Periods. What a nightmare. From painful cramps to mess that wouldn't look out of place on a hammer horror film, Aunt Flo doesn't make it an easy ride.
Experts have discovered that the way you sleep can have an effect on cramps. Quite frankly, we welcome anything that makes the ride a little less inconvenient.
Gynaecologist Lisa Lindley, M. D., who represents Eisenhower Women's Health in America, has suggested that "sleeping in the foetal position takes pressure off the abdominal muscles."
We can totally see how that would work. And sleeping on your side has the added bonus of minimizing leaking risks when wearing a pad. Researchers from period tracking app, Clue, agree.
Backing up Lisa's statement, Jennifer Wider, M. D. said: "Many women report that the foetal position can help relieve cramps. In this configuration, the skeletal muscles around your abdomen relax, and less tension leads to fewer cramps and less pain."
In Caitlin Moran's hilarious piece on women in Esquire magazine, she explained just how traumatised women are about their period. Even if they're 40 with six children. "Have you ever tried to scrub blood out of a Premier Inn sheet at 6am, using just travel shampoo and your toothbrush? It's one of the defining aspects of being a woman."
To further ease cramps make sure you get plenty of vitamin B6, vitamin C and magnesium. Those chocolate cravings that go wild when you're on your period? Try swapping milk chocolate for raw chocolate to get a super magnesium hit. Vitamin B6 is found in bananas, eggs, fish, chicken and nuts and will help ease cramps, exhaustion and mood swings.
Although it's tempting to lie down and not move for several hours when the cramps start, try gentle exercise such as yoga, a slow jog or going for a walk.