It is unavoidable and essential for every female to carry period products even when on holiday. Passengers can carry them in their luggage or carry-on bags, but can the airport scanners detect tampons and pads?
Airport scanners cannot detect tampons and pads when you’re wearing them. But they can detect sanitary products in your luggage. When you have a pad or tampon on, the scanners detect an abnormality in your person. In this case, TSA agents may conduct a pat-down search. The full-body scanners do not detect menstrual cups, either.
Can Airport Scanners Detect Tampons And Pads?
The airport scanners detect only metal or inorganic objects a passenger carries, but cannot see any object held within the body, like tampons and pads. They scan the body’s outline and present an image onto the screens.
Suppose the person is carrying an object or substance. In that case, that is metallic or inorganic; it shows up as either orange (organic objects), green (inorganic or plastic objects or blue (metal or hard plastic).
The airport’s scanners use millimeter wave scanners and backscatter scanners. Millimeter wave scanners emit low-frequency electromagnetic waves that deflect off the passenger to create an image on the screen.
Backscatter scanners emit low-frequency x-rays that bounce off the body. The x-rays create an outline of the body. But they do not penetrate through the body.
The AIT (Advanced Imaging Technology) scanners do not project specific body parts, the passenger’s height, or weight. They are designed only to detect what is between your clothes and body. The older versions of airport scanners did not offer passengers much privacy; therefore, many airports have introduced AIT scanners.
Female passengers on their periods have been pulled aside by TSA agents when they set off the scanners. The scanners sense an oddity that sets them off. However, this prompts the airport security to conduct an advanced search of the female passenger.
Related: Can airport scanners see inside your body cavities?
How Do Tampons And Pads Set Off Airport Scanners?
When a female passenger on her period passes through the scanners, they may set off the scanners. The feminine products are so thin they appear as silhouettes on the scanners and may set them off.
The scanners are made to detect thin, metal objects and mistakenly identify period products as metal. The x-ray scanners cannot detect when a passenger carries any feminine products. But because the image may seem suspicious, the scanners send out an alert signal.
Can Airport Scanners See Tampons And Pads In Your Bags?
The TSA permits passengers to carry feminine products in either their carry-on or checked-in bags can be detected by scanners. The luggage scanners discharge x-rays that scan over the surface of the bags.
The scanners cannot effectively tell there are feminine products in the bags. The scanners send an image of the bag’s contents to the screens. The security staff determines the objects’ density, size, and shape and, through that, knows what passengers carry.
Keeping a few extra products in your carry-on bags for emergencies is good. Although, airline staff stock feminine products and soaps on board to avoid mishaps.
Can Airport Scanners Detect Menstrual Cups?
The airport scanners can only detect metal or inorganic objects. Airport scanners cannot detect menstrual cups like your tampons and pads. None of the airport scanners are powerful enough to penetrate the body to see if you are wearing a menstrual cup, tampon, or pad.
How Can You Take Tampons Or Pads On A Plane?
There is always a chance you may have to travel while you’re on your period. And therefore, you must be prepared.
The TSA advises female passengers to pack sanitary products in carry-on bags. They should be packed in re-sealable clear bags to facilitate the screening process. It is also best to carry extra bags in case no trash cans are available or are too full to dispose the sanitary products.
What Happens When Airport Scanners Detect Tampons Or Pads?
The scanners cannot detect when a passenger wears period products, but they detect oddities that may cause further investigation by security officers. These oddities may also include hair clips, sequins, or a fold in your clothing.
The search consists of a full-body pat-down search when security flags a passenger; a female security officer conducts the search in private and away from other passengers.
Can You Travel With Tampons And Pads To The UK And EU?
Female travelers to the UK and EU are permitted to carry their feminine products. There are no travel restrictions on the number of sanitary products they may carry.
Recently, the EU and the UK have scrapped the taxes on sanitary products. Whether on holiday or on a business trip, you can find sanitary products at all major retail stores.
Can You Travel With Tampons And Pads To Dubai?
There are no travel restrictions on tampons and pads for tourists to Dubai. Several brands of sanitary products can also be purchased at the airport’s duty-free shops.
Can You Travel With Tampons And Pads To China?
China does not have any restrictions on female travelers carrying tampons and pads. However, China’s market caters only to sanitary pads. There is a very small market for tampons; only two percent of the population utilize tampons.
Therefore, female tourists should carry a good supply of their tampon brands while in China. And they do not need to worry that the tampons will be confiscated or detained at the airport.
Can You Travel With Tampons And Pads To Japan?
Travelers to Japan can carry their sanitary products into the country. Tourists may find their favorite feminine products at any of the retail stores around Japan. Japan also stocks many familiar brands used in the US and UK.
Can You Travel With Tampons And Pads To Hawaii?
Hawaii does not have a restriction on carrying feminine products into the country. Female tourists can bring pads and tampons in their carry-on or checked-in luggage.
Can You Travel With Tampons And Pads To South Korea?
Several travelers to South Korea have found a limited supply of their favorite sanitary products. Therefore, they either order them online or carry a sufficient supply to carry them over the stay.
There are no travel restrictions on the number of sanitary products travelers can enter the country with.
Can You Travel With Tampons And Pads To Africa?
Although there are no restrictions to traveling with menstrual products to Africa and the Middle East, tourists may find a limited supply of tampons and pads here. Airlines advise female passengers to carry sufficient products to last the length of their stay.
What Do You Need To Know When Traveling On Your Period?
There are no travel restrictions for passengers on their periods carrying sanitary products like tampons and pads. They can carry them in either their carry-on bags or their checked-in luggage.
Even though airport scanners cannot see when a passenger is wearing any sanitary product, they may flag the passenger as carrying a suspicious item.
Female passengers should also be respectful of the country’s religious and cultural beliefs around periods. Some countries do not allow women on their periods to enter religious places of worship.
Travelers should also not dispose of sanitary products in toilets. Therefore, tourists to some foreign countries need to dispose of them hygienically and environmentally friendly.
