For a man, packing birth control for long-term travel is easy. Pop a handful of condoms in your medical kit and one in your wallet, and you're good to go.
For women, birth control often goes beyond just protection for sex, and having a back-up in case other methods of control fail in their time of need.
It's also about regulating periods and hormones.
I don't know about you, but I like to know the exact day I'll be needing to worry about Aunt Flo on my travels.
With birth control, I know when she'll be arriving, and that gives me peace of mind.
When addressing birth control for travel, women have to consider packability, the shelf life of the product, side effects, and maintenance on the road.
I know -- sounds like a lot of extra thought, right?!
Plan in Advance
The best plan of attack is to address the issue early on.
Talk to your medical care provider and let them know that you plan to travel for an extended time and will need easy birth control.
If you need to switch to a new method, it is best to test it out for a few months to make sure the hormones work well with your body.
Some questions to ask:
- Will this method store well in my backpack, in hot or damp weather?
- How can I make sure I have enough for my entire time on the road?
- Will it be easy to remember (for those that are always forgetting to take their pills)?
Pills
Pills continue to be the most standard option for birth control for travelers.
Taken daily, however, they can be easy to forget when moving and repeatedly packing -- and when figuring it all out for time differences!
Still, pills keep well, are reasonably cheap, and pack without taking up much room.
Nowadays, birth control pills can go beyond the monthly ritual to provide months of period regulation.
Seasonale, for example, provides women with periods only once every three months, which can be a good idea for the traveling female.
Seasonale is a specific brand of pill that allows women to skip their periods.
Still, it is possible to skip periods with other types of birth control pills by heading straight into the second pack of active pills instead of taking the placebos.
A word to the wise: Check with your health care provider first.
Some types will not work. Instead of skipping your period, you could just give yourself spotting for a month until your next proper cycle rolls around.
Shot
The shot, or Depo-Provera, prevents pregnancy for three months, so you will need a shot every 12 weeks.
As this can be tricky when planning to travel, they say a shot up to one week before or after this 12-week point can also keep you covered.
The benefits of the shot are clear: You don't have to take a pill every day, and you don't have to pack months of pills or other methods in your bags.
However, the major downside is that you have to get an injection every three months, which could be hard to acquire in some parts of the world -- unless you plan to carry your own vial and needles around (not for me!).
Some women also find they have irregular bleeding, or no periods at all, during the entire use of Depo-Provera.
Ring
If you're on the "ring" (NuvaRing), you'll have to consider the longevity of your travels and the style.
The NuvaRing was like a gift from God in my eyes since I only had to think about it on a monthly, instead of daily.
You simply insert the flexible ring into your vagina, leave in for three weeks, take out for a week, and insert a new one for the next month's cycle. Simple, simple, simple!
Unfortunately, with travel plans looming, I had to switch up my options. The NuvaRing is a birth control method that goes "off" faster when exposed to heat.
I was told to store my rings in the fridge to make sure they maintained their protection level of hormones.
So, if you're planning to travel -- especially backpack -- for months on end, then tossing these bad boys in your bag through all sorts of weather conditions is just asking for trouble down the road.
However, if you will be traveling to one place for a few months, with access to refrigeration, you might be able to continue using the ring.
Patch
The Ortho Evra patch was another favorite birth control method of mine years ago.
It is a sticky patch, much like a nicotine patch, that stays on the skin to release a steady and constant flow of hormones.
Instead of a daily need to address your birth control, the patch was replaced weekly, for three weeks, with one week off.
However, after maybe a year of use, I was advised by my health care provider to come off the patch as there were health concerns with using it.
Even though the patch is still on the market today, I suggest doing your research before starting on this method and also reading this article on Today Health.
IUD
The IUD, short for intrauterine device, is a semi-permanent birth control method.
There are several variations of the IUD to choose from, but the two categories include a copper (non-hormonal) device and a hormone device (Mirena).
The IUD is inserted into the uterus, where it can act as birth control for up to five years.
The IUD is not for every woman, and it is often recommended for women that are older and are done having children.
But, every woman and body is different, so it is worth consulting with your health care provider about if looking for something more long-term.
Condoms
Even if you're traveling with your monogamous partner, condoms are recommended as a back-up.
Did you know that certain medications and antibiotics can render your birth control useless? It's true.
What birth control method did you use on your travels, and why?
Beverley | Pack Your Passport says
Another fantastic option Brooke is what I've got which is called Implanon; a kirby grip-like piece of plastic that I had injected into my arm before I left England (June 2010). It stays put in your bicep just below the skin and works for three years so I basically haven't had to think about contraception since! Not that I'm sleeping with people here there and everywhere, I'm travelling with my long-term boyfriend, but still it keeps your regular and it some cases actually stops your period altogether. I won't have to think about having it changed until 2013 when I'll have it taken out and replaced with another one which will last another three years :-)
Brooke Schoenman says
Oooh yes, I meant to research the arm implant, so thanks for sharing! I find the idea of anything "implanted" off-putting, but would be curious to hear more. When you get it taken out, is there a period of time afterwards where you have to wait before getting pregnant?
Jennifer Avventura says
A fantastic post which is not often covered in travel. Well done!
Caroline Eubanks says
I've been using the NuvaRing for almost two years without any problems, but I may have to try some of these other options. I never looked into Implanon but it sounds like a good option!
Brooke Schoenman says
NuvaRing is the bomb! But for long-term backpacking, it is not recommended because it can lose potency in non-temp controlled places. Implanon scares me, but it sounds like it would take a load off, hey?!
Christine says
I got an IUD last year, and have been VERY happy with it. I don't have to worry about getting months of pills in advance or packing tampons in exotic locales--after the first few months of spotting, I don't usually get a period. Very nice just in terms of having less to pack, and less to worry about!
Brooke Schoenman says
Christine - when you do get a period, is it on a normal cycle? Like, would I wake up one day and then be surprised, or are you saying that you don't get it at all?
Beverley | Pack Your Passport says
Brooke with the implanon I think everything just goes straight back to normal once you have it taken out unless it originally stopped your periods altogether in which case I guess you just wait a while before trying to get pregnant. AND also you don't have to wait the three years to have it taken out either, you can have it taken out whenever :-)
Annie O. says
No nod to rythm method huh? Am I the only human female with an incredibly regular period? Aside from condoms there arent many non-hormonal birth control options and since birth control hormones make me feel INSANE and physically ill (not to mention I got pregnant despite prescribed use of them), I opt for rythm method combined with pull-out when in a monogamous relationship. No craziness, so far I've had success (since 2007), and very easy to remember, and as far as packing a bag goes, its the lightest weight goin. And is foam still a thing? My sister who also can't handle hormones used that before she had kids. I hope someone finds my comment food for thought!
Brooke Schoenman says
Period regularity can be affected by stress, travel, switching up time zones, etc. That way, long term travellers hopping all over the place are generally going to do better with some sort of regulation.
As for birth control, it seems you have been very lucky with your pull-out method, but I wouldn't recommend it to others as a way to give them peace of mind. The success rate, as on the PP site:
"Of every 100 women whose partners use withdrawal, 4 will become pregnant each year if they always do it correctly.
Of every 100 women whose partners use withdrawal, 27 will become pregnant each year if they don't always do it correctly."
Seems a bit too risky for people who definitely do not want to be pregnant. I know there are always exceptions even to hormone birth control, as in your case.
But, if it works for you, that is great! It might be the option for others that are reading :)
Kevin Post says
My wife receives an injection once a month because it's readily available in most parts of Colombia (where she's from). I had no idea there was a 12 week injection option, I will mention this to her tomorrow as we plan future travels. Thanks for this informative article Brooke.
Margaret Perry RN says
Watch out for the Depo provera injections as the cause osteoporosis. I know some women in their 30's that already have osteoporosis from the Depo injections they received. Hope this helps!
Cristina says
Awesome post! This girly thing definitely puts a damper on travel :(
alex m says
Because I prefer not to support the pharmaceutical industry more than I have to, and I don't like my body constantly thinking it is preggers, condoms work great 4 me. When used correctly (which my bf and I do) they are very reliable. I always carry both a plan b pill and a pregnancy test with me while I travel just to be safe tho. I am not a fan of what artificial estrogen does to the environment, but I will succomb to it (plan b) if i ever need to over a baby right. now. Great article, important subject to think about
Ashley says
Great article, it's the first I've seen on this topic. It's so important to think about these things BEFORE you start to travel, especially since many medicines are different overseas. I personally went with the IUD, specifically the ParaGard, which is a non-hormonal IUD that lasts for 10 years. My period is fairly regular now, though not as precise as when I was on the pill. I chose it mostly because when we set off to travel we quit our jobs, leaving me with no insurance to cover the pill. This will cover me for up to 10 years, is non-hormonal, and I don't ever have to remember to do anything!
Alex says
I just want to make a second nod to Implanon... I think it's a life saver. It's been about a year so far and I LOVE not thinking about birth control on a daily basis, not worrying about pill refills or time changes or... anything, really! I think it is the best method for travelers.
Vicky says
This is something I was pondering for a while as our trip starts in 10 days and will last 2 years. In the end I went with implanon and since that's valid for 3 years it seems like the best option. One of the biggest side effects and causes for having it removed are spotting and period irregularity, where I have read some women literally just have their periods for months. I am a tad worried about this since I didn't get mine inserted until 1.5 months ago and definitely don't want to end up in South East Asia with month long periods but we'll see (fingers crossed). I know the implanon does not regulate periods so if you take birth control to regulate yours it might not be the best option but I feel a lot more comfortable with this than an IUD which if it shifts inside of you needs to be adjusted by a medical professional and I definitely would not be comfortable having that done in any random foreign country.
Abby Okeden says
For those who are travelling to Europe there is good news. You no longer need to cart around excess pill packets in your jumbo-sized backpack that is already backbreaking. I'm not a big fan of the IUD as too many friends have had bad side effects on it. You can now buy any of your regular prescription contraceptive pills online safely. All the well-known brands women take are available including; Yasmin, Dianette, Noriday, Logynon and so many more. I live in London and buy by pill here - http://www.loxdoc.com/noriday/
FYI- Purchasing medication online is legal in Europe and becoming more and more popular with women who simply don’t have the time to see a doctor. You don’t have to be a resident in the UK or anywhere in Europe you just need an address where the clinic can send you the medication. They can send your prescription medication within 2 or 3 days depending on where you are staying. Mine arrives on 3 days after ordering as I live in Italy. The site is http://www.loxdoc.com if that helps.
The big advantage to buying medication online is that you complete a consultation online with a doctor and it’s a simple process that takes a few minutes. After being approved for the contraception, you pay for the medication by credit card or debit card and it’s sent to you in a discreet package within 48 hours.