Desert Camping?

[687]

To begin with, I am planning on going camping for a week in desert areas all rural, no restrooms/showers etc. I am supposed to get my period during that time.

I'm worried about the leaking and disposal of products. I use a cup, and it does leak easily (still have not figured out why). Since I will be the only woman on the trip, that I know of, I really have no idea what to do..I can't talk about it with any of them.

With the heat and the amounts of hiking I really don't trust the comfort of pads and don't want to end up smelling funny...I am considering cloth pads, but then I would have to wash them and really I don't want to deal with that...I would love to be as inconspicuous as possible.

I've been trying to find some ideas online but it mainly seems to be asked about in the woods camping and not desert conditions..So, any friendly advice?

[Jay-Jay]

My last period was spent camping and hiking in Death Valley, California.

I use a menstrual cup, but I've been using one for 10 years so I'm long past the initial 'learning curve' so don't have to worry about leaks. I recommend going on Facebook groups or pages like the menstrual cup support community on LiveJournal to figure out why your cup is leaking, it might be that you need a different cup but it may be positioning or you might be able to flip cup inside out to shorten it if that's the issue. I would also suggest considering softcups, either disposable or reusable, they may work better for you for now and have many of the same advantages as menstrual cups.

I'm lucky in that we have a good toilet set-up (pop-up tent, folding toilet seat with bags to deal with waste, etc.) when we make camp, so all I need to worry about while on the road or hiking is finding a rock or bush. Clarify with those you're going with what the situation is re. toilet, it's not comfortable talking about bathroom activity but in my experience it is a conversation you need to have as guys often forget it's harder for us - both physically and the issue of remaining 'feminine'. I'm not saying to tell them you'll be on your period, but clarifying how you're all going to be dealing with this helps you figure out what to do - e.g. where they expect you to pee, what they expect you to do with toilet paper, etc.

Cloth pads don't need to be cleaned until you get back home (washing once home is no more effort than just throwing them in the washing machine), just take a few with you for heavier days, and unlike disposables they don't cause bad odour - odour is little different to odour of worn underwear. I'd get scented menstrual product bags like Sensibles to put used pads to prevent odour - take a bag plus tissue in your pocket with you when you need to change/use bathroom, do what you need to then pop used pads in one of these bags before then popping in your backpack or in your pocket until you can put them in the groups waste bin. Consider with disposables you're going to have to do the same thing as with cloth pads anyway, as you shouldn't leave plastic pads in the desert as they won't decompose, I'd take cloth over disposables.

I'd also suggest possibly using period underwear, underwear with pads built-in or leak-proof underwear - these are expensive, but may still be an option for you...otherwise opt for dark bottoms and tight-fitting underwear like seam-free underwear or wear bike shorts - yes, this is going to limit air-flow and make down below uncomfortable in the heat, but it could help prevent leaking through clothing.

Consider a female urination device like ShePee, they allow you to pee standing-up which makes it easier and you feel less exposed keeping your pants up. I also recommend something like a Hygienna Solo, a device that attaches to a water bottle to direct water so it's like a personal bidet (or at least take bottled water when you do go pee or deal with your period) - good to clean after peeing in hot weather to reduce risk of UTI's, and good in case you leak when on your period to feel a little cleaner. Both these things will help make you a little bit more comfortable on your period, especially if you decide to use pads.