Taking care of yourself is the most important part of managing your wellbeing when you have your period. This is often referred to as ‘self care’.

Self-care is anything that you do to take care of yourself so you can stay physically, mentally, and emotionally well when you are menstruating and beyond!

There are different things you can add to your diet, types of yoga you can do, acupressure points you can press, heat packs you can apply to your body, as well as pain relief medication, to help relieve your period pain!

Once you’ve read all the information on what’s ‘normal’ and you don’t think you need to see your doctor, or you’ve already spoken to them in the past, then there are a number of self-care options available. These can be used in addition to pain medication (like ibuprofen), if you are already taking those, or on their own, depending on your pain severity and personal preference.

There are a few different types of self-care that you can try, and we also describe the most effective way to take any painkillers (like ibuprofen) that you are already using. It’s a good idea to keep track of your periods and log any period pain that you may be having. This will allow you to get a clear picture of your menstrual cycle and identify any abnormalities and monitor the severity of your pain.

Remember, if your symptoms are getting worse (like more severe pain, or heavier bleeding), or especially if new symptoms appear, it’s always a good idea to go and see your doctor to get their advice.