Reassuringly, yes, menstrual pain occurs for a reason. I won’t go into health problems that can cause period pain, but these can include endometriosis and ovarian cysts — for these, you don’t need this article, you need a doctor! If you are perfectly healthy, albeit genetically unfortunate, period pain is caused by contractions of the uterine muscles, random anatomical factors (such as smaller cervix width and positioning of the uterus) and hormone levels. Poor diet, lack of exercise and stress also play a role in the severity of menstrual cramps.

 

Luckily, because there’s science, there are solutions! I’m not on birth control, nor do I like to use pain killers. These are my tips for making the dreaded week slightly more bearable!

 

 

1. Heat

 

Seriously, heat. Localise it to your back and tummy and you’ll feel better pretty much instantly. Use a hot water bottle or a heat pack — make your own in a pinch by putting rice in a sock, tying it up and putting it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. I’m not kidding. If you’re at home, run a warm bath and lie there until it goes cold. I drink tea religiously, so I make cup after cup of green tea and hold it to my tummy, leeching warmth from it desperately like I’ve been suffering hypothermia. There are so many ways to get warmth to the painful areas, so use whatever works for you!

 

2. Diet

 

Do you drink lots of water? No? Drink more. You do? Great. Drink more. Hydration not only makes you feel better generally, but it neutralises the effects that iodised salt and sugar has on your body, which is particularly important during that time of the month.

 

Which brings me to the next point: cut back on salty, sugary foods. You should be eating foods that are high in magnesium (leafy greens, raw nuts and avocados), fibre (wholegrain breads, lentils and soy products) and iron (red meats, dark green vegetables and dark chocolate! Yay!).

 

Avoid caffeine — replace the morning coffee with a herbal tea. Difficult as it may be, you’ll thank past-You later.

 

3. Exercise

 

When I’m lying in bed in agony, too painful to stand up to reheat my heat pack, the last thing I want to do is hit the gym. Regardless of what anyone says, just no. However, regular exercise through the rest of the month might just cause the Week of Death to be slightly less deathly. Endorphins do more than make you happy, they fight pain! If you’re healthy and fit, your body has a better chance of dealing with pain in a way that’s less tear-inducing.

 

Stretching or gently massaging my tummy usually helps me through mild pain. Yoga is also helpful — did you know, there are yoga poses specifically for helping menstrual pain? Don’t worry about a class. Do it in the comfort of your own home, with a block of dark chocolate close by.

 

4. Rest

There’s nothing worse than waking up on the morn of your biological not-pregnant notification and knowing you face a full day at work or university. You know what? It’s okay to take a sick day for period pain if you need to. I turn into a barely-functional zombie on my first day, so I fully advocate the method of bed rest. Grab your onesie, some tea, your favourite movies and spend a day napping and relaxing. It might feel lazy, but it’s better than being stuck on a peak hour train stifling moans of agony.

 

5. Okay… Sometimes Panadol Is Necessary

 

While I rarely take pain medication, sometimes you just have to. Some anti-inflammatories are better than others, but any over-the-counter pain killers should do the trick. In my experience, Ibuprofen is the most effective pain killer for period pain. Most pharmacies will have a specific own-brand medication, so it doesn’t hurt to ask the staff! Make sure you follow the directions, too — the last thing you want is nausea on top of cramps.

 

Remember — it’s only a few days. Every cramp only makes you stronger.

 

How do you deal with period pain? Please please please let us know in the comments!