Period tips: how to manage your period

Lots of people don’t want their period to interrupt their day-to-day life. Here are a few things you can do that may help you stay comfortable during your period.  

It’s a good idea to note the first day of your period on a calendar or in a period tracker app. One you have done this a few times, you can work out exactly how many days there usually are between your periods. This will make it easier to know when your next period is coming — or if your period has come early or late.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a name for the changes in mood, and some of the physical changes, that happen to you in the days before your period begins.

• Whole grain bread, brown rice, pasta, and cereals are the most helpful things to eat. Try not to eat lots of chocolate and sweets — the sugar causes uneven blood sugar which can make you feel worse 
• Eating small meals every 2-3 hours can help you keep your blood sugar even
• Drinking more water, and reducing alcohol and caffeine, will help
• Eating less salt is good too
• Cutting back on the amount you smoke or vape can also be helpful
• Doing some exercise like going for a walk might make you feel a bit better 
• Talking to friends or family about how you feel can help you feel better 
• Trying some breathing or relaxation exercises, or doing activities which help you feel calm, can help 
• Try and get good sleep around this time 

Lots of the people that you know will have good tips for dealing with the symptoms of a period. Common ways include: 

• Gentle exercise 
• Relaxation techniques 
• Heat pads — wheat bags or hot water bottles 
• Pain relief medication — like ibuprofen, paracetamol, or aspirin 
• Smoking less, and cutting back on alcohol 

Period products can help you feel comfortable and dry during your period. Different period products have different advantages and disadvantages. It’s up to you to decide what period products you want to use. Check out our page on period products for a breakdown of period product advantages and disadvantages.

Remember: if you don’t want to have your period, you don’t have to. Some types of contraception can help you skip your period. Skipping your period helps you avoid PMS. Talk to one of our nurses or doctors — they can give you more information or prescribe you the medications that you need.  

Everybody’s period is a little bit different. It’s not about whether your period is normal or not — if your period is a problem for you, you have a period problem. The help that you need will depend on the problem that you have. You might experience PMS, late or irregular periods, endometriosis or PMDD.

We treat lots of period problems at our clinics. A good first step is to make an appointment with one of our nurses or doctors. They can talk with you about your problem, offer solutions, provide treatment, and prescribe medicine.

Join the movement #PeriodFriendlyWorld #PeriodFriendlyAotearoa