“Oral contraceptives with low or moderate doses of estrogen can ease the pain from PMS. Plus, birth control can make your period shorter, your flow lighter, and your hormonal swings less severe.”— Casey Gueren, buzzfeed.com
“Apps like Clue and Glow and Kindara help you track your cycle each month and send you reminders when it’s almost time. This way, at least you’ll know why you’re suddenly starting fights with everyone you know… and why you ate eggs with a side of brownies for breakfast.”— Casey Gueren, buzzfeed.com
“I masturbate in the shower when I’m on my period. Multiple orgasms, no cleanup.”— Christina Lan, buzzfeed.com
“If you have really bad cramps, and it’s seriously affecting your quality of life, the very best thing to do is talk to your doctor. He or she might be able to recommend something you hadn’t even thought of--a different birth control pill, stronger prescription painkillers, etc.”— Chiara Atik, gurl.com
“Immersing yourself in hot water helps relieve all muscular tension, including menstrual cramping. It can also just help relax you mentally, which is important, too.”— Chiara Atik, gurl.com
“Believe it or not, there are specific yoga poses aimed at relieving menstrual cramps, like the cobra and the bow pose. These poses target the pelvis and the lumbar region, two muscular groups that often bear the brunt of soreness and tension during period pain.”— Chiara Atik, gurl.com
“Using certain aromatic essential oils and massage can also relieve menstrual cramp pain.”— Kathleen Doheny, everydayhealth.com
“Tea with peppermint oil may also help, Sonya Angelone says. She advises her patients with cramps to start sipping the tea that gives them relief a week or so before they expect their period.”— Kathleen Doheny, everydayhealth.com
“Not everyone wants to turn to medicine to soothe period cramps, but moderate use of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, can help.”— Aldo Palmieri, everydayhealth.com
“Wearing a menstrual cup or a female condom can help reduce the amount of blood that might come out during intercourse.”— Amanda MacMillan, news.health.com
“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
“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
“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
“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
“Avoid processed and fast foods, with their high-salt composition, and you'll help hold water retention at bay and minimize bloating. Caffeine -- found in your daily ration of coffee, tea or soda -- can irritate the stomach by increasing gastrointestinal acidity, making your cramps worse and adding t…”— Vicki Clinebell, sheknows.com
“If you consume 1200 mg of calcium a day when your period is around, you could possibly cut your menstrual symptoms in half — including moodiness and cramping. The easiest thing to do is take some all-natural supplements when you start PMSing, rather than reaching for it when the sky is already falli…”— Gina M. Florio, bustle.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
“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