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Lifestyle
- Lifestyle changes can also make a real difference to period pain and PMS. Here's a few things you could try:
- Eat foods that are high in fibre, including plenty of salads and vegetables.
- Eat less salt and drink more water. This can help prevent water retention that leaves you feeling bloated.
- Cut down on sugary foods, chocolate, cakes and biscuits.
- Cut down on sugary drinks - have mineral water or pure fruit juice instead.
- Cut down on alcohol and caffeine.
- Cut down on smoking or, better still, give up! It's thought that smoking makes period pain worse as it can reduce the supply of oxygen to your pelvic area.
- Try a vitamin B6 supplement or one that contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA) such as starflower oil or evening primrose oil. Both are thought to help maintain hormonal balance.
- Take a painkiller like Feminax which is designed to relieve period pain quickly and effectively.
If you've tried everything under the sun and period pain is still making your life a misery, it's worth asking your GP for advice.