad while trekking.”
Ankita also states that she would never go in for the IUCD option. “If it eliminates periods by months, I think it is messing with one’s cycle and I will be concerned about the aftermath in the long term.” However, Dr Pushpa Latha reassures that there are no side effects to the usage of an IUCD other than the rare scare of an infection.
Another avid trekker from Switzerland, Stefanie Sigle brings to the table another device, the NuvaRing. She explains, “It is a hormone ring which you keep in the vagina for three weeks. After that you take it out and like the pill, you will then start menstruating again. For travelling, I think this is the best option because you don’t have to think about your periods every day. The only negative aspect is that the ring has to be refrigerated if you don’t use it for three months. If you have a receipt from the doctor you can buy the ring everywhere in the world. If a woman doesn’t want to get her menstruation while travelling, she can use the ring for six months in a row without having a break of menstruation. (Change the ring every three weeks).”
Jaahnavi Sriperambuduru, one of the youngest mountaineers of the country is preparing to summit the Mt. Everest in March. The 16-year-old talks about how she manages her periods when on a climb. “It’s very unpleasant for trekkers to see a trail of used pads lying around. Wild dogs that inhabit the mountains get attracted to the smell and it could even spread infection. But primarily, it is not fair to contaminate such a beautiful atmosphere with pads, which take more than a 100 years to decompose,” she informs.
Jaahnavi also says that she is hearing about the menstrual cup for the first time. “It sounds great! I might think about using it on my future climbs. As of now, I roll up my used napkins in paper and stuff them in an air-tight ziplock and store it in my bag until I finish the expedition. In order to keep the smell from spreading, I toss in a bar of soap into that ziplock,” she explains.
On the other hand, one of the organisers of the Greater Hyderabad Adventure Club, Swathi Kasula prefers to take the simple route. “I never plan any treks during my periods because it is unfair on the environment and the people relying on me to be in my best form,” she says.
But why should anything keep women away from their passion? Just remember, there’s always a way out!
