Managing Your Period at a Music Festival

You’ve got your festival tickets and your outfit ready to go. You’re prepped for the crowds, the heat, and maybe even the overpriced drinks. But what about your period?

As much as we wish we could hit pause on our cycles, our bodies don’t always line up with our plans. That's why we recommend a reusable menstrual cup or menstrual disc over disposable tampons and pads. Reusable cups and discs allow you to;

• Stay comfortable and odour-free: Between the sun, the crowds and the dancing, festivals are already sweaty enough and disposable pads and tampon strings can add to the discomfort. Cups and discs are worn internally - with no strings wings or dangly things, they are more comfortable and completely odour-free. 
• Skip the portaloo queues: Festivals are all about the music, not about wasting time in smelly toilet lines. Both menstrual cups and discs can be worn for up to 12 hours and hold 2–3 times the volume of a tampon or pad. That means longer-lasting protection, fewer trips to the loo and more time soaking up the good vibes.
• Go waste-free: Festivals are infamous for mountains of rubbish. By choosing a reusable product like a menstrual cup or disc, you’re also cutting down on single-use waste. One small switch that has a big impact!
• Pack light - once you've made the switch, you just need one single product so you no longer need to carry around a stash of pads and tampons or worry about where to buy them when you run out.  

So if your period shows up on the same day as your favourite artist, don’t stress -we’ve got you covered. Here are our top tips for managing your period this festival season.

1. Be prepared

The best way to avoid mid-festival surprises is to track your cycle. Whether you’re using a diary, paper-based tracker or a handy period tracker app, staying on top of your cycle gives you more control.

If you know you might be due, wear a pantyliner or pop on a pair of leak-proof period underwear to protect your outfit. And always pack your menstrual cups or menstrual disc in your bag - your future self will thank you.

2. Practice makes perfect

Ideally, you would have used your cup or disc for a few cycles before heading out to a festival so you are familiar with inserting, removing (it can be a little fiddly) and cleaning it.

If you are a newbie and haven't had the opportunity to practice using a cup or disc before festival day, it's worth doing a "dry run". This involves practising inserting and removing your menstrual cup or disc several times when you aren’t on your period. Lots of people find this really helpful for getting comfortable with insertion, removal, and the general feel of it before using it during a cycle. See Beginners' Guide to Using a Cup, which provides practical tips for a smooth start.  

3. Period-proof your outfit

Because menstrual cups and discs don't absorb vaginal secretions, they don't cause dryness. Pop in your cup or disc before you head out to the festival and you can focus on dancing, not worrying about when your period will start. 

If you’ve got a heavier flow or just want backup, pair your cup or disc with period underwear. They look and feel like your regular undies but give you extra confidence against leaks.

4. Cleaning your cup or disc

Always ensure you clean your hands before and after handling your cup or disc. We recommend taking a travel-sized hand sanitiser with you when going to festivals, as water may not be accessible in a cubicle or portaloo.

• Option 1: Wash or sanitise your hands, then simply wipe the cup or disc with unscented toilet paper and pop it back in. When you are back home, you can give it a thorough clean.
• Option 2: Take a small water bottle into the cubicle or portaloo. Wash or sanitise your hands and use the water bottle to rinse the cup or disc over the toilet. 
• Option 3: Pack wipes or a spray cleanser specifically designed for menstrual cups and dics and after removing your cup with clean hands, give it a wipe or spray. 

Whatever product you choose, hygiene matters. Always follow recommended wear time (usually a maximum of 12 hours for reusables) to reduce risks like infections or Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).

The bottom line

Periods shouldn’t get in the way of your festival fun. With the right prep and reusable products, you’ll stay comfortable, confident and waste-free - all weekend long.

PeriodShop Australia’s home of reusable period care, with the largest range of menstrual cups and discs to help you live life on your cycle.