Hot flashes and erratic periods can make traveling tough.
One travel writer shares her perimenopause travel tips and experiences.
My previous three menstrual cycles had lasted between just 18 and 21 days.
I should have been thrilled.
Instead, all I wanted to do was flop on the couch, eat salty carbs, and cry.
And I kept wondering where the hell my period was.
OB/GYN and CEO and founder of Evora Women’s Health
It finally showed up on Day 48, just as I was making my way home.
Im a freelance travel journalist.
My love of exploring our wonderful world is a life-long passion.
Travel is the ultimate soul stretch, one Im grateful to experience regularly.
At 48, Ive maneuvered around portions of perimenopause with a decent amount of grace.
Im at peace with my fleeting fertility.
The gray hairs Ive learned to keep, not cover.
Any stray hairs I can easily pluck.
Hormonal breakouts are annoying but manageable.
OB/GYN and CEO and founder of Evora Women’s Health
But slogging through more severe side effects while keeping my globetrotting schedule has become increasingly disruptive.
In the past couple of years, Ive experienced overwhelming nervousness while traveling.
(Can I make my connection?
Will I sleep on the plane?
Wheres my passport?)
Turns out, many peopleexperience anxiety, sometimes for the first time in their lives, during perimenopause.
Hot flashes leave me suddenly drenched.
Night sweats disrupt my sleep and make jet lag unbearable.
I never imagined that perimenopause could be so challenging and tumultuous.
My mom never really brought it up, nor have any of my doctors so far.
Ive been muddling through without really knowing what, if anything, I can do about it.
And its threatening to rob me of a tremendous joytravel.
They might feel broken, and thats just not the case.
You dont have to suffer in silence, Dr. Lynn says.
There are ways to feel better.
Many are middle-aged and perimenopausal, venturing out solo.
Travel keeps us engaged with the world, she tells me.
It keeps our bodies moving and our minds healthy with new experiences that feed our souls.
Slade acknowledges hormonal travel concerns are very real.
Guests also have private rooms, with no single supplement, so they can enjoy peace and privacy.
Aromatherapy sprays containing calming scents are readily available, and time outdoors is prioritized to boost mood.
The goal: to impart empathy, encouragement and empowerment.
I cant imagine life without the thrill of going to new places and meeting new people.
With so much change in my own body, travel is a constant that I crave.
There are some amazing experiences out there waiting for you.
Understanding your menopause symptom triggers is also important.
Sugar, alcohol and caffeinecan exacerbate symptoms, including sleep disruption, hot flashes and mood swings.
Focused breathing canlower anxiety and mood swings associated with perimenopause.
And when all else fails, talk to your medical provider about options to help manage perimenopause symptoms.
Each of us has their own threshold for discomfort, and addressing it is highly personal.
With so much change in my own body, travel is a constant that I crave.
So Ill keep at it, giving myself plenty of grace and patience packed for good measure.
Whether my period shows up, or not.
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