Trekking, travelling, and transuding

[lyrae.livejournal.com]

Hello,

I have a friend who is planning to spend about 8 weeks trekking in Nepal this autumn. As she is well aware, this could conceivably span *three* periods in very, ahem, rough living. Since she's not an internetty person, I'd really like to help her find more info about precisely how to manage one's menstruation when in a situation like this, as proper disposal of disposable products could take up to three weeks (the length of the two trails she's planning to do), yet facilities to maintain reusable products could be sketchy and ideal hygiene will no doubt be near-impossible. I've suggested that she start on the pill and skip those periods, but she's a little wary of that, not having taken the pill before.

Anyone here done any trekking or travelling in these conditions that could lend some advice or point me to some websites or books dealing honestly with this issue?

Comments

[plutonium-dust.livejournal.com]

One shot of depo provera will take away her periods for at least that long. It's not without other consequences, though.

She could use tampons and burn them in the evening fire. She could get a keeper and rinse it off with a little water. She could take cloth pads and wash them out with her other clothes.

well

[lyrae.livejournal.com]

I suggested the Keeper or somesuch, but I would be inclined to think that running water of questionable quality over it wouldn't really be enough... same with cloth pads. She will be hiking for about eight hours a day for three weeks, minus a couple of days in there for acclimitization, and then another three-week turn in another region. Accomodations will be *very* rough hostels. I think other than hormones (which she doesn't want to get involved with for health reasons), a cup would be the best.

I'd be really interested in hearing about people who've done a lot of outdoor living and can speak honestly about their experiences. Lonely Planet says about 40,000 people do these treks every year, so there have to be at least hundreds of women who have done it while menstruating... at least a few have to be online somewhere! :)

Re: well

[plutonium-dust.livejournal.com]

There has to be SOME acceptable water. What's she going to drink for 3 months? It doesn't take much to rinse off a keeper.

Re: well

[lyrae.livejournal.com]

I dunno, dude, like I said I think it's the best option. The drinking water is purified with a filter and iodine tablets and carried with her in a special bag thing each day on the three weeks of each trek. Is it okay to just rinse the cup and not actually wash it with soap? She'd be able to wash it with soap at the end of each day, just emptying and rinsing at bathroom breaks on the side of the trail.

Maybe she'll be lucky and get it when between treks in Kathmandu, where facilities like toilets exist. I'll have to send her the link to Cyclespage.

[dodogrrl.livejournal.com]

what I do when camping is carry the little nonapplicator tampons in lots of ziploc bags, packed inside an opaque bag so no-one gets an accidental glimpse of the bloody ones that are in their own double ziploc. Depending where one is, the used ones could be burned or buried, but I have always toted them back out. But I have a friend who's done Nepal as well so I'll ask her!

from my friend who trekked in Nepal...

[dodogrrl.livejournal.com]

Good questions!

Actually, if she's not going to go for the chemical
block, I'd have to go for disposable products.
Ideally these would be carried out or burnt but, at
least if they're biodegradable, using the recognised
toilet facilities there to dispose of waste is kind of
acceptable, I guess. Used tampons can't be any worse
than faeces, after all!!

There are no reliable water sources in the Everest
region, and basic hygiene is next to impossible there.
There were better water supplies in Annapurna, but
these were still dodgy as to sterility ... for these
reasons I'd steer well clear of re-usable products!!

The other thing to consider is the fact that trekking
and altitude wreak havoc on one's normal cycles anyway
... so she's unlikely to have three periods, and any
that she has are more likely to be fairly light
affairs.

Helpful info, I hope!

C xx

Re: from my friend who trekked in Nepal...

[lyrae.livejournal.com]

Wow, thanks for asking! That's some good solid ideas there.

Re: from my friend who trekked in Nepal...

[lyrae.livejournal.com]

Oh, be sure to tell your friend that her advice was *very* useful! How awesome that she's even done the same trails. I didn't know that periods get lighter at higher altitudes. All very interesting to me! I prefer cities, myself. :)

[gilbsteel.livejournal.com]

Disposable products that could be wrapped up & thrown away sound easiest, though the Keeper doesn't take much to rinse off or clean up (instructions with the Keeper say it is okay to wipe it out & re-use, though not washing it for the entirety of one's cycle, or at least once a day, sounds like a bad idea).

In dire straits while camping, I've made comfy pads out of leaves before.

[lyrae.livejournal.com]

Yes, I believe she would be able to wash it once a day. Hmm. A cup sounds like the best option thus far.

[moonstrucky.livejournal.com]

I would certainly go the keeper route as well... or maybe sea sponges? Those are disposable if they get too grimy (just bury them) and washable if she can manage.
For the divacup, sponges (and I think the keeper too) she can use a little bit of tea tree oil to disinfect, and then rinse off. The Body Shop even sells it now, actually, which is really nice :)
What an amazing experience for her!

[lyrae.livejournal.com]

I've heard mixed things about sea sponges, for example that they contain a lot of toxins and pollution from the ocean. That's partly why I haven't tried them myself. I don't know what the verdict on that is, though.

Hmm, tea tree oil. Useful stuff! I didn't know it could be used like that.