As a woman, one of the most uncomfortable experiences I have to deal with each month is when I'm about to be on my period. When I was younger, my experiences with my period weren't quite as painful. I'd get my typical stomach cramps, have some bleeding, then it would be over. 

But as I've gotten older, my stomach cramps have begun to get more severe, my emotions all over the place, and heavier bleeding. I'll even have cramps in places I didn't before, such as my lower back. Even when I experience my cycle each month seems to change. One month, it'll be near the end of the month, the next the middle or close to the beginning. 

However, I wouldn't be experiencing most of these side effects/changes if it weren't for my period. So over time, I've learned to deal with the changes my cycle decides to bring and would like to share some tips on what to do when you find your period is causing you pain. I can't guarantee what I suggest will work for everybody but I hope these suggestions can at least help make your period when it comes more manageable to deal with. 

Tools

When dealing with your menstrual cycle, it's important to make sure you have the tools you need to deal with your blood flow.  Pads, tampons, menstrual cups, and menstrual underwear are some of the most common products used nowadays to deal with periods. All of these products were designed with the purpose of making sure periods are easier/more manageable to deal with. 

However, how do you know how much you'll need? When starting your period, make note of how often you go to the bathroom and have to change out what you're using. Depending on what you're using, it'll vary how often you'll have to change and make adjustments. 

Making sure you have the right amount of supplies you need is essential to dealing with your period problems successfully. It will also decrease the amount of stress you are to experience during your menstrual cycle because you'll have one less thing to deal with on your cycle.     

Medications

Dealing with your period can be an undertaking, especially when you have side effects you can't ignore. Over-the-counter medicine is one of many medications you can take to try and help with your period pain. The over-the-counter pain medicine the Mayo Clinic suggests taking include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, and others), and naproxen sodium.  It is recommended you take these medications at the beginning of your period or whenever you first start experiencing symptoms.

You can also take hormonal medication such as birth control, which can help regulate your cycle and make your period symptoms more bearable. Keep in mind, however, that birth control has side effects. A Medical News Today article I read talks about some of the most common side effects of birth control. These common side effects include spotting, nausea, breast tenderness, and headaches, all of which I've experienced since I started taking the pill I'm currently on. The article also mentions other birth control symptoms I've also experienced too, such as weight gain and mood changes.

I've noticed since being on birth control how heavy and bloated I feel and how much more food I find myself able to consume. The nausea I experience also doesn't help. It makes it difficult for me to feel motivated to do any sort of exercise so I can try and shed some of the weight I've gained. There are also mood changes from taking the pill, which vary each cycle. I'll either be extremely sad to the point of crying or mad to where I find myself wanting to scream.

If the side effects of birth control aren't something you want to deal with, talk to your doctor to find out what medication will work better for you.  

Relaxation

For me, one of the best ways I find I'm able to ease my period pain is by making myself comfortable. Usually, whenever I have bad period cramps, I find laying down helps me. When laying down I notice the period pain doesn't feel as difficult to deal with, almost like it's traveling through different parts of my body than where I was hurting. 

Another way to relax that helps ease period pain is by taking a bath. Warm water from a bath helps reduce period cramps and helps your muscles relax. It can also help improve your mood whenever your period has you feeling moody. This article I found on Flo explains taking baths on your period for those interested in learning how to take a bath while on their cycle.

When you aren't soaking in hot water, you can also use a heating pad to help deal with heavy period cramps. Like warm water, a heating pad can also help ease your menstrual cramps and make your period more bearable to deal with. There are also devices like Livia that help ease period cramps by stimulating your nerves to block period pain. If you get heavy period cramps like I do, getting a heating pad or device that'll help block your pain is a definite must. 

In Conclusion...

In the end, when it comes to managing your period pain, I recommend doing whatever works best for you. There is no wrong way for you to make that time of the month easier for you to deal with. Whether you make sure you have what you need, take medication, soak in a tub, or use a heating pad, do whatever you need to make your period pain more manageable for you.