The festive holiday season is upon us, and whether you’re aiming to travel now or later in 2025, you should know that you absolutely don’t have to put your vacation dreams on hold if you have uterine fibroids. With a little bit of careful planning, you can maximise your comfort and get that much needed rest or adventure!
Destination consideration: finding the most comfortable place
While uterine fibroids should never hold you back from things you really want to do (even if they don’t fit these guidelines), there are some things you can consider when planning what destination to pick if you’re worried about things like pain, bleeding or other discomfort.
Number one is obviously easy access to healthcare facilities. If you have a particularly bad case of fibroids or frequently find yourself in at the doctor or ER, it may put your mind at ease to visit places that have well-developed healthcare infrastructure This includes a lot of high-income well-developed countries across the world that are on par with international standards when you consider their private healthcare options! If you are travelling abroad, make sure you consider additional health insurance – this is generally always advisable, whether or not you’re worried about your fibroids acting up. Whether you’re travelling locally or abroad though, access to healthcare services can vary widely within the same country depending on where you are. It’s thus always a good idea to research medical facilities near your destination.
The next destination consideration is climate. We have written a few posts before on how heat can exacerbate fibroid symptoms, like this one here . If you’re particularly worried about your comfort or know you are susceptible to extreme heat, it’s best to consider destinations with moderate or colder temperatures.
When selecting accommodation, make sure when you’re browsing online to look for hotels or rentals with easy bathroom access and accessible transportation (or within walking distance from some things you want to see) to limit fatigue.
Planning and packing for your trip
Next stop – planning how to prepare, how long to stay, what to see, and what to bring. If you know you are susceptible to getting tired easily from your fibroids, consider either a shorter trip, or plan your itinerary so that you have built-in rest periods, where you can take a couple of hours or a day or two to recharge.
Next, if you’re travelling far or haven’t checked in with your gynaecologist or OB/GYN in a while, it’s a good idea to book an appointment before travelling just to get checked out and ensure you’re in tip top shape. You can also use the opportunity to obtain a letter from them describing your condition and current medications (if you’re on any), and potentially a script for obtaining those same medications overseas in case of luggage loss or something else going wrong.
Beyond just the medical stuff you also need to make sure you’re packing the comfort-focused essentials. This includes loose, comfortable clothing, extra underwear, sanitary products and a few pairs of darker pants for if you’re on your period or have a breakthrough bleed, and any doctor-guided pain relief medications.
Lastly, don’t forget your travel documentation, and no we don’t just mean your ticket, ID or passport! As we mentioned earlier, getting travel insurance with comprehensive medical coverage if you’re outside your country is always a good idea. Also remember any scripts and copies of important medical documents and include a list with emergency contact information just in case.
Managing symptoms while out and about
Proactive symptom management is key to enjoying your travel experience, and the same lifestyle guidelines that apply at home also apply here, with a few adjustments. The first is to stay well-hydrated. This helps with hormone balance, flushing out inflammatory compounds, supporting circulation, and reducing the risk of those pesky UTIs if your fibroids encroach on your bladder. Getting enough water in is particularly important if you’re in a hotter climate or have an activity-filled vacation planned. As for all travelers, make sure you are able to drink the local tap water and buy safe bottled water to keep with you if you can’t or are unsure.
With proper hydration goes proper nutrition, and while you’re absolutely encouraged to sample the local cuisines, try avoiding or at least limiting ultra-processed foods, too much red meat and high-fat dairy. On the beverage side, limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol. These are all thought to exacerbate fibroid growth or their symptoms[1].
Last, but not least make sure you’re pacing yourself properly and have a bathroom strategy in place if frequent or urgent urination is one of your symptoms. For pacing it’s important to listen to your body, take regular breaks and plan your activities with some flexibility so you can monitor how you feel each day. Having a bathroom strategy is as simple as knowing some of the restroom locations in advance or planning restroom breaks along the way if you’re travelling far.
Conclusion
All the things we mentioned in this article are aimed to boost your confidence and maximise your comfort (and frankly are good things for all women travelers to consider, whether or not they have fibroids). However, it should be noted that fibroids shouldn’t be the main thing dictating where you travel or how you travel. If you find you’re planning everything about where you want to go around fibroid symptoms, it’s time to go for an appointment with your gynaecologist or OB/GYN and really consider the treatment options that are available to you. At talkingfibroids.com we believe in fibroid management, but most of all, in leading a full, happy and adventurous life!
References
[1] Uterine Fibroids Dos & Don’ts: Diet, Pain Management, & More
