If you’re like me, once a month you’re reaching for the bottle of ibuprofen and praying that the week goes by quickly. Around 80% of women experience pain during their periods, and 5-10% experience pain that is severe enough to disrupt their life. And if you don’t suffer from period pains, it’s likely that you experience premenstrual discomfort such as bloating, mood swings, tiredness, and tender breasts.

And, although you may feel like there isn’t any, there is hope for making periods more tolerable! We’ve put together a list of some pain relief options as well as period solutions that may help. Be sure that if you are experiencing discomfort you talk to your doctor and confirm that nothing is out of the ordinary.

Period Care Options:

Organic Tampons and Pads

Tampons and pads are common supplies to find in a woman’s period kit. But, have you looked into purchasing organic? You may not always think about it, but when it comes to using products that are close to important parts of your body, we should be making sure that chemicals and other harmful materials are left out of the ingredients!

Period Panties

Period panties are a newer product that are similar to a pad built into your underwear. It allows you to bleed into an absorbent pair of underwear that can be thrown in the wash with no waste and no mess! Most brands claim to hold up to 5 tampons worth of blood. Many of the period panties companies also make them in different styles like sport, hip hugger, and thong. You can sleep in them, work out in them, and go about your day in comfort and style. Period panties are gaining popularity due to the fact that they are reusable and comfortable.

Menstrual Cups

Menstrual cups are a menstrual hygiene device that is inserted in your vagina and collects the blood for you to remove and dump. It is typically made of rubber or silicone and typically allows you to go all day without having to worry about changing it, depending on flow of course. It is a great reusable option so you aren’t having to buy tampons or pads or other single use products. Some women love it because you don’t feel it if it’s inserted properly and can save you many trips to the bathroom during the day. However, some report that it feels stuck inside or can be difficult to remove. If you do choose to test it out, just make sure you read the instructions and remain calm if it does not come out at first. The menstrual cup works with suction, so you need to break that seal of suction in order to remove it. 

Menstrual Rings/Disk

Menstrual disks are similar to menstrual cups in that they look similar and have the same concept of collecting the blood for you to dump later. It is also another reusable option that could save you money in the long run. They differ with the placement. Menstrual cups are placed in the vaginal canal and, as mentioned before, they work with suction to stay in place. A menstrual ring/disk gets inserted above the vaginal canal. Because of this, they do not need suction to stay in place, can typically hold a larger volume of blood, and can even be worn during sex. However, inserting and removing it may be a little difficult for some women, especially your first few tries. There are many resources online for tips on how to properly use one.

Free Bleeding

Free bleeding is either a choice made by women on their periods, or they are unfortunately forced due to financial reasons. Free bleeding means not using anything like tampons or pads to absorb your blood during your period. Though, some people consider using products outside of your body such as panty liners or period panties still count as free bleeding. You may be interested in free bleeding because it doesn’t cost anything, some women may find it freeing, and it’s more environmentally friendly. That said, you may be uncomfortable dealing with the potential mess of free bleeding- and that’s okay! 

When learning about new products and pain management, it’s important to remember that all bodies are different. And none of it makes you less of a woman! You are a strong, beautiful and powerful person who can make it through anything. Having a period may not be fun, but we can all find ways to make it work for us! 

Pain Relief Options:

Take A Hot Bath

Get the warm water going with your favorite bubbles. Maybe light a candle or two and play some soothing music. The warm water, pleasant scents, and relaxation may help you calm your muscles and ease your cramps.

Use A Heating Pad

Heating pads have gotten pretty fancy these days! I remember growing up, my mom had a tiny heating pad with a super scratchy cover that had two settings: barely warm and burning hot! Now, I have a king sized heating pad with a soft, fuzzy cover and 5 different heat settings. Plus, it’s waterproof! If you don’t like your heating pad, this is your sign to do some shopping and see if you can’t find one that might work best for you!

Drink More Water

Hydration is important while you’re on your period. Well, it’s important every day, but it will help if you can drink more during your period. 

Avoid Caffeine

Okay, okay… I know you don’t want to read this one. But caffeine can narrow blood vessels, causing your uterus to constrict and make you experience more cramps. If you can live without it during your period, it might help. Or, at the very least try subbing your second and third cups of coffee in the day for a glass of water! 

Nature’s Medicine

Whenever I’m on my period, all I want is junk. But food that is high in fat and sugars can cause you to bloat more and experience even more discomfort. Instead, try eating anti-inflammatory foods like berries, ginger, and garlic to ease the inflammation and increase blood flow.

Exercise

You may want nothing else but to lay on the couch and feel miserable. But, light exercise can help release endorphins and relax your muscles to ease the discomfort. Try taking a yoga class or some light stretching. It might help! 

Over-The-Counter Medicines

Ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory meds can help with the pain and give you some relief. Some women need extra strength pain meds, but a lot of times over-the-counter will do the trick.  

Birth Control

This option is of course one that would require you to consult your doctor. And it’s important to remember that everyone’s body is different and you need to find what is safe, healthy, and works best for you. Many women opt to take birth control to try to control the symptoms of period pain, and they can also take it to skip periods all together!

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