Are Female-Specific Health Concerns a Barrier to Participation on Expeditions or Adventure Tourism?

IntroductionFemales are underrepresented in the expedition environment. There are no published studies exploring females' concerns relating to their health in this environment. There is no guidance in key medical texts on preparing females during the pre-expedition phase. This study asked to what extent female-specific health concerns are a barrier and why.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used an electronic survey distributed to females aged 18 to 40 y. Individuals from both the expedition community and those with no related experience were invited to participate via WhatsApp and Posters in local workplaces. Questions explored attitudes around toilet facilities, period health (PH), and strategies females use to manage periods on expeditions.ResultsTwo hundred and eighty-one individuals completed the survey. Lack of toilets is a barrier to participation in adventure tourism and expeditions (AT&E) for 24% of respondents. PH concerns were a barrier for 26%, and only 12% had no concerns with managing PH. Concerns regarding toilets or PH have stopped 11.4% from taking part in expeditions. When looking for information regarding PH and AT&E, 14% of participants were unable to find useful information, and only 10% of respondents felt that school education was adequate.ConclusionsFemale health concerns are a barrier to participation in AT&E, and currently, the expedition community and education are not equipping individuals to overcome those barriers. For >10% of participants, these barriers have caused them to miss life-affirming opportunities. Better pre-expedition resources are needed for females, and further research is needed across a wider age range, including perimenopausal and teenage populations.