Timing is everything when it comes to fertility, and perfectly timed fertility medication doses are no exception. That’s why it’s so important to take special care when you’re traveling with fertility medications. To keep your treatment on track, make sure you take or administer every dose as prescribed.
With summer vacation right around the corner, we’re taking extra time to remind patients of the tips and tricks for traveling with fertility medications to keep treatments and fertility cycles on track.
Keep Track of Fertility Medications While Traveling
Here are six ways to ensure you have just what you need – when you need it.
1. Contact the airline(s) well ahead of time
Contact your airline(s) ahead of time to get specific instructions about their prescription medication regulations. In most cases, you’ll need to have a copy of your prescription with you (make sure it’s current and not expired) and follow their security protocol. For example, they may have specific instructions for passengers traveling with syringes/needles.
2. Speak to your fertility specialist, pharmacy, and insurance carrier
Let your fertility specialist, the pharmacy, and your insurance carrier so everyone has an idea of the dates you’ll be gone as well as the location(s). Doing so ensures quicker approval if you wind up needing a replacement dose or a pickup from a pharmacy in a different location than they are used to sending it.
3. Invest in high-quality, insulated packs
Always keep your fertility medications with you in your carry-on bags. Do not check them.
Since injectable fertility medications are heat-sensitive, it’s wise to invest in high-quality cool packs. You never know what may transpire by way of delays or unpredictable flight cancellations. Knowing your medications are stable brings peace of mind.
4. Go over this fertility medication accessory checklist
It’s easy to forget “the extras” when you’re focused on prescription copies and cool packs. This checklist can help:
- Insurance information
- Gauze/pads
- Cotton balls
- Alcohol wipes
- Printed emergency/medical contact information that includes contact information for your primary physician, fertility specialist, and pharmacy.
- A printed copy of your valid prescription(s)
5. Consider having medications shipped to your destination
These days, specialty fertility pharmacies make it easier than ever to have prescriptions shipped right to your door. If you are worried about traveling with medications and don’t want to deal with the extra stress, ask to have meds and supplies shipped to your location.
6. Be prepared for the side effects
Fertility medications are known for their side effects, most commonly experienced in the form of bloating, spotting or irregular bleeding, cramping, nausea or headaches, moodiness, hot flashes, tender breasts, etc. It’s one thing to experience those at home, and it’s another to have them while on vacation.
Create a TLC kit for yourself that includes things that can provide relief:
- OTC pain/anti-inflammatories
- Ginger chews or tea to support an upset tummy (ginger also relieves pelvic inflammation)
- A heating pad
- Pads or tampons
- Anti-diarrhea medications
- Mindfulness apps (to help you unwind, relax, and find your center)
- Anything else that brings you comfort
If you are traveling with others or visiting friends/family, let them know ahead of time. Understanding what you may experience while taking fertility medications will help them be more empathetic to your situation.
Read, How to Avoid Awkward Conversations About Fertility, and if you feel comfortable, you may want to share 3 Ways to Talk to Someone Struggling with Infertility with your travel companions ahead of time.
The Fertility Solutions team hopes you have a wonderful and relaxing vacation. Think of this as a practice round. Once your fertility treatments are successful, that checklist we gave you will be a mere hint of the things you’ll need to bring to keep your baby happy on the journey.