BootsnAll Travel Community

Hello,
I will be heading on a long-term vagabonding journey at the end of Sept starting in New York- paris- Tanzania. My plan once in Tanzania is to travel east to south and end in south africa.

The more I read, the more I realize how beneficial not having my period will be.

I've read taking specific type of BC pills will give you your period once every 3 months.

Has anyone taking this while on the road or at home? Would you recommend it? brand? experience?

Also, I've been reading about the new BC pill, Lybrel that will elimiate a women's period. Has anyone tried this? What has been your experience?

Thanks for any info,
Lauren

I take my regular birth control without taking the week off / pacebo pills with excellent results. I've done this for 3-4 months at a time. It is great when travelling.

When I do allow my period to happen I use the diva cup (moon cup, the keeper, etc) so I don't have to carry supplies or find supplies while travelling.

I would talk to your doctor about options with using birth control to supress your period especially if you aren't already on the pill.

Can't help with any of the countries you're going to, but I can say that women's health care and meds are better and cheaper in a lot of places outside of the US, the most expensive prescription lawsuit-happy place on the planet.

You can take your regular BCP for virtually any length of time you want without detrimental side effects. Three months, six months, no problem. In Russia you can buy Seasonale, the 3 month pill, for like 15 bucks without even a prescription.

EU countries (France) will require a script for BCP, but without any fuss and they're cheap. In Tanzania you can probably get them easily and cheap with no prescription (I'm guessing). No place is worse than America. None.

No worries. Once you're out of there you'll see how much easier it is.

quote:

No place is worse than America. None.

Well, the pill used to be ILLEGAL in Japan until very recently, but that's neither here nor there ... just a shocking bit of trivia.

I've done the thing with skipping the placebo week as well, with mixed results... sometimes it worked, sometimes spotting, and sometimes it totally didn't work at all. I found that I had to take it at exactly the right time for it to work, which can sometimes be difficult to keep track of because of time changes.

On a related note, if it's so much easier to get BC in other countries, can I just go with a US perscription to a pharmacy, or do I have to go to a doctor first? I'm doing a WHV in New Zealand, and I don't mind continuing to have my period, but my insurance won't pay for getting a year's supply of BC or anything. I am concerned about getting my pills overseas, (in terms of availability) and if it would cost more money to go to a doctor there and pay for them, versus getting a scrip written for me for a year before I go and dropping a wad to have the whole year's supply beforehand. I'd prefer not to go off it entirely, and I'd really prefer not to change my method (like getting an IUD or implant or injections)... but I also don't want to pay out the butt.

I wish I were a guy sometimes, then I wouldn't have to think about this stuff.

There is Seasonale, as mentioned above, but also, just skip the placebo of your regular pill and restart a new pack. My doc has told me this is a-ok and won't do any harm.

I regularly do this and it is great (I tried Seasonale, but didn't like it...).

Lelobandito, here is an interesting article on the issue to assuage some of your concerns.

http://www.livescience.com/health/ap_060522_menstrual_end.html