Lucie Loves... Health & Wellbeing // Why it's important to talk about our nether regions – part 2: how to have more positive periods, ease menstrual cramps and help fight period poverty

Exercise is one of my favourite ways to feel good. But I admit, it can be even harder than usual to pluck up the energy, if you suffer from really painful menstrual cramps.

I’ve suffered with really painful menstrual cramps since my period started in my mid teens, i’ve tried all Sorts and I’m sorry to say it hasn’t relented yet 20 years later! I realised that, as half the planet are also women, there must be others like me out there who come to dreAd this time of month.

Here are my top techniques for tackling period pains for a more positIve period (From Period/ ovulation bloat/upset stomach/painful cramps/achey back, hips and womb, moodswings, teariness and much more) PlUs, a few other period hacks I’ve discovered recently: 

1. Exercise

   I did a 45 minute Bootcamp class yesterday (my third class at Pure Gym this week) and just towards the end of it I felt those familiar cramping pains in my lower abdomen! Oh shit! I thought! My period tracker app said I wasn’t due to come on for two more days?! I’ve not brought any tampons out with me… what if I have an accident and leak period blood all over my nice new gym wear… or worse… the gym mat?! As the period cramps took hold, I battled my way towards the end of the workout session… thinking I was going to be sick after the combined exertion of those final 80 press ups and burpees. But I managed to stick it through to the very end!! I just kept thinking “they say exercise is meant to increase blood flow, and release beta-endorphins. Which results in reduced pain and make you feel good.” I’m really glad I did the class, but I’ve got to admit, I was pretty worried about the consequences of coming on my period, when I didn’t have any protection with me.

   It just made me realise even more how period poverty — when a young girl or woman, doesn’t have the luxury (read as: money) to buy any sanitary protection, how debilitating  and embarrassing that must be to have to live with for the 480 times she’s probably going to menstruate (on average) in her life. 

   Big news! They’re scrapping Tampon Tax! Take that tampon tax! We didn’t like you anyway!! However, even with zero-rated VAT, there will be women and girls out there who still need our help.

   Does period poverty just affect women and girls in third world countries? No. According to a survey done by Plan International UK, 1 in 10 girls in the UK can’t afford to buy menstrual products. I did a bit of research and found there’s a brand called Hey Girls who do a Buy One Give One initiative on all of their sanitary ware.  — check them out, if you’re looking for a way to help the cause. Even girlguiding are now doing their bit to stop period poverty!

   Alternatively, you can always donate sanitary products, boxes of tampons etc to your local food bank (find a food bank near you) and help those in need. “Thousands of women and girls each month rely on their local food bank to get through their monthly periods.” ~ via eachother.org.uk. 

2. Take control. Stop being a witch

   Tackle those mood swings, and PMS/PMT symptoms by taking a supplement that includes Vitamin B6, B12, Evening Primrose and Magnesium. You can get additional things like D3, Calcium, Magnesium & Potassium, DHA-500, vitamin E, probiotics, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitex Berry, Dong Quai. Take a peek at this handy Healthline article on what each of these supplements can do towards helping you have better periods.

3. Grab a hot water bottle

   Get two if you must — one front on your aching womb and lower back. Heat is a great reliever of pain. These are also handy if it’s cold at night in bed; you can cuddle one whilst popping the other one on your feet to keep them toasty.

4. Run a nice hot bath

   Scald those cramps out of you (read as: as hot as you can stand without boiling yourself to death.) I’m currently using the Le Labo Santal 33 shower gel to make my bath time more luxurious.

5. Paracetamol + Ibuprofen

   Talk to your doctor abut getting prescribed mefanemic acid painkillers, if the normal strength pain relievers aren’t helping. If your periods are really really painful and you experience clotting, please do talk to your doctor as you could be suffering from endometriosis, which can impact your ability to have a child later in life.

6. Rest & relaxation

   Put your feet up. If the exercise didn’t help, or you’re now in too much pain to do anything.) Always a good excuse for a nap! Hook me up with any beautiful bed linen suggestions – I’m a big fan of cosy!

7. Zap it!

   Invest in a TENS machine — “TENS is ideal for the treatment of painful menstruation. It is non-invasive and drug-free. Pads are placed on the back, near the area of pain. ... The pulses suppress pain signals to the brain and encourage the body to produce higher levels of its own natural pain killing chemicals - endorphins and encephalins.” — I’m just about to go and hunt down the pads on my Kegel8 Ultra 20 pelvic toner, as that can also be adapted to treat period pain. (One of the best & most practical gifted products I’ve ever reviewed!)

8. Eat what you want*

   I’ve just been to Tesco and bought some Fox’s double choc cookies, a french stick and some Kellogg’s dark choc granola. Because I’m listening to my body and that is what it wants right now. However, saying this, there are articles out there which *advise on cutting down on sugar, caffeine and alcohol — and increasing the amount of anti-inflammatory foods you consume - via On Health, to help period pain reduction. Has anyone tried this and can attest to it?

9. The contraceptive Pill

   I’ve tried various contraceptive pills, mini pills, patches, coils in the past and they either give me migraines, make my anxiety sky rocketed and moods all over the shops, or have fallen off or out. So I decided I’m better off without putting any additional hormones in my body... for now. It’ll be a whole other ball game when the menopause hits and I’m tracking down HRT dealers... 

   If you aren’t on the pill, be safe and use condoms! It’s not just unwanted pregnancies that you’ve gotta be mindful of, your vagina’s sexual health matters too. If you’re sexually active, and have never had a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) you’re one of the lucky ones! But if you have, you’ll know they are pretty common and often very treatable - if you catch them early. If you’ve never been tested, I urge you to book an appointment — not all STD’s or infections have obvious symptoms and some can negatively affect your fertility later in life, if you don’t get the treatment you need. In my experience (and I’ll use another post to go into detail about this) the NHS have amazing sexual health teams around the country. Find your nearest sexual health clinic and book a free appointment or use the free SH:24 service and order your own sexual health testing kit online and do your test at home with results text to you in a matter of days! Whilst you’re at it, encourage your partner to get one too.

10. Try CBD pain relief

    I’ve recently heard through a mate of mine about these new CBD tampons, from DAYE — they’re said to help with painful periods. I am very up for trying them and seeing if they actually work. A few friends and family members have told me they now take CBD oil or CBD supplements to tackle pain relief. So there must be something in it!

11. Have more sex

    (Safely!) Sex and orgasms are a great way to help ease those cramps. Whether solo play or with your lover. Just grab a towel or jump in the shower, so you don’t spend more time scrubbing your bed sheets afterwards than you do enjoying yourself. Check out this great article here by The Bustle about 7 reasons to have sex on your period.

12. Try Craniosacral Therapy

    After posting about my painful periods on Instagram, a friend got in touch and said that she knows someone who swears by Craniosacral Therapy to ease menstrual cramps! Sounds amazing! I would definitely give this a try. If I do, I’ll let you know how effective I find it.

Q. Do any of you or did you suffer from really painful period cramps? What’s your tip for tackling them? Have you tried any of the more ‘out there’ suggestions above?

Disclaimer. Please note, this blog post is just a list of useful information I’ve pieced together, using my own knowledge and sources around the internet. I’m not a doctor. If you are unsure about anything, please do consult a doctor or other medical professional.

If you enjoyed this, please take a peek at part 1 of my posts on sexual health & wellness: 

Lucie Loves... Health & Wellbeing // Why it's important to talk about our nether regions – part 1: future-proofing my pelvic floor muscles with the Kegel8 Ultra 20 electronic toner [review]

Words and photos: Lucie Kerley