Flying and bleeding!

[Angelfish76]

Hi! I have endo, bowel adhesions and venous pelvic congestion, and I have the Mirena. I have noticed much heavier bleeding which lasts several days longer after I have been on a plane. This has happened a couple of times. Anyone else have this or is it just me?!! xx

[hayls]

Hi

There's definitely some connection between flying and bleeding/periods so you're not alone (or at least there's 2 of us!). Over a couple of years I flew quite a lot and every single time the flight would bring on bleeding, first few times I thought it was just a coincidence but once it had happened about 6 times in less than a year I was convinced there was a connection, mentioned it to my gynae once and he wasn't surprised and said it wasn't the first time he had heard of it. Just another weird sympton to add to the list! x

[Impatient in reply to hayls]

Sure is a connection - that's why DVTs are more likely from flying than traveling by train for example. The pressure from flying causes your blood vessels to expand and they don't automatically recover when you reach earth again. it takes time.

You will notice the problems with air pressure if you have ever had the misfortune to open a tube of makeup like foundation in midair.If you sealed the lid at ground pressure then open it midair - e.g. hoping to put on your make up before landing.

Whoosh a mini volcanic eruption and splodge everywhere.

It's why fighter pilots wear G-suits to constrict their bodies tightly from the ankles upwards towards the heart as they race about the skies at different altitudes and pulling G forces stress the body at speed.

Why deep sea divers can get the bends causing air bubbles in the blood vessels when they come back up to the surface too quickly.

Whether you are putting your body under huge pressure by diving or reducing pressure by climbing a mountain or flying, the impact this has on your blood vessels will cause problems if you are on a period - or you have an unhealed wound.

Decompression occurs when you come up from diving, or go up a mountain (causing altitude sickness) or up in the sky by flying. It causes gases to expand - you need to fart more when flying than you do on the ground. If you have asthma or lung problems the lungs will be expanded more than they are on the ground which can cause breathing problems.

Gas in the gut expands too causing tummy aches and pains.

for this reason people who have recently had surgery are not allowed to fly for a few days at least after a surgery (depending on the op). passengers with broken legs or arms in a plaster cast must have the cast cut open before flying to allow for swelling vessels.

New born babies should not fly till they are 6 weeks old because the ear drums are not formed properly and are liable to burst painfully if they fly too soon and cannot self regulate the pressure around the eardrum -breast feeding or for toddlers sucking on a sweet can help regulate ear drum pressure - but if you have a cold blocking the tubes then your ear drums can burst - at the very least they will be extremely painful.

It has only happened to me once - and i don't ever want to experience that again, my ears were agony for days.

When you dive under the sea in high pressure the vagina and cervix clamp shut with the increased pressure. It will prevent bleeding.

The opposite occurs when you decompress by going up to the surface. Your cervix and vagina dilate and open up - much as happens to the blood vessels and everything else. So if you are on a period you will notice a heavier bleed or greater blood loss and this may last a while after returning to earth level after diving or leaving earth and heading in to the sky the same thing- occurs regardless of what activity you are doing to cause decompression.

Female cabin crew are usually advised to stop their periods if possible or time them to occur when they are not flying. Norethisterone is a god send for delaying periods till you have completed a flying trip, whether you work for an airline or are just a female passenger on a business trip or holiday.

Hope that helps with future trips - try and stop your period till after you have flown, or be prepared for a bit of flood and take extra tampons, towels and perhaps a spare change of clothes depending on how often you can access the loo. Ask for an aisle seat so you are able to get to the loo more easily as and when needed to clean up.

[Angelfish76 in reply to Impatient]

Wow - thanks for replying both of you - and for such a great explanation. Certainly makes sense! x

[Clauss in reply to Impatient]

Very useful information, thanks!

[Jexxica in reply to Impatient]

Last night I flew into SF. I started my period the day before. I was fine throughout the flight, but upon landing I stood up and began bleeding so much I thought I was hemorrhaging. I was terrified! I grabbed my carry-on bag and dashed out to the nearest ladies room. Embarrassingly enough..I had left a blood trail all the way to the bathroom.. Luckily I was wearing black..it was so much blood. I was able to get cleaned up and change. After the scare was over I looked up what it could have been and read about the possibility of it being the pressure change which makes so much sense. I will now be better prepared next time and will definitely share with female friends and family so that they can also be prepared. Thank you.