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
How Traveling Affects Your Period
Hi,
My period has been irregular since it started, around age 14. At home (US) I only get my period every 4-6 months. However, as soon as I travel to another country (Europe, South America, and Asia) I get my period within a week and it is regular the whole time I am away! Then it stops again when I get home. Any ideas why that could be? My diet at home and abroad is very healthy and I am normal weight.
Thanks,
Claudia
Hi Claudia, the problem you are facing is definitely not normal, my friend. You should visit a doctor and get yourself checked. Regards
Thanks. I have talked to several doctors over the years and they are totally stumped. By the way, my mom and grandmother also had irregular periods so it’s at least partially genetic.
Yes, genetics could be the reason of your irregular periods.
I traveled to Mexico which was a 2hr flight. I was there for 5 days. I am back home now and my period is 5 days late. Could it be due to travel?
Hi Julia, yes, your period delay might be because of the tiredness, stress and sleep deprivation usually caused by traveling. Best Regards 🙂
my wife period is regular 28 to 30 days cycle. we went out for vacation in the hill area and travel a lot 3 days. at that time we had sex with out any protection on her 24th day after her last period. now its 32th day and still period did not start. is there any chance to get pregnant or due to more travelling period is delaying as our understanding day 24 doing sex with out any protection is safe.
Hi Jhon, if you two had sex during your ovulation days then your wife might get pregnant. Regards
Every summer i travel for a month going to different countries, My period during this time usually comes early, but this is normal for me. This past summer I got my period early, and then i got it on its regualar date, but it still hasn’t gone away. It has been 11 days so far, i reached home yesterday, is this something i should worry about? it usually never exceeds 6 to 7 days.
Hi Darcey, travelling can have an effect on your menses especially if you travel over different timezones. You may however, want to visit your doctor regarding the prolonged bleeding.
I recently moved from a very high altitude city 2,194 m above sea level to a sea level city across several time zones and international waters. For months before moving, I was under exrtreme stress trying to get everything planned and under control (my period was even pushed back an entire week) but now that I have been here about a month, something is amiss. My period has lasted 10 days so far. It usually never passes 5 days. It may be due to the new city, food, lack of sleep, stress I am still under or the fact I have become much more active as of late in spite of getting little sleep. Even with these factors I cannot help feeling worried.
Any one else have anything like this happen?
I have the exact opposite situation in that I went from sea level (FL) to high altitude, around 7000ft in Mexico. I also have increased activity, new food, and toally different climate. I just stopped bleeding after nearly a month. Looks like elevation changes, activity, etc. may indeed cause prolonged periods.
Hi please help me. I have traveled 5 hours riding motorcycle and I think 50 kilometers away from our home. It was one week before my period and it’s now 8 days past my due date and my period has not arrive as yet. What should I do? I think I’m irregular since I’ve experienced 2-3 days delay but now it is so different. Is it possible that I’m pregnant? I had sex with my boyfriend 2 days before my period.
A late period can be caused by many reasons and pregnancy is only one of them. If you think pregnancy can be the reason in your case, wait until 10 days after the date of your expected period date to take a pregnancy test. This waiting is to ensure the accuracy of the pregnancy test kit.
Girlfriends,
I am a medical student. Let me tell you that barometric changes caused by sudden changes in altitude as per air travel can detach a deciduum, resulting in an early, mini-menses.
The deciduum is that part of the endometrial lining of the uterus that proliferates, then sheds, monthly. This is a normal process. Detachment can occur early due to air travel. This is to be expected. Nothing bad happens. The deciduum was going to shed anyway.
Hi mam, what about my case i am a very regular in menstruation but suddenly it stop its been two months but im not pregnant 100% sure… I just came here in taiwan 3 months working.. But i am from the philippines… And i am worried because its my very first time to. Skip period. im 32 years old
My period was late by two weeks after 10 days in Mexico. I’m def. not pregnant but am wondering now if my cycle will be different, or will I get another period two weeks after my delayed one (when I am regularly schedule for one)?
Hello J, If you were travelling to Mexico or Mexico is a different place than where you normally live, then your late period could be because of travelling, place change etc. Deciding your next period date is difficult. Whenever your body will start adjusting to your normal schedule you might get your periods.
My daughter is an air hostess but the last two months her period is stopping and starting; it comes one day and gone the next. Should she be concerned? Thank you.
Yes, such irregular periods are not normal. It is recommended that she consults her doctor – he will help her to determine the cause.
Hi girls
Just past my 28 period and traveling for 1 week to Africa and my period restarted after 5 days. Is it normal? Or due to climate change
I did two long haul return flights in the past 5 weeks. I got my period 3 days early last cycle (as soon as I got home) and then came back from the second trip more than 3 weeks ago and ovulated on schedule and now my period is 4 days late. Could this still because of the jet lag? Usually I have a very regular 28 day cycle. I am ttc but no pregnancy or pms symptoms and negative tests. Thanks.
Hi Fleur, Jet lag may be a reason here yes But just because you don’t see any pregnancy symptoms, it doesn’t mean that pregnancy cannot be the reason. To know for sure, you should wait till 26th April and then take a pregnancy test again.
HI Fleur:
I too have noticed that flying disrupts my cycle. The most annoying is that I get an extra period that starts a day or so after I land. Now that I am a medical student, I think I have figured out why. Normally, after ovulation the endometrial lining of the uterus begins to build up, under the influence of estrogen and progesterone. Normally, when estrogen and progesterone decline about a week later, the deciduum begins to detach. The deciduum is that extra layer that builds up every months, and sheds again every month.
I believe that the deciduum is subject to barometric pressure. The low pressure of high altitude, followed by a sudden return to sea level barometric pressure, seems to detach the deciduum, which is already by design a detachable tissue. Therefore, if you travel during the post-ovulatory phase when there is deciduum, then it is likely that the deciduum will detach. Then you will have an extra period that starts the day or so after you land.
I have talked to another female medical student, and she says she also has a period upon landing. So we think this is right.
Anyway, I have learned the hard way not to expect any vacation to be menses-free if I travel by air. Always pack your “supplies”, so your trip isn’t disrupted, no matter what your regular menstrual calendar says.
The good part is that there is nothing bad about the decidium detaching early. No big deal. This might explain, however, why it is not so good for pregnant women to travel by air. Then detachment would be a very bad thing. Not sure if that happens, though. I conjecture that the deciduum of pregnancy is way more hardy and attached than the decidium of menstruation.
Truly,
Elaine
hi !! i just got back one last tuesday i traveled on a plane fo 2 1/2 there and back . i was due for my period on april 6th and i still havent got it so im now 10 days late .. should i be concerned? or is that something normal after flying .
Hi Jami, only the flying does not affect period. But,jet lag, change in eating habits and stress are things that come with traveling and can cause a delayed or missed period. It’s nothing to worry about.
We just took a week vacation (13 hours each way by car) I was due to start my period 6 days ago. 3 days ago I started spotting (pink and brown). Should I be concerned?
I just came back from North Carolina by car a 10 hr trip I had my period before I left for 8 days which I usually only get for 4 days. I just returned after only 1 week and now I got my period again. The same thing happened to me a year ago the exact same way after traveling 10 hrs by car. Could the long drive have something to do with it?
Hi! I travelled to a nearby city and returned back home on the same day (both times by plane). My period came on that day after I came back (2 days earlier than expected). However, the blood flow is very very light unlike other days and I have it for over 10 days now. Should I get upset?
No you should not. Just give it some time to return to normal.
I am having something similar happen! Mine has also lasted for the past ten days! Did yours ever go back to normal?
Hi, when I first arrived in Thailand, my period came 2 weeks early. It’s been 5 weeks since then and I typically am on a 20 day cycle, yet I haven’t gotten my period. Very confused. Took a pregnancy test last week but it came back negative. I’ve felt pms symptoms here and there, but that could just be paranoia.
Traveling can mess up your cycle. did you have unprotected sex in those 5 weeks?
You are simply going through a shift in schedule:) This is extremely normal, especially when moving to a new place. Check our FAQ for more information 🙂