Travelling With HRT During Perimenopause: What You Need to Know

HRT and Travel: More Straightforward Than You Think

Travelling with HRT worries many women more than it needs to. In the vast majority of cases, HRT medications are straightforward to carry across borders, go through airport security without issue, and are easy to manage on the road. A little preparation means you can focus on the trip rather than the logistics. Here's what you need to know before you pack.

Airport Security and What to Expect

HRT in all standard forms, patches, gels, sprays, tablets, vaginal pessaries, and implants, passes through airport security scanners without any problem. Patches do not need to be removed. Gels and sprays in containers under 100ml fall within standard liquid allowances for carry-on bags. If your gel or spray bottle exceeds 100ml, pack it in checked luggage instead. Keep medications in their original packaging with the pharmacy label visible. This is rarely checked but avoids any questions if it is.

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Storage on the Road

Most HRT medications are stable at room temperature for normal travel durations. Gels and patches can tolerate the temperature variation in a well-packed bag. Avoid leaving HRT in direct sunlight or a hot car for extended periods. If you're travelling somewhere extremely hot, a small insulated pouch is a sensible precaution. Vaginal oestrogen products and progesterone capsules may have more specific storage requirements, so check the patient information leaflet for your particular brand before travelling.

Managing Time Zones and Dosing Schedules

If you use a daily patch or apply a daily gel, crossing multiple time zones requires a small adjustment. The simplest approach is to shift your application time gradually across two or three days rather than making a sudden jump. For oral progesterone, which many women take at night, move the timing by an hour or two each day to align with local bedtime at your destination. Keeping a brief note in your phone with your medication schedule and local time equivalents removes the mental load from calculating this during the trip itself.

Running Low or Losing Medication Abroad

Pack more HRT than you expect to need, ideally a few extra days worth for short trips and a week's buffer for longer travel. In many European countries, pharmacies can dispense a limited supply of a recognised HRT medication with your original packaging or a prescription copy. In the US, Canada, and Australia, a local GP appointment may be needed to get an emergency supply. Travel insurance with a medical component is worth checking for medication-related coverage before you leave.