Traveling can affect a lot of things in a woman’s life, including their monthly period. Many women find that their normal menstrual cycle stops or changes while they are on the road. Keep reading if you can relate to this as the following article will tell you how traveling affects your period.
Similar to other lifestyle change, traveling could have an affect your monthly period because your normal routine is disrupted, even though it’s a temporary occurrence.
You could have problems such as delayed and missed periods because of stress, eating habits and more since the menstrual cycle hormones can be very sensitive to new things. International travel will have a greater effect as your body would undergo more of a shock.
How Traveling Affects Your Period
In general, your body, as well as its normal functions and rhythms, is dependent on or involved with your environment and situation. For this reason, you are going to see noticeable effects when you are on the go or in a new place.
When you are traveling, especially to a faraway city or overseas, the time change will interfere with your normal internal biological clock or circadian rhythm. This is what is referred to as jet lag, and rapid air travel across various time zones can lead to a number of problems. It can cause many problems, from exhaustion, irritability, and fatigue to stomach problems and lack of appetite.
A study was conducted on this, and it indicated that women have sleep disturbances seventy percent of the time after they cross a time zone. This is another example of how a major disruption in the circadian rhythm could have a huge effect on your period. As a matter of fact, the same study shows the well-documented fact that female flight attendants are commonly affected by irregular menstrual cycles.
Hormone release and various other vital bodily functions are influenced by your circadian rhythm. Whenever it’s off, your hormones such as progesterone and estrogen, which play an important role in your menstrual and ovulation, will be thrown off. Estrogen could spike to trigger ovulation or the spike might be delayed because of changes in your rhythm and cause your period to come later than normal.
Here are some other things that could change and affect your period when you are traveling:
Stress: Your menstrual cycle is very sensitive to stressful situations. Even though traveling can be fun, it can be stressful on your body. From the frenzy of deciding what to pack, leaving home to reach your location to the time that you should arrive at the airport, traveling comes with loads of stress.
Exercise: Lack of or not doing enough physical activities often causes changes in the body during travels. Like most people, you might have a set routine for exercising at home, but this could change when you are on the road. On the other hand, traveling might involve walking for long hours on unfamiliar streets or climbing mountains, and these things can jumpstart your system. Your periods could stop or you may have missed cycles because of increased exercise routines and weight loss. The same thing can also happen if you gain weight.
Diet: You will have many different places to explore when traveling, so it is highly likely that you are going to change your eating habits. It is not only the fluctuation in calorie intake that could affect your monthly period while you are eating everything around the world or you start to forget breakfast suddenly. You will be in new locations with new ingredients and menus that switches up the nutrients that you normally eat, so all these things are going to have an effect on how your body functions and feels.
Schedule: The lack of a nine to five routine or new sleeping schedules can have an effect on your body’s clockwork. In fact, a shakeup in your schedule could be another stressor that puts a strain on your body. Whenever you are not on a regular schedule, your period could also act the same way.
Bear in mind that these factors will affect different females in different ways. Your period might remain constant even though you are traveling all over the place or it could go completely out of whack.
The key is to take care of your body while on the road. It might feel difficult, but you should try to eat healthy, do some exercises as well as get enough sleep and relax.
This will not guarantee that your period is going to remain unchanged, but you are sure to feel better and be less vulnerable to PMS symptoms that are more difficult to predict on irregular cycles.
Now that you know how traveling affects your period, you don’t have to worry too much, especially if you are always on the road. Just remember that jet lag, change in eating habits and stress are things that come with traveling and can cause a delayed or missed period.
Hello. I came to the UK on 4th October. That day I had a regular period on the same day, the next month period is delayed by six days and now this month this is the fourth day still no signs.
If you’re not currently sexually active and you’ve not had unprotected sex, then the overseas travel may be cause for your periond being delayed. Read more here http://womanjunction.com/traveling-affects-period/
I have not seen my period for about four months now after travelling and i didnt have sex.i don’t feel any pain my body is normal. what’s the cause please?
Hello,Traveling can affect your period this is quite normal and your period will return to normal.
I have moved to Japan a month and a half ago. My first period here (about a week after arrival) was kind of usual, maybe just a tiny bit heavier. However my next one was lighter and shorter, lasted only 3 days (it is usually 5 days long). I am not sure if I should be worried?? I only had protected sex. Both periods came on time, but only the last one was suspiciously short…
Hi, Traveling can affect your cycle but it will return to normal.
I got my period 9th October I was a few days early and usually have one every 27 days. I travelled to Thailand on the 24th October, had unprotected sex with my partner and have not been on the pill for 2 years. I came home the 31st October and my period was due the 4th November and still isn’t here on the 8th, could it be the travelling delaying it? Trying not to get my hopes up.
Hello, Wait a week or 2 then take a pregnancy test, since you had unprotected sex with your partner its possible to be pregnant. Traveling can affect your period but its best to take a test to be sure! good luck!
hi, i have been travelling to American from japan on 11-22october. 16hr different timezone. my last period on 30/9—5/10. until now my period still haven’t come yet. checked negative with test, usually my period come on time and i never thrown off. I am quite worry if jetlag affected my cycle or pregnant.
thanks
Hello,Traveling can affect your period, I wouldn’t worry too much about it since this is quite normal.
I have recently moved to Japan. I have been here for 3 months and every period since then has been extremely heavy and my cramps are very painful. Is this something to be worried about.
It is normal to experience changes in your menstrual flow and cycle due to travel. If your symptoms become unbearable or you’re having a fever, then you must see a doctor.
I have always gotten my period on the 28th of every month. Never fails. While traveling to Mexico from Maine in September, I got my period on the 24th. When should I expect my period now, today’s date is October 23rd. I have never been thrown off before, and when should I worry about pregnancy? I have had sex during this time.
If your period does not come by October 28, wait another week and then take a pregnancy test.
Hi, I’ve been travelling in S America since August and got my period on 15th Aug. I haven’t had another one since so it’s either very late or missed. I’ve had sex once using a condom in this time frame, should I be worried I’m pregnant or is my body just confused with all the travelling? Should I get a test or just wait it out? It’s quite awkward to get a test here as I’m currently in Bolivia a very catholic place. Let me know you advice!
Hi Charlie,Traveling can affect your cycle, if you had protected sex and the condom didn’t break u are not pregnant but if you had any form of unprotected sex you can wait it out and if your next cycle doesn’t return take a test.
Hi, I have a question for you. I recently travel to Europe from Asia, which is 6 hours behind and with totally different climate. I must state that I am currently on birth control pill for the last 2 years and my period has always been on schedule. The latest delay was about 10-12 hours. During in Europe I always take my pills accordingly to my home time (every day around 6 pm which is 23.00 pm in Asia). And now my period is late. I normally get my period during the afternoon of the 4th pseudo pill so if you count it accordingly to my home time zone. I’m already about 10 hrs late and that stresses out my nerves a bit.
I have the symptoms of what I normally have before period but up until now nothing is here. I did, however messed up by taking 2 pills in 1 day but that was during the start of the package and I was still in Asia when that happen. Is this normal? Thanks in advance.
It is normal to have a late period while on the pill. The fact that you’re a bit stressed by this can delay your period even more. Try to relax and give your body a little time to regulate itself.
Hi,
I traveled to Jamaica from August 22nd to August 29th and I had my period prior to that. I was supposed to get my period today or tomorrow. I have cramps but no blood is coming down.I was wondering if the travel from august is affecting my cycle?
Hello Grace, This is no cause for alarm as many women experience changes in their menstrual cycle when they travel. These are few things that affect your period when you travel -Jetlag, new sleep schedules, or the lack of 9 to 5 routine,Increased exercise,Stress and weight loss.
hi I’m 17 and I travelled overseas on July 16 and came back August 6th. I’ve been trying to remember if I had my period last month but I don’t think I have. I’ve been back for a little more than a month and still haven’t gotten anything, please help?
Hello. Travelling is known to delay a woman’s period. If you’ve not had unprotected sex then try to relax and give it some time to return. If you are stressed or fatigued then it will be further delayed.
I have some problem with my cycle after my last travel and I really need information how to make my period come. Is it possible to influence it with natural methods?
Try taking Maca root
Hi, i had my last period July 29th to August 4th, i traveld to Mexico from New York on August 9th to August 16th. I was supposed to get my period this passed Saturday (August 29th). I’m a bit nervous because i usually get it 2 days before the “scheduled ” date. So according to my normal cycle i am 4 days late. Should i worry?
If you were not sexually active during the fertile days before your period then you should not be worried. It is normal to have a delayed or missed period because of travel. Wait patiently without trying to stress yourself – additional worry will result in further delays.
Thanks Steffy, but i am pregnant. My period has been like clock work and i know my body well. Once it hit day 5 of late period (which for me is really day 7 because im always 2 days early) i decided to take a home pregnancy test (more like 3) and they were positive.
My period is 4 to 5 days late every month, June 08,July 12 and now nothing.From June 9 till August 21 I was on vacation.On my last period I had really heavy bleeding it lasted almost 8 days..I’m really worried that my period is still not coming I’m so stressed out I don’t know what to do + I’m not sexually active.PLEASE answer
Hi Joanna,I think you should visit your doctor, you being stressed can also affect your period coming.
Hi I flew to the UK on the 22 June and returned back on 27 July, I had a Period before I left and I had it for 2 day while there and it was a heavy flow which was early in July and since I have been back I had spotting the 3rd day after I returned but nothing since. How long will my body take to get back to normal
Hi Lavinia,Just give it a couple days and see if you still have this issue check with your doctor.
My cycle length are usually 28 29 or 30 days. Pattern of my cycle March 26 than April 23rd may 22 and this month I spotted June 16 and 17th which has never happened June 18 the flow being a little heavy my period was supposed to be due June 20 can anyone help me to understand…. I been trying to conceive for almost 8 months
Perhaps your body is confused, if that makes sense. I think you will be fine, but I would see a doctor just to be safe and have a for sure idea of what is going on. Good luck!