How to make my periods easier to cope with?

Taking painkillers is only going to do so much - most women can prevent menstrual cramps all together with things as simple as dietary changes or using herbal treatments to regulate their hormones, there are millions of different means to help prevent or reduce menstrual cramps if you only go look. I left an answer on natural cramp relief on another answer that may be helpful for you - http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201...

There are ways to reduce your heavy flow too or make it more manageable.

Menstrual cups.

If you normally use tampons cups could reduce your bleeding and cramps, and in general cups will make your periods FAR easier to deal with. Cups are internal like tampons but safer and more hygienic so no risks of TSS, infections or dioxin - thus they can be worn safely for 12 hours, with any flow, overnight, before your period, and no need to alternate with pads so more convenient than tampons or pads. Where as tampons only hold 18ml of flow depending on brand menstrual cups can hold up to 42ml of flow, and as they create a light suction they don't leak like tampons or pads. The other answer mentioned Divacup but this is a long cup so not suitable for women with short vaginal canals, I always recommend Mooncup for first-time users as it's a nice mid-sized mid-flexibility cup.

What Are Menstrual Cups? - http://www.scarleteen.com/article/body/what_are_me...

Mooncup Menstrual Cups - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h1rj4IPkzkaALg...

Other sanitary products.

If sticking with tampons and/or pads, there are some options that may work better for you. Cloth pads like Lunapads, Gladrags, Party In My Pants Pads, or smaller cheaper brands from Etsy.com can hold more than disposable pads plus come in longer sizes - even if you just wear these overnight, as they're more comfortable, hygienic and don't move about so give better protection. Also team-up with leak-proof period underwear like Sexy Period, underwear with pads built-in like Lunapanties or belt/underwear hybrid like Wemoon overnight for more protection with less bulk.

Medications.

Tranexamic Acid from your doctor or a pharmacy helps blood to clot in the womb, taken the first three days of your period you can make your period far lighter, if you go to your doctor they can also prescribe Mefenamic Acid too that is an anti-inflammatory so lightens flow and lessens cramps. Other anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can help lessen your flow too.

Diet and supplements.

Eat a healthy diet with plenty of magnesium, zinc, iron and calcium for menstrual health, vitamin E to regulate flow, vitamins A and C to regulate estrogen - a good multi-vitamin should help too, also try kelp tablets as they’re a iodine source which helps revitalize the endocrine system.

Herbal treatments.

Evening Primrose Oil capsules, Black Cohosh capsules, or Chaste Tree tincture - taken daily these help regulate hormones which can help lessen flow, Chaste Tree tincture is best as it’s more highly concentrated. Coffee may help as it’s a vasoconstrictor so constricts blood vessels in the uterus so lessening blood loss, if coffee is problematic for you then try a good woman’s herbal tea - health store staff can help you find this and other helpful treatments.

See your doctor.

Check for any underlying problems such as anaemia – doctors should run tests and offer appropriate treatments. Some may try to fob you off with birth control as a quick-fix, it's an option however it suppresses your whole cycles and as such risks many side-effects - it may also not work and even if it does it’s really just covering-up the problem. Even if you want to consider hormonal options progesterone cream may be a better option for you, discuss with your doctor.

Eat iron rich foods during your period - it does cut down on flow..

beets are blood cleaners, high in nutrients, high in iron AND regulate hormones (you will find many articles online that say they don't regulate hormones, and others that say they do - I can only tell you my personal experience).

I hate beets, but can eat them raw - which is probably best anyway for nutritional value.. so I peel a beet, shave off slivers and toss it in a salad or eat it as a snack.. seriously, this has cut down on swollen breasts, and overall feeling of bloating.. and cut down flow..

If you are not used to eating beets, be aware that your urine can look red, or stools can look red after you eat them - so don't freak out and think you have something wrong with you! :-)

If you like pickled or cook beets, give them a try.. it really seems to help me.

As for pain - I have had really bad cramping for MOST of my life and only a few things seem to help.. first, a shot of straight alcohol. Obviously I don't do this when working or driving etc.. but it INSTANTLY cuts the pain and lets me function. Second, castor oil packs - buy castor oil (sometimes called linseed oil) at the drugstore, put it on a cloth, press it to your abdomen where the cramps are, cover with plastic, because it will stain your clothes otherwise, and put on a heating pad.. the oil soaks through the skin and really eases the pain.. see the bottom of this page

http://www.ayurvedhealthcare.com/natural-menstrual...

Try using a diva cup. Look it up on youtube. Other than the fact they're kind of gross, they're amazing. i thought i had a heavy flow, but the diva cup holds all of it for 12 HOURS! they also help with cramps. I would look into it. Also, get some midol, it helps a lot. Hope you feel better(:

Heating resources can help. When you're laying in your bed get a warm pad or something that heats up that is not to harmful and place it over your stomach. That helps me when I have sever cramps. And OUCH!!

I would visit the doctor. Mine was like that until my hormones.were balanced. I now bleed.heavy for 2-3days spot the rest. Im bipolar and those meds fixed me