I travel about once or twice a month for work and I thought I’d seen it all… or most of it until my last trip.
I was rushing to get to the airport because my original flight got delayed and the airline had to switch me to a new flight, leaving from another airport. I found this out almost as I was arriving to the airport my original flight was supposed to go out off, which meant I had to now drive to another location. By the time I got to the airport I had just enough time to go through security and board my flight.
Things were moving along and going great until I stepped into the full body scanner at airport security.
“Ma’am, it seems like there’s something in your vagina and we’re going to have to inspect you.”
I kid you not, that’s what they said.
For a second all the possible scenarios went thought my head. Are you they going to strip me naked? Pat me down? Do a cavity search?
“I’m on my period,” I told the security lady. She was very nice and told me she understands but she still has to check me. She explained to me I would get a pat down and she would have to touch me close to my vagina.
She then asked me if I wanted to do this in a private room or right then and there. I choose to do it there because I was a running out of time, my flight was boarding in 20 mins and I had no idea how long a private check would take.
She patted me down and checked the upper part of my pants, A LOT. I even had to raise my shirt and show a bit of my belly. For a second I pretended the airport was empty because I didn’t want to think there were strangers seeing my belly and this pat down.
While she was patting me she told me this happens a lot when women are on their period, especially if they’re wearing a big pad.
It got me wondering, what’s considered a big pad for TSA? Do they consider a big pad an overnight pad? Maybe a regular pad that has too much blood on it would show too? What about tampons? Either way, if you’re on your period the TSA agent will most likely know.
She even showed me the picture of my scan. It looked like an outline of my body with a huge yellow mark right on my vagina and uterus.
Then, the security agent proceeded to swab my hands and I was finally released. My menstrual cup didn’t pose a threat!
I grabbed my things and walked fast to make it to my flight but I was shocked.
The full body scanner picked up my menstrual cup and suddenly it felt like an invasion of privacy.
I understand that they’re doing their job and trying to keep all flyers safe but do they really need to know that I’m on my period and using a menstrual cup? What if the pat down wasn’t enough? What if I would have had to go into a private room and remove my menstrual cup in front of a complete stranger, and even worse, get my vagina inspected? Not to mention I would have missed my international flight had this happened.
What if I was wearing an adult diaper or was sexually abused and someone touching me was triggering?
And these are “what ifs” to me because my extra screening didn’t go that far but there are reports of other women who have had to even remove their cups in front of the agents and get a more throughout search.
The line between safety and privacy suddenly felt pretty blurry…
Can the TSA full body scanner see your menstrual cup?
After this incident happened I googled this question because I wanted to know if it happened to other women. To my surprise I found reports of women getting extra security screening because their panty liners, pads, tampons or menstrual cups were detected by the full body scanner.
Some of the women went through way worse pat down and checks than I did, all because they had their period.
I also found other posts of people stating the scanner can’t detect menstrual products… but it can. If it couldn’t, I wouldn’t have been stopped today.
Here’s the thing, the TSA agents need to do their job but a woman shouldn’t have to go through a pat down just because she’s on her period. It’s a natural, common thing and it happens every month so TSA should find a way to differentiate between period products and whatever else they’re looking for.
Had my pat down taken any longer or moved to a private room I would have missed my flight and because this was an international overnight flight there wasn’t another flight I could take. And is it fair for anyone to loose a flight and go through extra screening just because they’re on their period…?
It’s kind of silly when you think about it.
And then I started thinking about my daughters… We travel with them at least once a year. What if this happens when they’re young teenagers with their period? I would have been horrified as a teenager if something like this were to happen to me.
So, can you fly with a menstrual cup?
Yes, you can. I have done it many times and this is the first time it set off an alarm. I’m not sure why this time it happened and other times it hasn’t but maybe it has to do with the way each machine is set-up or maybe some agents are better at recognizing it’s just a women with her period.
I wouldn’t let this experience discourage you from using menstrual cups because, if you’re like me, they have probably made having your period a much more pleasant experience. I love my cup – I almost forget that I’m on my period because I don’t have to deal with it more than a few times a day, unlike a pad which I used to change every time I used the restroom.
Just because you’re wearing a pad or tampon there are no guarantees that this won’t happen to you since the TSA agent confirmed this happens a lot, especially with big pads and there are also countless of reports from women saying their menstrual product landed them in invasive body searches.
In fact, we all should all wear our cups when flying. Maybe if enough of us are using menstrual cups or talk openly about experiences like this, the TSA will find a way to distinguish between a cup and whatever dangerous thing you can insert in your vagina.
However, if you are flying with a menstrual cup I would make sure you get to the airport 20 minutes earlier than you usually get there so you can have plenty of time for an additional screening if needed. And be mentally prepared, since there’s a chance this might happen.
I also want to point out that the agents are just doing their job and the agent that searched me was very kind but unfortunately, according to other reports, not all women are as lucky as I was and got more way more invasive screening than I did.
I personally don’t care if TSA knows I’m on my period but what bothers me is the extra screening because of it. I believe the TSA should be able detect the difference between a period and something else and they should set a better protocol in place for situations like this. A period is something too common for women to have to deal with extra screening because of it.
Has this ever happened to you or something similar? Let us know in the comments.
Malia says
Thank you for writing this! Im going on a weekend trip and my period is irregular but I feel it coming and fully expect to have to use my cup. I’ve been stopped by TSA for the stupidest reasons, one of which led to them groping me in front of my child because I also declined a private room. My parents were there and able to turn her away, but this time its just me and her so im hoping to not have issues, but im glad to know it can possibly cause me to get flagged. We will definitely get there earlier!
Kathy says
I am a 69 year old Grandmother who was body searched by the TSA after triggering an alarm while walking through the body scanner. I was traveling with my dog & carried him with me. My hands were swabbed for gun residue I asked why, but was not given an answer. I was pulled aside & told I would need a “pat down”. I was asked if I wanted to go to a private room for the “pat down” .. I have had “pat downs” before & found them annoying but not intolerable. Little did I know I would have to assume a lunge position to the left while a female TSA pushed her flat hand into the crack of my butt sliding forward to the inner aspect of my thigh & directly into labial area. Then, was made to lunge right where the process was repeated. I am a pudgy woman, my thighs do not separate with the lunge I was able to do .. my knees are deteriorating & a full lunge is not something I can do. This process was painful, humiliating and boarded on sexual abuse. I had no idea why I triggered an alarm in the first place & to be forced into such a humiliating position was unbearable. After some research I learned of faulty scans related to menstrual products, I was wearing a urinary inconvenience pad. I am hesitant to fly again, to endure another body search is something I do not want.
Meredith says
I had a similar experience at SeaTac. I had on a maxi pad, went through the body scanner, and was dinged for having a “foreign object in my pants”. So TSA pulls me aside, asks what I have in my pants, and I had to respond TWICE (very loudly because of the masks) that I was on my period and it was a maxi pad in my pants. Then I noticed the monitor behind me, showing the body that was scanned and a giant red square over where there is a “foreign object”, aka on the genital area of this big monitor that everyone behind me can see. THEN proceeded to pat me down, feel up my genital area, and then sent me on my way as if nothing happened. I walked away bawling from embarrassment. As if it’s not enough of an emotional rollercoaster for a woman on her period, go ahead and embarrass her in front of the entire airport. They definitely need to change their protocol, or add this to their list of things that might set off alarms. No woman should be embarrassed like that.
Deb says
On a recent trip to Vegas, I was given the pat down in Charlotte, then again in Vegas 5 days later. I have incontinence issues and on an airplane and when traveling in general I use a big pad. Both times it was pelvic area that lit up on scan. I wanted to whip that thing off and throw it at them! Do men wearing pads get this treatment? Behind me was an older lady who was taken to a private room in a wheelchair..bet it was the same issue. Humiliating as hell..but if they’re gonna do it, make them do it right there where everybody can witness what they’re doing.
Tori Blanchard says
Omg, I was flying home one time and I set the scanner off in my pelvis area. However, I wasn’t on my period. I wasn’t wearing a panty liner, not was I sneaking anything on the plane up there. I do however have a clitoral hood piercing and the piece of jewelry I was wearing at that time was a little big. So I’m assuming that’s what set it off, and the TSA lady showed me the picture of my scan as well and yeah it was just a yellow mark down there. Weird.
Amber says
This just happened to me a couple weeks ago, I was running late to catch my plane & was stopped by security. The showed me the screen & a big red square showed up in my area. They asked if I wanted a private room or right there — I didn’t want to chance of missing my flight, so I said right there. It was pretty traumatizing. Something has to be changed, I’m 35 and I hated it – I can’t imagine a teenager having to go through the same process.
Julie says
Sinple solution. Ask for manual check and abstain from the body scanners. Just tell them you have physical limitations that prevent you from using the scanner safely. They have to say yes. They will swipe the wand over your body, swipe your hands and send you on your way.
K. L. says
I’m sorry you had a negative experience with TSA. I would rather cut my own arm off “127 Hours” style if it meant I would never have to go through TSA or the DMV ever again. I don’t know when this was written, because I can’t find a publish date but I somehow managed to come across this page. So, I’m going to talk as if this article was written here in 2021.
To fully understand how TSA operates, is to first understand that it’s creation was reactionary following 9-11. TSA’s equipment, screening practices, procedures and ever changing and evolving policies are a direct result of both, successful and unsuccessful terrorist activities here at home or abroad. We didn’t always have to take our shoes off or remove large electronics and there was a time were we could bring full water bottles through the check point– that is until someone tried to hide a bomb in a shoe and a laptop, in separate terrorist attack attempts. That aside, let’s address some of these talking points, shall we?
Most body scanners I have come across while travelling, are the L2 ProVision or L3 ProVision, these machines work by using 2 rotating transmitters that bounce electromagnetic waves through clothing and off the skin of a traveler to detect anomalies (it is not an x-ray and it is completely safe, which is why those with pacemakers or metal implants use that machine, even when they could be eligible to use the walkthrough metal detector). How does it detect anomalies you may ask? I am not gifted scientifically to explain the exact process, but basically the machine and it’s software use the average form of the most basic male or female bodily anatomy and detects both metal and non-metal objects on the person, that should *not* be there and thus are flagged on a generic avatar on the console as “alarms”. The TSA agent MUST physically resolve each alarm by performing a pat-down or visual inspection of that area and 3 inches around it. This is why if the TSA agent, accidentally selects the incorrect gender, like scanning a female as a male would alarm the breast and groin areas. If the wrong gender is selected, the operator can rescan you. Pre-COVID, misgendering would be the only reason a passenger would get a rescan as opposed to a pat-down, but thanks to COVID, the rescan rules were relaxed to offer more instances to rescan a passenger to avoid as much physical contact between agent and passenger. These machines must also be recalibrated every 30 minutes– the closer to the 30 minute mark, the likelihood that innocuous objects like a pull string from a sweater or your pants zipper can alarm, thus forcing the TSA agent to resolve the alarm by pat-down or visual inspection. Here are other reasons a person could alarm, besides detecting objects or anatomy that shouldn’t be there: The #1 reason most people get patted down is because they moved during the scan or a piece of a clothing on your body didn’t stop moving before the scan, the top #2 reason you alarmed– you didn’t completely remove *all* items from your pockets (remember it can pick up both metallic and non-metallic objects), obnoxiously large jewelry, sweatshirt hoods (its bulky), a brace or bandage (if it can’t be removed and sent through the x-ray, the brace/ bandage will get screened separately), shiny shirts or pants will almost always alarm, hair extensions, dreds… Thanks to COVID, sometimes masks will alarm (that’s a visual inspection only.) I bring up how the machine works and possible reasons to alarm, because I guarantee, that the machine absolutely *cannot* detect mensuration products located *inside* your body at the time of the scan, even the likelihood of the scanner picking up a tampon string is almost zero due to labia’s. But it absolutely can detect bulky pads or adult diapers, as they are large anomalies in a sensitive area, on the exterior of the body, that the generalized and average person, male or female wouldn’t have.
To answer some people’s question, “but why do you have to pat down my breast, groin or buttocks, its invasive.” You’re absolutely right, it is and just like all the other annoying screening procedures, you have a person to thank for that, when Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate a bomb he had hidden in his underwear Christmas Day 2009, on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. He is also the reason why after a passenger receives any pat-down in a sensitive area, the passenger’s hands are tested for traces of explosives. Which for the record, if you’re a landscaper and you plan on flying somewhere after work, DO NOT TOUCH ANY FERTILIZER– you will alarm and you will have a bad time receiving a full body, head to toe pat-down and your carry on luggage searched and tested.
In regards to pat-downs and additional screening: TSA agents are NOT permitted to conduct cavity or strip searches of anyone. TSA agents cannot make anyone remove a tampon or cup that is in use. TSA agents generally cannot tell if a passenger is menstruating or not because they are only permitted to use the back of their hands for all sensitive areas. In the event of an alarm on the explosives trace detection after receiving a sensitive area or full body pat-down, there are specifically trained officers for secondary pat-downs, which to my knowledge is a pat-down using the front of their hands as opposed to the back. For those who think the body scanner is invasive, you can opt-out of the scan, but you will be receiving a full body pat-down. You can also refuse to be patted down by TSA, but bare in mind, law enforcement will be called to do it for them.
Here’s some unsolicited advice: If you fly more than once every month or every other month, do yourself a favor and apply for TSA PreCheck!! It’s $85 for a 5 year “membership”. PreCheck lines are much quicker, laptops stay in bags, shoes, belts, light jackets can stay on because PreCheck passengers use the walkthrough metal detectors– and not the scanner. However, be mindful that even PreCheck passengers are still subject to additional screening procedures if the walkthrough metal detector randomly selects them. If you are travelling with protein powder or sand off a Bahamian beach… If you have a checked bag, put those items in there, as they can alarm the explosives machine, its weird I know. But if it’s in a checked bag, it won’t trigger pat-downs. If you’re not PreCheck, and you’re travelling with children under 12, TSA is not supposed to separate families and should be sending you through the metal detector– That is unless you’re ineligible due to medical devices.
I apologize for the length of this comment and run on sentences, its really late. But I hope that I have shed some light as to why things are done the way they are at a TSA checkpoint.
PS. though it feels like it sometimes, women aren’t singled out at the checkpoint because of mensuration or it’s hygiene products. If they were, I’d be doing far more than a few hundred pat-downs every shift.
Sincerely,
Your friendly, but exhausted, neighborhood TSA officer.
Annie B. says
Thank you so much for sharing this story. I know many adults are still uncomfortable having to tell strangers they’re on their period, so I can imagine having to go through an invasive pat down or cavity search could be absolutely traumatic.
I have read stories from AFAB and AMAB trans people traveling that had a really rough time with body scanners simply due to their anatomy not lining up with what the scanning personnel expected to see. I imagine being stopped by TSA as a trans man and having to explain that you’re in your period could be an awful experience in many ways (triggering some gender dysphoria or even abuse from TSA staff.)
If they can’t even understand a femme presenting person wearing a standard menstrual product like a pad, we definitely have a long way to go to make things comfortable for trans folks and elderly people with various personal care and medical devices..
A says
Happened to me and no on my period, no pad, no piercings, no nothing. Not pleasant.
Anonymous says
This happened to me today…I was so annoyed so I actually searched to see if this has happened to anyone else .
1pink1blue says
I always set off the scanner in the pelvic region, whether or not I am on my period. I have no idea why. No panty liners, no tampon, no cup, nothing, but I still set it off. It’s become something I dread, as I know the private area pat down is coming. I have asked my gynecologist if there’s anything she can see that could cause it, and she said she has no idea, that she has to do the same thing. Could it detect scar tissue from an episiotomy or other fibroid tumor removal surgery? It’s so embarrassing that I’m considering paying for TSApre just to avoid it.
Olive says
I was pulled over after going through the scanner at Brussels airport a few years ago during my period, and was taken to a private area. They told me I need further screening but didn’t explain why. After checking my bags, the told to put my hand down my on my vagina area under my pants and she wiped my hands to check for explosives. She also told me to raise my shirt and she wiped down the whole area from below my waist to about 2 inches above my belly button. She even put her wipe a little down my pants. I was escorted back to the general area after it was confirmed that I had no explosives on me. This was very humiliating, and even though it was done in a private area there were still other staff conducting searches there including men.
Anonymous says
This just happened to me at The Salt Lake City Airport on my way to Texas. I feel I was violated in this pat down. I am a 69 year old grandma who was wearing depends panty. The scan looked like I had something hidden in my vagina when I explained what it was they still needed to pat me down. I chose to do the pat down in public because I am tired of always getting patted down for one thing or another. TSA needs to be able to do their job but really some of this is ridiculous.
Anonymous says
I just found this blog after having an embarrassing experience with TSA and googling if this is often. So glad I’m not the only one!
I was wearing an overnight pad and had an extremely early flight that I didn’t have time to change. When I got there to the checkpoint, I felt that it leaked onto my pants! Thankfully I had an oversized shirt on so it went pass my bottom. Got to the scanner and they detected around my pelvis area. Red on the genital parts and yellow on both sides of my bottoms. They had me go through the scanner again and the lady asked me to check my back pockets. I knew there was nothing in my back pockets so I asked her if my front button of pants were the one to be detected. She raised her voice and had said that she asked me to check my back pockets and not the front if I had listened to her. I lifted up my shirt to check both back pockets hoping no one saw the leak because it felt HUGE. The scanner detected again but they just took a hand metal detector this time and swipe around the area. Thankfully it didn’t sound!
I know it was my fault that I didn’t initially check the back pockets for her to see that I did. Thankfully it wasn’t a full pat down. At least I know that she does her job right but I can’t imagine what situation she had faced before I was there for me to get her that angry at me for not following one simple command. It could’ve been an honest mistake too. 4am and still trying to wake up. 🙁
Sandra says
I always refuse the scanner, and always get a pat down but it is not nearly as intrusive as the one to which you were subjected. It takes a little longer but I’m not subjecting myself to even more x-rays that show wayyyy more of you than they will admit.
ConcernedAmericanWoman says
I wonder if gals should follow this travel protocol when menstruating, using an adult diaper, wearing breastfeeding pads, etc:
1) Purchase “period panties” in advance of travel. Experiment with them prior to travel, to get an idea of how much they can absorb.
2) Pack a couple of clean/replacement pads, tampons, adult diapers, and/or nursing pads, or your menstrual cup, in your carry-on, purse, etc. Also pack your usual panties or a second clean pair of “period panties” in a ziploc bag in your purse or carry-on.
3) Use a tampon, pad or menstrual cup as usual. Put on your “period panties” when you dress for your flight.
4) After making your way to the airport, check in for your flight, check bag(s).
5) Visit the restroom in terminal area (before entering TSA line) and empty your bladder as usual. Remove all products: cups, pads, tampons, adult diapers, nursing pads, etc. You’ll now be “free-bleeding” (if menstruating) and your “period panties” will absorb any fluids as needed while waiting in line and going through security. Nursing moms should also wear thick cotton bras to absorb small amounts of leaking breast milk, but remove thick nursing pads as well, especially if saturated.
6) Proceed through security. Be sure to remove all metal objects and put in your tray or carry-on. (I was recently patted down by a TSA agent simply because there was a decorative metal bar attached at the “v” of my shirt which fell about 3-4 inches above my breasts in the center of my chest . . . ridiculous.)
7) After clearing security, visit restroom again, re-insert cup or tampon, don your diaper, or put on new nursing pads or a new menstrual pad. Remove period panties (if saturated) and swap with your clean panties, placing the period panties into the ziploc bag your clean panties were packed in. Seal the bag and place in your carry-on. Doing this right before you board will actually buy you more time on a long flight as well.
8) Board plane and go. In case of limited time before flight, board flight and handle step four shortly after takeoff, if your circumstances allow (based on knowing how well your “period panties” perform on heavy days, etc.)
9) Wash your period panties by hand after you arrive to your destination, hang to dry, and re-pack in the ziplock bag as before. They will then be clean and dry for your return trip.
This might require a bit more planning when packing your carry-on, and allowing a bit more time before flight, but will spare many of these instances from occurring. For menstruation and light incontinence, any “period panties” should be able to handle things for 30-60 minutes while going through security, and won’t likely set off any alarm bells. As for me, I will always travel with a pair of “period panties” packed in a ziploc bag, and use them when necessary, so that I can avoid further sexual assault aka “pat-downs” courtesy of TSA.
Hope this helps someone.
Worried traveler says
I will be traveling internationally in the near future. I wear a pessary for bladder support.
I have not seen fromt the above comments what to expect when wearing a pessary and going through TSA Check.
Any suggestions and feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Anonymous says
I am so glad I found this blog. I am a 22 year old female. I took my first flight from Philly to Savannah a few weeks ago to visit my boyfriend and his parents for a weekend. Going through TSA in Philly was terrifying for me. The body scanners were intimidating and the workers there were not the nicest, which didn’t help my anxiety. And the worst part is that I don’t know how much they can see of me.
Growing up, I was always very private when it comes to my body. I dress to cover, specifically so that men don’t stare. It got a lot worse when I was sexually assaulted when I was 16.
I am taking the same flight this Friday and I want to do research on what these body scanners can see. I am getting a mix of answers that they can see everything or they don’t see anything at all. Reading the other replies from women who posted on here makes me very uncomfortable, especially the fact that there’s a possibility that a random stranger, specifically men, can view my body.
And to add onto my stress, less than a week ago I got the courage to tell my mother and the cops what happened to me when I was 16. I was put through the wringer last weekend and I had to give specific details which was horrifying. The last thing I need is a body search because my feminine product was detected. I cannot put myself through that humiliation, it will put a bigger strain on my mental health.
If there are any women who could give me any advice, it would be greatly appreciated. <3