Sexual Health For Travelers

Sexual Health for Travelers

Planning a summer vacation overseas? Here are some tips to help you stay sexually healthy abroad.

• Inform your health care provider where you are going well in advance, so she can make sure you get the proper vaccinations and have a sufficient supply of whatever prescriptions you'll need.
• Ask for an advance prescription of the morning-after pill, also known as emergency contraception (EC).
• Write down the prescription formulas of your medications and have them translated (if appropriate) in case you misplace them.
• Call your insurance company to find out if you're covered abroad. If you're not, consider taking out traveler's insurance or getting insurance in the country where you'll be living or staying for an extended period of time.
• Research the culture, customs, and laws of the area.
• Be aware of any gender, sexual orientation, or appearance-based discrimination and harassment that may exist.
• Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travelers Health website for health information specific to your destination.

Your Sexual Health Travel Kit

Whether you're packing light or bringing along your entire life, you definitely want to leave room for a sturdy, waterproof sexual health kit:

• condoms, dental dams, and lube
• emergency contraception
• prescriptions in their original containers
• tampons, pads, or menstrual cups
• wipes
• pregnancy test
• a whistle on a keychain (to attract attention if you're receiving unwanted advances)
• a book or list of useful phrases if you don't speak the local language
• a laminated sheet of important numbers and addresses, including a local emergency number (it may not be 911)
• consulate contact info
• a recommended hospital

Upon arrival, you'll want to store your health kit in a dry place with a moderate temperature to protect the contents.