Today is National Mountain Climbing Day!
Although many of us are still stuck at home and following quarantine protocols, we are here to give you some tips on how to manage your period when you are mountain climbing. Of course, these tips might come in handy in your next climb, whenever that may be.
Use a menstrual cup
It’s important to pack light when you’re going on a climb, something you may not be able to do when you need to bring packs of disposable pads.
But, no need to worry about it anymore when you are using a menstrual cup.
A single menstrual cup can be reused for two to five years, so no need to bring bulky pads and tampons on your next climb. You can avoid producing period waste each time you menstruate, too!
Plus, it can be worn for up to 12 hours. Instead of having to change your pads or tampons every few hours, you can focus on your trip and not worry about your period.
Besides, the cup won’t leak as long as it’s inserted properly. It is also very comfortable. You won’t even feel it.
Bring an extra bottle of clean water to wash your menstrual cup with
Once you’ve decided to try using a menstrual cup, the next thing to do is familiarize yourself with how it’s cleaned. Of course, we provide detailed instructions with each cup and on our website’s FAQ page.
But, if you’re using it out in the mountains, you definitely have to make some adjustments.
Since access to clean running water is no guarantee, you have to bring an extra bottle of clean water instead. You can use this to wash your menstrual cup.
Just be careful, though. Make sure that you can stretch that one bottle of water, or find ways to get a refill if you need more.
Keep your stuff organized
It pays to be organized, especially when you’re traveling or joining an activity like mountain climbing while menstruating. Just imagine having to clean your cup only to realize that you still have to look for your hygiene stuff as they are all over your big knapsack. Yikes!
To avoid that, keep them in one pouch and make sure that they can be accessed easily whenever you need them.
Make sure you have something to sanitize your hands with
In order to avoid infections, you need to ensure your hands are clean before taking out and reinserting your menstrual cup.
This means that even when you are out for a hike, you need to ensure that you have something to sanitize your hands with.
Bring painkillers if you have to
One of the many things we learned from Dr. Aura Azarcon during our event for International Day of Action for Women’s Health last May 28 is the fact that it’s just okay to take painkillers to get rid of period pain.
Our bodies differ from one another, and so do the period-related symptoms we feel. Although some of us don’t feel any pain at all, there are also those who do.
Even timing can be tricky. Sometimes, menstruators feel okay, only to be surprised by a sudden cramp in the middle of an activity.
So, if you sometimes experience this, make sure that you have painkillers with you before you climb a mountain. This way, your activity won’t be spoiled even if you feel pain out of the blue.
But of course, you need to see a doctor first if you have any preexisting conditions and allergies or are taking other meds. This is to avoid any adverse drug reaction.
And, if you think your pain is already too much and is too persistent, you also have to seek medical care.
Get a sterilizer cup
If you want to be more cautious when washing your cup outdoors, you may need a sterilizer cup. It is not only used to sterilize the cup, but it also functions as a mini-tabo.
And since the sterilizer cup is collapsible, it can also be used as your menstrual cup’s container. Just collapse it and put your folded menstrual cup in it.
Want to know more about our sterilizer cup? Click on the button below!
Set alarms
Since you can’t feel the menstrual cup inside you when it’s properly inserted, it is so easy to forget about it. This is true when you are busy or when you’re out having fun.
This is why we recommend that you set alarms on your phone, so you can be reminded when it is time to empty your cup.
Although dealing with periods can be really challenging, it doesn’t mean that nothing can’t be done about it. With the help of the right period products like Sinaya Cup plus awareness on how to manage its symptoms, it can be more bearable.
Once you manage to take the hassle out of the equation, you can free yourself from worries and do more things as you menstruate. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.
