United States: Women's Health Issues

WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES General Advice Planning makes travel less stressful. No one wants health-care hassles while traveling. Here are some tips to help you avoid visiting the doctor while on the road, or scrambling for items that may be hard to find. Because some items may not be readily available while traveling, it's a good idea to keep female hygiene products such as tampons and pads handy at all times. Consider taking extra vitamin and mineral supplements to compensate for jet lag, dietary changes, and other travel-related stresses. If you vomit or get diarrhea, medications, including birth control pills, may be rendered ineffective. Please check with your physician for instructions regarding any medications you take. Hot, humid climates can encourage yeast infections, as can changes in diet or body pH. Please consult your physician for preventive measures or prescription remedies prior to travel, if necessary. We recommend keeping your doctor's telephone number and e-mail address with your travel documents in the event you have medical questions during travel. Mothers and Expectant Mothers Traveling While Pregnant When pregnant, be sure to consult your doctor before traveling. If you are pregnant, we recommend consulting your health-care providers before making travel decisions to advise you of measures to take before or during travel. Traveling and Breast-Feeding It's a good idea to consult your health-care provider about breast-feeding prior to travel. In most cases, the activity won't be affected, but you may wish to have a written list of local breast-feeding resources handy, just in case: International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are health professionals in approximately 50 countries who specialize in the clinical management of breastfeeding; seewww.ilca.org. La Leche League Leaders (LLLLs) are trained and accredited volunteer mothers in approximately 60 countries who provide mother-to-mother breast-feeding support and information; see www.llli.org. In most situations health-care providers can and will select immunizations and medications that are compatible with breast-feeding. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA. World Trade Press accepts no liability for statements on this page. Consult your health care provider for more information.