If you’re traveling somewhere where pads/tampons aren’t easy to find (or the brands are different), what should you pack ahead of time—and what’s a realistic emergency backup plan?

1 Sept

Think of this as survival mode, not “I’ll just see what they have there.” If period products are limited or unfamiliar where you’re going, pack enough of your go-to product for the entire trip plus 2–3 days extra. Tampons can be hard to find in many countries, so bring those if you use them. A menstrual cup or disc is a smart backup because one item can cover your whole trip, and period underwear or reusable pads give you extra security with no supply stress. In your carry-on, keep a small period kit: a few days’ worth of products, wipes, and spare underwear. For emergencies, your hierarchy is: folded toilet paper pad, clean cloth or bandana as a temporary pad, buying whatever local pads/liners you can find—even postpartum pads or baby diapers in a pinch.If you want help building a no-panicking-in-a-rural-bus-station period plan, Gush can walk through your flow, your trip, and your options in real language, not doctor-speak.

What period products to pack for travel when pads and tampons are hard to find

Build a period go-bag before you even leave home

If you’re going somewhere rural, conservative, or just unpredictable, assume you will not like what’s on the shelf—if there’s anything on the shelf at all.Baseline rule: Pack everything you need like you’re the only menstruating person on the trip.Pack this in your luggage:

Enough primary product for the full trip + 2–3 days extra (pads, tampons, discs—whatever you actually use).
1 menstrual cup or disc in a breathable pouch as a backup you can reuse indefinitely.
2–3 pairs of period underwear in different absorbencies (light, regular, heavy).
Reusable pads if you like them—lightweight, easy to handwash.
Unscented, mild soap in a small bottle for cup and vulva washing.
Zip bags or a small wet bag for used pads/underwear if laundry isn’t frequent.
Pain relief you trust (ibuprofen, naproxen, or what your provider recommends).
Your hormonal birth control (pills, ring, patches) in original packaging.

Carry-on kit (never check all your period products):

2–3 days of tampons/pads or your cup/disc.
1 pair of period underwear.
1 regular underwear.
Wipes, tissues, 1–2 small zip bags.

Luggage gets lost. Airlines do not care that your uterus is on day 1. Protect yourself.

Menstrual cup vs tampons vs period underwear for remote travel

You’re not doing aesthetic “that girl” packing; you’re doing “I might be bleeding on a 12-hour bus” packing. Here’s how each option plays out when resources are limited:Menstrual cup/disc

Why it’s elite for remote travel:
- One item, reusable for years.
- No need to find your exact brand or absorbency.
- Way less trash if you’re somewhere without good waste systems.
What you need:
- Access to reasonably clean water.
- A small pot to boil it occasionally, or sterilizing tablets.
Good if: You’re comfortable inserting/removing it before you travel, not experimenting for the first time while squatting over a questionable toilet.

Tampons

Reality check: In many countries, especially outside big cities, tampons are rare, expensive, or only available without applicators.
When to bring them:
- If you strongly prefer them and don’t want to figure out new products mid-trip.
- If you’ll be swimming a lot and cups aren’t your thing.
Pack: Your usual brand and size, plus a few higher-absorbency for heavy days.

Pads & period underwear

Why they’re a must:
- They’re universal; even if brands are different, pads exist almost everywhere.
- Period underwear = reusable and discreet. Wash, dry, repeat.
Strategy: Use one high-absorbency period underwear as your night option, pads for day, and cup/tampon if you have access to them.

If your flow is super heavy (soaking a pad/tampon in under an hour often), pack extra and seriously consider a cup/disc—they hold more volume than most tampons.If your body never fits neatly into charts or averages, that’s not you “being dramatic”—cycle variability is real. You can break that down with Gush and get a travel plan that respects your actual blood, not a textbook.

Realistic emergency backup plans when you can’t find pads or tampons

We’re not romanticizing this: sometimes you really can’t find what you need. Here’s your emergency triage.Level 1: DIY pad with toilet paper or tissues

Fold toilet paper into a thick, long rectangle.
Layer it until it’s about pad-thick.
Place in underwear; if possible, wrap a layer around the crotch of the underwear to anchor it.
Change often; this is temporary and will fall apart when soaked.

Level 2: Clean cloth or bandana

Use a clean cotton cloth, scarf, or bandana—not something grimy.
Fold into a pad shape; place in underwear.
Rinse with cold water as soon as you can, then wash with soap and fully dry in the sun if possible (UV helps kill bacteria).

Level 3: Whatever the local store has

Postpartum pads, incontinence pads, even baby diapers (cut down to fit) can be used short-term.
Is it cute? No. Is it better than bleeding down your legs on a bus? Yes.

Level 4: Double up period underwear

If you have period underwear, wear two pairs layered (yes, really) or pair with a folded cloth.
Change and wash as often as you can; don’t sit in a soaked pair all day.

How your cycle timing should change what you pack

Your hormones are running a 24–35 day program, whether you’re in your bedroom or a hostel. Understanding your phases helps you pack smart instead of guessing.Follicular phase (after your period until ovulation)

Hormones: Estrogen rises, FSH from your brain tells follicles in your ovaries to grow.
What it means: Energy climbs, mood often better, discharge starts to increase but is usually creamy.
Packing move: If your trip is mostly here, you might not bleed—but bring at least a mini kit because stress and jet lag can shift ovulation and your next period.

Ovulation

Hormones: Estrogen peaks, LH surge triggers ovulation; cervical mucus becomes stretchy and egg-white.
What it means: More wetness, possible mild cramps, you’re most fertile.
Packing move: Liners or light-absorbing period underwear for discharge days; condoms or other birth control if pregnancy is not on your itinerary.

Luteal phase (PMS window)

Hormones: Progesterone rises after ovulation, then crashes with estrogen right before your period.
What it means: PMS (mood swings, cravings, sore breasts, bloating), sometimes constipation.
Packing move: Comfort items: pain meds, loose clothes, snacks that aren’t just sugar. Bring enough pads/tampons/cup supplies in case your period starts early.

Menstrual phase (bleeding)

Hormones: Estrogen and progesterone are low; your uterus is shedding its lining.
What it means: Cramps, fatigue, heavier flow on days 1–2.
Packing move: Your heaviest products (overnight pads, high-absorbency underwear, cup/disc) and meds that reliably help with cramps and headaches.

If your cycles are irregular (PCOS, stress, thyroid issues) or you’re on a hormonal IUD with random spotting, assume chaos. Pack like you might bleed any day: some pads/liners, a cup or disc, and one period underwear.On combined hormonal birth control (pill, patch, ring), your hormone levels are more controlled. You can often shift or skip your bleed for travel by:

Running active pills back-to-back and skipping the placebo week.
Not taking the ring out for a week; instead, swap to a new ring.

But that is a medical decision, not a TikTok hack—run it by a provider before you do it.

When to seek medical help while traveling

Reach out to a clinic, urgent care, or hospital if:

You’re soaking a pad/tampon every hour for several hours.
You feel dizzy, weak, short of breath, or your heart’s racing with heavy bleeding.
You have severe pelvic pain that’s one-sided or feels different from usual cramps.
You develop fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash while using a tampon or cup.

Heavy or irregular bleeding is not you being weak; it can be anemia, fibroids, endometriosis, hormonal imbalance, or more. And if you want to game out “what if” scenarios before you get on that plane or bus, Gush is a safe place to rehearse plans and ask the questions you were never allowed to ask in health class.