Period Hacks: Tips to Make Your Menstrual Cycle more Comfortable

Acceptance should come from society and also within yourself as well. You can start the process by eliminating the struggle of being on your period by using some menstrual cycle tips. Many women are unaware of best practices for menstrual health because menstruation is still taboo in many parts of the world. We aim to make this topic accessible to all women through workshops in areas without internet access.

10 Major Period Tips:

1. Predict your period: Period Predicting apps have been essential in keeping a digital log of your periods. It also helps remind you about your upcoming cycle, to be better prepared. Such app examples are Flo, Glow, My Cycle, etc. which are free options to start with predicting your periods. These apps help track symptoms, cravings, appetite, moods, and the pills you’ve taken along with predicting your next menstrual cycle. 
   
2. Avoid Using Harsh Products: One of the usual practices that woman do is to use harsh body products such as soaps on their private menstrual area. Such practice has been proven to be toxic to your body.
   
3. Take Warm Baths: During your period, cramps and pain don’t have to be your companions, taking warm baths can soothe and alleviate that pain and help in detoxing toxins from your body.
   
4. Intervals of Changing Products: Menstrual blood, when discharged from the body, attracts various ill organisms that can multiply in the warmth of the blood, causing rashes, irritation, or tract infections. Make sure to change your sanitary pads or tampons every 3 or 4 hours. Changing napkin or tampons regularly curb the chances of causing issues that come with menstrual hygienic health.
   
5. Menstrual Hygiene: Once menstrual blood leaves the body, it gets contaminated with the body’s innate organisms. This rule applies on those days when you don’t have much bleeding since your pad is still damp and will have organisms from your vagina. When these organisms remain in moist places for a long time they can lead to conditions like urinary tract infection and skin rashes.
   
6. Type of Sanitation: You can test out and choose the product you feel comfortable with. There are many options for Feminine Hygiene such as period underwear, sanitary pads, tampons, and menstrual cups. Don’t feel burdened to pick the products that others are using but the ones you feel comfortable.
   
7. On the go Box: Being ready and prepared for your period is important, it can come anytime. It is important to carry extra sanitary pads or tampons, properly stored in a clean pouch or paper bag, a soft towel, some paper tissues or towels, hand sanitizer, a hot water bottle, a healthy snack, and a tube of anti-septic medicine if prescribed to you.
   
8. Hydrate your Body: Be sure to drink plenty of liquids, this will help aid in any cramps or aches. It will also assist in processing any painkillers that you might have taken, help with constipation, and make you generally feel brighter. You can take cranberry juice, warm lemon or honey water, etc.
   
9. Exercise: Moving your body with some sort of exercise, be it going to the gym or even walking is important to aid cramps and aches. It also helps in stimulating easier movement for the blood flow during the period.
   
10. Move to Decaf: Caffeine is said to stimulate stress hormones in your body. Cutting down on the coffee intake or the best method is to replace the caffeine with decaf coffee, lemon water or honey water, mint tea, cranberry juice, raspberry tea, etc. This cutting down of caffeine helps in controlling the triggering of the cortisol or the stress hormone. 

Conclusion

Increasing Menstrual awareness and then using that awareness to help yourself during your cycle is important. Using such habits and hacks in daily life can benefit the ease of body and mind. It will also aid in being more productive during your menstrual cycle. Reaching out to Women Empowerment NGOs in case of a lack of sanitary products or for advice and guidance.

Also read: The Basic One Can Do for their Partners and Society

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use tampons instead of sanitary pads?
   Yes, of course you can. Many a time tampons seem a lot scarier than they are. They don’t hurt, you barely notice them most of the time.
2. Is wearing a sanitary pad in the swimming pool ok?
   No, You should never wear a pad in the pool. You can use a tampon, but if you have a light flow you might not need anything at all however, you should still wear a black swimsuit.
3. What should I do when the menstrual cycle is about to start?
   It can be hard to get to the bathroom whenever you need to in places such as school or a job, so it’s a good idea to start wearing a pad when you know you’re going to start soon. And you can also use the period predictor apps.
4. Why should I use a period tracker app?
   You should use a period tracker to better understand your cycle. Trackers can help you predict things like Premenstrual Symptoms so you can mentally prepare yourself. You can give that data to your doctor when you need advice about your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, etc.
5. How to reduce period cramps?
   Getting a reusable heating pad that can be warmed up in the microwave can benefit. This helps women with cramps whenever the medicine alone isn’t working and can stop them from taking too much on unbearable days.