To not want menstrual cup to show on airport scanner

[ThistlyPerf]

I’m due to fly next week when I’ll have my period and it got me wondering if sanitary ware is visible on the airport scanner. I know periods are a totally normal thing which half the population experiences but it still feels a bit (privacy) invasive.

A quick Google search confirms cups certainly are. Has anyone experienced any issues with body scanners? AIBU to feel uncomfortable about this?

It hadn't occurred to me but you are in the scanner for what, about 5 seconds? I don't think that teeny level of exposure is worth worrying about.

They can see your innards! There is no privacy that's the point.

Not unreasonable to feel uncomfortable about ir, but not a lot you can do about it apart from not use one

They must see all sorts of things, they are not however looking for menstrual cups and have seen hundreds of them...

And they are normally monitored at a different location too

Would rather them see my menstrual cup than not see a weapon on someone who means harm.

When I use to do a lot of flying for work I would have my sanitary protection in a separate small bag in my hand luggage as I had no hold luggage.

Randomly a security person, often a man, would go into my bag and open it. They really were completely uninterested once they could see what it was.

Use towels until you go through security?

Would they have seen hundreds? Carrying drugs there is fairly mainstream, I would imagine they are looking there.

Op interesting, although it wouldn't bother me.

I assume they’d be able to see a tampon as well?

@Crockof

Would they have seen hundreds? Carrying drugs there is fairly mainstream, I would imagine they are looking there.

Op interesting, although it wouldn't bother me.

I would have thought they had seen hundreds. They know what they are looking for, they must be trained to tell the difference between sanitary products and drug concealment...

So you’re ok with them seeing you effectively without clothes, but not that you’re on your period?

How do they know the difference between a tampon and one stuffed with drugs? No idea how these things work.

They can see the IUD too.

How weird.

Slightly missing the point, but I carried a (>100ml) bottle of lube through security in the clear liquid bag last time I flew. DH said I should throw it away and buy a replacement after getting through security! I said if it’s ok to buy from Boots, it’s ok to present at bag check. No one looked twice.

Literally no one will care

I'd love to see myself in here. I want to know what my innards look like

Only your bags go through a scanner you go through a metal detector .

@FTEngineerM

So you’re ok with them seeing you effectively without clothes, but not that you’re on your period?

Well now that you mention it no That’s a whole lot of other shame re body fat!

Cups, tampons, implants, iuds, probably even pads to some extent, they’ll be able to see it all. It’s really not an issue. They need to be able to see anything concealed. When I went to Amsterdam many years ago the scanner showed the underwire on my bra and the woman had to quickly check (ran her finger along the wire) as it was snapped (I didn’t even realise until she said it) and she had to check it was all ok.

I've had a modest boob job and it's not obvious to people unless I mention it. I always have a giggle to myself going through airports knowing that they'll see the implants. I'd love to know what it looks like.

SIL used to do this job. They don’t give a shit, and they see all sorts. They’re there 99% for security theatre purposes, but are also trained to look for specific things and ignore everything else.

You can't see inside people on airport scanners. There's two different types and the airport ones only show the outside of the body for weapons etc hidden under clothes.

There's a different type that's used to look for phones, drugs, money etc hidden in bodily cavities, but they're not used in airports, mainly prisons and similiar places.

They aren't medical professionals so doubt they would even notice the cup or know what it was. And the women working could all be on their periods anyway. I've been in them loads for about a few seconds so doubt tye check is that thorough to notice a cup.

I have just googled and its very basic what they see, surely otherwise they would be able to see tumours and God knows what sitting inside and may as well have a bloody doctor sitting there pulling people aside.