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Do you menstruate?
Do you know somebody who menstruates?
If you answered yes to either of those questions
then golly do we have the video for you.
Fieldwork is a major part of natural history research and exploration
and it's an opportunity that many scientists and students
will be granted through out their course of study and careers
But what if you're going to a really remote place with unpredictable bathroom situations
or limited access to basic sanitary conditions?
As a scientist or even as a hiker, camper or amateur explorer, you may be unprepared
for dealing with some of these scenarios.
Specifically when it comes to your menstrual cycle.
That's why we're bringing you some well researched solutions
provided by the first-hand experiences of seasoned researchers and yours truly.
We learned the hard way so you don't have to
Voiceover Emily: Planning and before you go!
First, consider how long you're going to be away from
luxurious things such like flush toilets, pharmacies and privacy.
Whether you're prospecting for fossils in Wyoming,
or searching for frogs in Borneo
You'd be lucky, and glad, to see a Porta-Potty.
Chances are you might be pooping over a hole in the ground
but I really encourage you to ask your expedition leader, or tour guide about the commode accomodations
before you go.
Consequently, which menstrual items you decide to bring will be based off of things like:
Your comfort level with various products, your access to clean water,
and of the duration of time spent in the field.
Are you gonna be gone for two weeks? Or six months?
Whatever you decide on, it's always a good idea
to pack whatever you think you'll need with you before you go.
Don't rely on being able to find what you want once you land in another country,
because it's likely your only option will be buying MaxiPads the size of twin mattresses.
It's not uncommon for those factors to cause your period to go out of whack.
You might skip it entirely because of poor nutrition, or because you contracted parasites from
ingesting contaminated food or water.
Or the opposite could happen and you'll just have a period for a month straight.
Congratulations!
As if you didn't have other things to worry about.
Voiceover Emily: Tampons!
Applicator, or digital insertion?
Whatever you decide, repeat after me: leave no trace.
This mantra, used by backpackers and through hikers is true for everything we talk about today.
Packing out used menstrual products is no worse than packing out your used toilet paper which
also might be required in situations where it's too wet to get a fire hot enough to burn your trash.
Tampons are great because they don't take up a lot of extra space in your bag and
applicator-less or 'digital' insertion tampons - like finger insertion - not like you insert it with your iPhone.
Come with even less trash.
Compare it to the size and amount of plastic in this kinda tampon? And it's significant.
For packing out I recommend bringing additional ziplock bags and paper sacks or an opaque
plastic bag if you're worried about people seeing what you're carrying around.
I would also recommend storing your used product bag away from your tent or
sleeping area and in a way that is largely inaccessible from forging
critters, as to avoid a situation where odors might attract curious wildlife.
Speaking of wildlife, don't believe the myths that you hear about bears being
attracted to your period. They're more interested in your peanut butter unless
you're in like Greenland where there was actually a study published implicating
that polar bears are unusually curious about your period smells.
Voiceover Emily: Pads!
I only talked with one person who recommended using pads while conducting fieldwork.
They went with the heavy duty nighttime sized ones because they didn't have the option
to change out their other products very frequently and couldn't ensure the
cleanliness of their hands while conducting research.
Pads also create a lot of extra trash you'll have to pack out, and they can be uncomfortable if you're
hiking around and sweating all day.
Voiceover Emily: Menstrual cups!
Menstrual cups are a highly recommended option for many in the field, and hikers, for a few reasons.
They create zero extra trash you need to cart around,
they're comfortable and discreet, if you're familiar with using one ahead of time
and they take up virtually no space in your bag.
You can theoretically wear a cup like this one for 12 hours at a time and only need to empty it twice a day.
If it's your first time using a menstrual cup, I'd recommend ordering it
a few months ahead of your trip so you have time to practice and be comfortable with it's use.
In order to keep it clean, remove your cup with clean hands, and rinse it
with unscented soap and water, if available. If your water is limited and
you won't have enough to rinse out the soap, then just use water and if you're
concerned about water purity, this might not be a good option for you.
To completely sanitise your menstrual cup, boil it at the end of your period and
you can even use spoons or tongs to suspend it in the center of a boiling pot so as to not melt the silicone.
If it seems weird to you, to use the camp
cooking supplies to sterilize your menstrual cup just think about it this way:
you just completed your first period on an expedition and there is virtually
nothing that can stop you now.
Voiceover Emily: Birth control!
While I'm not a medical doctor and this in no way constitutes as medical advice
another popular option has to do with either starting new or altering your
current birth control before the trip.
For those taking the pill, some researchers will skip the placebos entirely and prolong their hormonal
treatment to make it through their field trip, sans period.
Intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are also a good option to consider as they have the tendency to
decrease the severity or even stop your period entirely.
With that being said, you must talk to your doctor to see if that's a good idea and that you're
making a decision that is both healthy and safe for you.
Voiceover Emily: Cramps and Discomfort
Cramps and general menstrual discomfort can put a huge damper on the excitement and novelty
of doing awesome field work, but preparedness, in this case, is key.
Bringing ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or any kind of anti-inflammatory with you
is definitely recommended to help take the edge off.
If you like using a heated blanket or electric pad at home, you can always look for one of these
air activated heat wraps before you go.
You'll have to pack it out with you but they're relatively small and can make a world of difference.
Or if you've got an extra plastic water bottle that could take some heat, fill it with hot water
wrap it in an old shirt, and curl up until you feel better.
It's ok to take a break.
Voiceover Emily: "But what if I feel dirty all of the time?"
It's true that you're going to have to spend more time than it takes you to hop in and out
of the shower at home to feel remotely clean while in the field, but it will be
worth it for your health. Yeast infections can be a problem in areas
where humidity is high and hygiene is less than stellar.
Thankfully they're a prescription to help with this kind of thing, so, again, talk with your doctor to see if
that's a good option for you.
And another thing: while I typically don't recommend
using it over regular soap and water, a bottle of hand sanitizer can go a long
way in the field. Make sure when you're inserting or removing products or
touching areas around your vagina that your hands are always clean.
Also unscented bathroom wipes can be incredibly helpful when you don't have
access to a hot shower. They don't take up too much space and you can pack them out
with your other used products.
If you've got some extra cash then quick-drying camping underwear can be really helpful.
The upside is that they're made of nylon and spandex which means you can wash
them with just a bit of soap and water and they dry in a few hours.
Cotton underwear can take eons to dry in damp tropical environments and they
also run the chance of growing mold if they don't dry entirely.
The downside of synthetic underwear is that after a while they sort of feel like you're wearing
a plastic bag which takes a little getting used to.
They're also expensive, like, $14 a pair.
A couple of pairs can go a long way but again this is an instance of
which you should always want something clean and dry so pack extras whatever you choose.
Voiceover Emily: And whatever happens, happens.
Lastly remember that whatever happens, don't feel embarrassed by any mishaps.
Be honest and upfront with your expedition leader about your situation.
If you're in a remote field site for long enough, your business becomes
everyone else's anyway, and as one researcher told me a little period
leakage is nothing compared to the explosive diarrhea that keeps sending
your lab mates sprinting to the woods every five minutes.
Happy Exploring.
(cheery string quartet music plays)
Anna from Gross Science: Seeing as this week is Valentine's Day I thought what better way to celebrate than by
answering three surprising questions about periods? In honour of the tens of millions
of women who will have theirs that day.
(cheery string quartet music plays)