Women health issues while travelling

Staying Healthy

Not all travel books deal with uniquely female health needs. You can augment what you read with the experienced advice of other women travellers.

It's a good idea to carry your doctor's phone and fax numbers as well as copies of prescriptions for medication you might require along the way.

You won't always be able to eat properly. Consider carrying multivitamins to supplement your diet.

Your regular brand of contraceptive pill may not be available at your destination. Take enough with you to last the whole trip.

Major stomach upsets (diarrhea or vomiting) cause your body to lose its ability to absorb the contraceptive pill. It's wise to use condoms to guard against unwanted pregnancy.

You may want to pack a supply of condoms to protect yourself against sexually transmitted diseases, too.

When travelling to developing countries, carry a supply of tampons and sanitary napkins.

They tend to be difficult to find and may be expensive.

It's not unusual for women to stop menstruating when they're travelling for a long time. If there are no other symptoms and you're not concerned that you might be pregnant, don't worry.

If you're prone to yeast infections, they're more likely to recur in warm, moist climates. Wearing loose-fitting cotton underwear and skirts rather than pants may help. Carry appropriate medication in your first-aid kit; it might not be available where you're travelling.

Cystitis is an infection of the urinary tract and bladder. Drinking a lot of purified water, especially in hotter climates, may help to reduce your chances of suffering from this problem.

Your risk of acquiring a disease while travelling depends on several factors. These include your age, your current state of health and immunization status, your itinerary, the duration and style of your trip, and anticipated activities (including contact with animals, exposure to fresh water, sexual contact), as well as the local disease situation.

Know before you go!

Health Canada's Travel Medicine Program strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or your physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on an individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and medication and can advise you on what precautions to take to avoid disease while travelling. Consult the Travel Medicine Program Web site to find a travel medicine clinic close to your home. The Canadian Society for International Health also provides information on health and travelling.

See our booklet Bon Voyage... But for further information provided by Health Canada on vaccinations, childhood immunization, tropical diseases, medication and AIDS.

If you wear contact lenses, consider using disposables. Storing and cleaning your lenses can become a nuisance if you're going to be on an extended journey.

It's definitely inadvisable to have ear-piercing, acupuncture, tattooing or manicures while you're on the road. Instruments that are not properly sterilized can carry hepatitis B or AIDS.

If you absolutely must have dental work, injections or an internal examination, contact the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate abroad. Officials there can often recommend appropriate local medical practitioners.

Consider joining the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT). This organization provides information on immunization requirements, health and climatic conditions, tropical diseases such as malaria, food and water sanitation, and maintains a list of English-speaking physicians around the world who have agreed to treat travellers.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition that could present a problem while you are travelling, it is wise to wear a MedicAlert® bracelet. Through the MedicAlert® Foundation, your vital medical facts are stored in a database that can be accessed 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world (see the "For More Information" section).

Make sure you don't leave Canada without adequate health insurance for travellers. Review your policy thoroughly so that you know exactly what your coverage entails. For example, does your policy provide an in-house worldwide emergency hotline that you can call if you're in trouble? Does the policy pay foreign hospital and related medical costs? If so, does it pay up-front or expect you to pay and be reimbursed later? Carry proof of your coverage with you.

Tip / Info: When travelling in Asia, it's a good idea to carry a supply of disposable chopsticks. Dishwashing facilities are not always adequate to kill bacteria.

Please choose from the following sections:

Introduction
Lessening the Culture Shock
Travel Light, Travel Smart
Extra Security Makes Sense
Air Travel
Accommodation
Networking Along the Way
Dress Sense
Avoiding Harassment
Alone After Sundown
Maintaining Connections
Staying Healthy
Coping with Foreign Bathrooms
The Pregnant Traveler
Traveling with Children
International Adoptions
The Older Traveler
Businesswomen Abroad

Canuck Abroad takes no responsibility for the information or accuracy contained in this section and suggest you go to http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/pubs/her_own_way-en.asp for the latest information.

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