For people who have periods, it can sometimes be hard to find the knowledge you need to feel comfortable going on adventure education experiences.
Leaders are a logical person to ask for more information but we might not have the lived experience, or might struggle to find good information on the subject ourselves. It's also very possible that people, particularly young people, might not feel able to ask a leader who presents as a male about periods.
With an awful lot of help from an awful lot of sources and some very kind fact-checkers, The Outdoors People have put together this information sheet which we hope will help people fill in the blanks.
Who are The Outdoors People?
The Outdoors People specialise in bringing outstanding, accredited school camps to Primary School sites across the UK. Our qualified team has delivered expeditions and learning experiences throughout the world and draw on this experience to run recognised Continuing Professional Development Courses for outdoors professionals in all sectors and to create free resources like this one.
Notes for leaders
This text is designed to be given to participants in the form of a printed or digital handout but this might not always be practical, possible or the best approach. Reading the information yourself will allow you to be adaptable.
Some enormously experienced expedition leaders and outdoors people who experience periods helped put this information together. All of them said that there was information they wished they knew when they started out.
Consider giving out this information regardless of the apparent gender breakdown of your team. Remember: not everyone who has periods presents as female and this is information that's good for people to know even if they don't personally have periods anyway!
It is mentioned in the main body of the text that sanitary products shouldn't be buried due to the length of time it takes them to biodegrade. It is true that there is also an issue with wild animals and dogs scenting them and digging them up but several of our test readers noted that when they were first told about this at a young age, the idea really upset them so we haven't included it in the information sheet.
Copyright
We wrote this information because we want it to be used. While The Outdoors People retain the copyright we encourage any individual, organisation, or commercial company to make use of this information in any way they like, including replacing our branding with their own, so long as they provide a link back to us on their website.
We do ask that if you're modifying the text you leave it gender-neutral, not everyone who has periods identifies as a woman.
Downloading and printing
The full text is below and can be copied and pasted from there.
A version formated for professional printing can be downloaded here.
A version formated for home and office printers can be downloaded here.
If you find you're using this information, please add a link back to The Outdoors People on your website.
Comments
We encourage discussion of this subject in general and also very much welcome comments or input on the information we've put together here. If we get a lot of useful feedback we will make sure to update this post and the downloads.
Common comments so far and our response:
What about breakthrough bleeding while using hormonal contraception? Great point, we've updated the information sheet!
I would like to see some more specific information about a particular form of contraception or painkiller? We did consider getting more specific about these two subjects but, even if we got advice on the subject from our resident medical professional, it would be hard to give useful advice of a reasonable length that wasn't really complex. Especially as everyone is different. In the end, we decided it was better to leave it basic and advise people to talk to someone who knows more.
What about using sugary drinks and food, and foods that are high in iron as a way to help manage pain and side effects? This is another good point, we're going to look at a good way of fitting this into the appropriate section.
What about forms of reusable product other than moon cups (period pants, etc.)? While doing our research, this seemed to be a less popular option and none of the people who have periods that helped write this had much to say about them. If you've got something great to add on this subject then please get in touch and we'll give you a guest post and try and fit a small section into the information sheet - we are worried about it getting too crowded though.
Thanks for all the discussion and engagement so far - keep it coming!
Expedition Information for People Who Have Periods
Creative Commons Licence Type 4.0
You can copy and redistribute this material in any medium or format.
You can adapt, remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
You must give appropriate attribution and credit, provide a link to the license and the original material, and indicate if any changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
You must retain our gender neutral language.
Introduction
Sometimes people who have periods can feel pressured into not discussing them, particularly with people who don’t have them. However, periods are a perfectly normal thing for a huge percentage of the population, and something that people who don’t have them should be supportive about.
If you need support getting information, or getting hold of the products you require, then please talk to your expedition leader who will be happy to help regardless of if periods are something they have personal experience of. Many expedition leaders of all genders keep supplies of pads or tampons in their first aid kits for if you run out and can offer you advice on managing your periods while on an expedition, so a period needn’t prevent you from doing any activities.
All the products described below will come with instructions on how to use them, which can be very helpful if trying a new method.
Video information
A lot of the information in this leaflet can also be found in this video by The Brain Scoop. It’s aimed at people doing scientific fieldwork but is very relevant to anyone spending time in the outdoors (even if they don’t have periods themselves).
Tampons
Tampons go inside the body and come in a wide range to manage different levels of flow. Tampons are a popular choice on expeditions because they are much smaller and lighter than pads.
During physical activity, many people find them more comfortable than pads.
Ensure you’re changing your tampon or pad every few hours to prevent infection, even if your flow is light.
Non-applicator, or digital, tampons, where you use a clean finger to put them in, are much smaller to pack than applicator tampons. If you haven’t used them before then you should try them before your expedition to make sure you’re comfortable using them as not everyone is.
It’s important to make sure that your hands are clean when using tampons, particularly non-applicator/digital tampons.
Pads
Sanitary pads are an absorbent adhesive pad that sits inside underwear. They are a less popular choice for expeditions but if they are what works best for you, or if you are going somewhere where cleaning your hands might be difficult, then they can be a good option.
Pads are bulkier to pack and transport than tampons.
Some people find pads uncomfortable when walking or doing physical activity, and they can absorb sweat.
Winged pads can cause chafing but tend to stay in place.
None winged pads can be more comfortable for some people but sometimes move around.
As with tampons, it’s important to change your pad every few hours to prevent infection, even if your flow is light.
Disposal
If you’re using managed campsites in the UK then they will either have paper hygiene bins available in the toilets, or your used products can be put in the normal waste bins; just like you would at home or while in a hotel.
If you are in a more remote area then it may be necessary to transport your used products. Large resealable sandwich bags are perfect for this. A non-see-through plastic carrier bag can be used over the top if you don’t want people to see what you are carrying.
Unfortunately, hand-dug “cat holes” for disposing of poo are not suitable for tampons and pads as these products can take many years to rot away and will often be brought back to the surface by the weather before that happens.
Moon cups
Silicone “moon cups” are a popular choice for people who know they’re going to be away on long expeditions and are particularly useful in remote locations and countries where other products may be hard to find. They are reusable and very hygienic, and though expensive will last a long time if properly washed between uses.
If this is something you want to make use of then you should buy one well in advance of your expedition to make sure they work for you and that you are familiar with using them.
Make sure you will be in a location where you can get your hands clean, and be able to clean the cup.
You can sterilse your moon cup by putting it in a small metal mug of water and bringing it to the boil on your stove.
Hygiene
At most campsites in the UK then there will be plenty of clean water to use for washing hands and genitals.
Unscented wet wipes can make life a lot easier, though create more stuff to carry and dispose of. Scented wet wipes must be avoided if you’re going to use them anywhere other than your hands.
Evaporating “hand sanitiser” gel should never be used on your genitals; it can cause some immediate mild pain due to the alcohol, dry the skin badly, and can cause thrush (yeast infections).
If you’re not sure what the toilets will be like at your campsites, or if there will be clean water for washing, then ask your expedition leader. This is a very common question!
A lot of people find it useful to have quick-drying sports underwear that can be easily washed and reused on an expedition. Unfortunately, these can be more expensive than cotton underwear.
Birth control
Some people choose to use hormonal birth control to change when their period happens or to make it less severe. This is very much a matter of personal choice and is something you should talk to a doctor well in advance about to find out if this is the right choice for you. You may find that hormonal birth control does not completely stop your period, experiment before your trip and make sure you bring some products to use if it doesn't work out.
Period Delay Pills
Some people choose to talk to their doctor about a period delay pill such as Norethisterone. This medication contains the hormone progesterone and can be used to delay a period for up to 20 days
Pain management
Cramps can be a very fast way to spoil an otherwise amazing outdoors experience. Many people use painkillers and heat to help with this.
If using painkillers, ibuprofen is a popular choice, but this is something you should talk to a pharmacist or doctor about.
Single-use, stick-on, “muscle relaxant” heat-pads are available at most pharmacies and many sports shops. They are great for use while walking and moving around at camp. Make sure you read the instructions as some types shouldn’t be applied directly to the skin.
You can also fill your drinking-water bottle with hot water and use it as a hot water bottle.
Be careful to check that the bottle you’re using is made of a plastic that can be heated (throw away “pop-bottles” usually can’t).
The lid needs to be on properly.
Make sure the bottle isn’t so hot that it can burn you; let it stand for a few minutes and then check it’s temperature with your hand.
If using a non-flexible bottle you might find it very hard to get the lid off once the water has cooled, remove the lid every few minutes as the water cools to make this easier.
Don’t use boiling water!
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