50 Brilliant Tips That'll Make That Time Of The Month Easier On You

“Getting down and dirty can relieve migraines, cluster headaches, and period pain. The uterus contracts during an orgasm, and afterwards, blood flow increases and your brain is hit with natural chemicals that automatically relieve pain.”

— Gina M. Florio, bustle.com

“Before having sex, spread a dark towel on the bed.”

— Diana Spechler, womenshealthmag.com

“Exercise. I know it’s the last thing you want to do, but you don’t have to run on a treadmill or do jumping jacks. You can try kickboxing or karate instead. Get all of your frustration out at the gym so you don’t take it out on your friends later on.”

— Holly Riordan, thoughtcatalog.com

“Stretch out and relax for a few minutes with a heating pad set on low resting on your abdomen. The heat will loosen tight muscles and ease cramping, while the quiet time lowers anxiety and allows you to recharge and feel less irritated and moody.”

— Vicki Clinebell, sheknows.com

“Using certain aromatic essential oils and massage can also relieve menstrual cramp pain.”

— Kathleen Doheny, everydayhealth.com

“It sounds odd, but drinking water keeps your body from retaining water and helps to avoid painful bloating during menstruation. Warm or hot water is usually better for cramps, as hot liquids increase blood flow to the skin and may relax cramped muscles.”

— George Krucik, healthline.com

“It is OK to ask anyone, even a stranger, to lend you a pad or tampon.”

— Laura Martin, ubykotex.com

“Go to the bathroom frequently (full bowels and bladder can make cramps feel worse); when you're lying poolside, elevate your legs with a stack of towels or your beach bag, or lie on your stomach and breathe slowly.”

— Lexi Petronis, glamour.com

“Use a latex condom so that some of the blood that gets on him can be easily rolled off.”

— Diana Spechler, womenshealthmag.com

“Avoid waxing. Being on your period makes the whole vaginal area more sensitive, so waxing is likely to hurt a lot more.”

— Emma Louise Pritchard, goodhousekeeping.co.uk

“Women shouldn’t assume their partner will be grossed out by their period. In fact, it’s often the person who’s menstruating who puts a stop to sex, not her other half.”

— Amanda MacMillan, news.health.com

“Eating nachos and getting teary at a video of a puppy doesn’t exactly make you feel like a sexy, empowered goddess of high self-esteem. One way to ramp things up and remind yourself just how sexy you actually are? Having sex.”

— Ellen Scott, metro.co.uk

“Apparently, rubbing a small ‘O’ shape on the palm of your left hand just below the thumb knuckle can help ease cramps – perfect for a public place when you’re out of painkillers.”

— Emma Louise Pritchard, goodhousekeeping.co.uk

“Women complain about premenstrual syndrome, but I think of it as the only time of the month that I can be myself.”

— Roseanne Barr, books.google.com

“A daily dose of chocolate during your period is just what the doctor ordered! A square of dark chocolate stimulates secretions of serotonin -- which gives you a good feeling.”

— Vicki Clinebell, sheknows.com

“Choosing the right products is more important than women tend to think. Instead of picking the prettiest box, consider your body type and daily activities before you decide which product is best for you. Leak protection is one thing every women should consider.”

— Catherine Conelly, sheknows.com

“Ever get your period only to realize that you’re totally out of tampons, then have to wad up a piece of toilet paper and waddle awkwardly to the store? Yeah, it’s the worst. Before your period, stock up on your preferred feminine hygiene products. Put them in your bathroom, but also make sure to gra…”

— Sammy Nickalls, hellogiggles.com

“Prevention is always better than the cure, which is why making sure your body has enough vitamin D is important in preventing menstrual cramps.”

— Sabrina Bachai, medicaldaily.com

“Organize yourself. Put your sanitary products into a small bag or tin in your handbag so they don’t fall around inside your bag.”

— Emma Louise Pritchard, goodhousekeeping.co.uk

“Sometimes, it’s actually kind of comforting to know you’re PMSing, because it feels like you’re allowed to be moody and watch sappy movies while crying on the couch. It’s a part of life, man, and it will pass. Own those tears!”

— Sammy Nickalls, hellogiggles.com

“As much as you may love sprinkling an abundant amount of salt on your foods, try to keep it to a minimum during your period, since it can make you retain too much water, only increasing your chances of uncomfortable bloating.”

— Alexa Erickson, collective-evolution.com

“Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. These stimulants will encourage your muscles to contract and cause pain. Drink warm water, coconut water or pineapple juice.”

— Pallavi Kapur, lifehack.org

“Arousal is different for every woman, and some may be too distracted by their period and its annoyances to actually get in the mood for sex. But for others, menstruation could actually be a turn-on of sorts. That’s because your estrogen and testosterone are low on day 1, but they start to rise by da…”

— Amanda MacMillan, news.health.com

“Eating calcium-rich foods, such as milk and yogurt, along with potassium-rich banana just before and at the onset of your cycle will reduce the severity of cramps and food cravings. Banana also contains serotonin, which reduces moodiness and overeating.”

— Pallavi Kapur, lifehack.org

“Especially when you’re feeling crampy and bloated, tight stuff can just feel terribly uncomfortable against your lower belly. Put on some soft socks, your comfiest sweatpants, and loose-fitting clothing. Surround yourself with fluffiness. Just turn yourself into a cloud.”

— Sammy Nickalls, hellogiggles.com

“Find a product you can trust. Nothing is worse than planning ahead, wearing a pad or tampon, and still finding yourself in an embarrassing situation. If that happens, switch the type (you may need a product designed for a heavier flow) or brand of pad or tampon you use right away.”

— Laura Martin, ubykotex.com

“You can get pregnant on your period. Yes, it is highly unlikely but it’s not impossible so don’t use menstruating as an excuse not to use protection.”

— Christina Huffington, huffingtonpost.com

“Real talk: You've got 35-ish years of periods ahead of you. That's too much time to waste beasting out about your cycle every month. Instead, try to find a way to kinda-sorta, as-much-as-humanly-possible embrace your time of the month. Use your period as an excuse to do something nice for yourself.”

— Kim Tranell, seventeen.com

“Women who took vitamin E supplements twice a day during their periods for four consecutive months reported a lower pain intensity than they had experienced previously. They even took fewer over-the-counter meds as a result, and had more energy. Go to your nearest health foods shop and snag a bottle…”

— Gina M. Florio, bustle.com

“When in doubt, sleep. When you wake up, you’ll be a few hours closer to the end of your period.”

— Holly Riordan, thoughtcatalog.com