Let’s face it, no one loves getting their period. Even if you are one of the lucky people who bleeds lightly for 3 days and takes one Midol before running a mile, I doubt you like your period. For most of us, the best part of our period is knowing we didn’t unintentionally get pregnant. For many of us, our periods are horror stories waiting to be written. For those of us who suffer from Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, or any similar conditions, our periods are traumatizing.

I have Endometriosis and Adenomyosis, among other comorbidities. Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) is found outside the uterus. It can be found in nearly every part of the body. This disease can cause debilitating pain and can lead to loss of organ function or the organ itself. Endometriosis is considered one of the top 20 most painful conditions known to man. Adenomyosis is a sister condition to Endometriosis; this condition occurs when the endometrium grows into the muscle of the uterus, causing pain, contractions, heavy and painful periods, blood clots, and more.

Since I live with multiple conditions that make my periods a nightmare, I have gathered a list of many go-to’s for period pain. Some of the items on this list may be more suited to those with very painful periods, but almost everything on this list will help anyone who menstruates! Please note that any links to products are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission for anything purchased via the linked merchandise.

Heating Pad

I doubt this product surprises anyone. A heating pad is a must-have for anyone with periods or abdominal pain. If you’re anything like me and need your heating pad nearly every day of the month, I recommend grabbing a couple. You can leave them in all the places around your house you frequent.

I have this heating pad on my couch. I love this heating pad because it is 24 inches long, which makes it long enough to sit between my legs and still reach all the way up to my ribs! As someone with full-body pain, a long heating pad is something to be cherished.

https://amzn.to/3aqOHv1

I leave a different heating pad by my daybed (I know daybed sounds posh, but it is really just chronic illness life). On days that I am in a lot of pain, all I want to do is lie down and listen to a podcast that will educate or uplift me. The weighted aspect of this heating pad makes it comforting and relaxing, which is exactly what I need and why I recommend this one. Of course, this relaxation can lead to a nap, which is why I truly appreciate the auto-off on both of these products! https://amzn.to/2MNSXwk

TENS unit

I learned about TENS units in Physical Therapy, and I recommend anyone with debilitating menstrual cramps to try one! A TENS machine is a portable, small, battery-operated device, and can be brought with you nearly anywhere. You can find it at this link: https://amzn.to/3skwrLS

The unit attaches to small sticky pads, which are then placed on your bare skin near or on the pain. The device sends small electrical zaps (they aren’t painful!) that almost vibrate the affected area. There are different settings for different parts of the body or types of pain. The tingling sensation is delivered to the brain rather than the pain signals. Effectively, you are blocking the pain signals from the brain in favor of a strange, but much more bearable, sensation of the TENS unit.

Cups or Tampons

When choosing a menstrual product, it is truly up to the menstruator. Many people can’t use cups or tampons for a variety of reasons. If you can use these products, I always recommend giving menstrual cups a try. I personally blow through a box of tampons, so a menstrual cup helps me save the environment and helps my wallet!

A menstrual cup works similarly to tampons, but they have many perks aside from the savings. The cup allows you to track the amount of blood that is lost during your cycle. This is important to many people, especially with Endometriosis and Adenomyosis. OrganiCup, which is linked here and is in my bathroom right now, comes in multiple sizes and is free of hazardous chemicals. You can get one for yourself at this link: https://amzn.to/3reofvh

Dark Chocolate

Who can survive their luteal phase (the part of your cycle between ovulation and your period beginning) without chocolate? Definitely not me. I need all of the sweets (in fact, right now I am craving a chocolate croissant).

A Tracking App

Tracking your cycle and your symptoms can be a key part of cycle wellness (or at least empowerment). There are two apps I recommend, for different reasons!

For the average menstruator, I recommend Flow. It is easy to use, tracks a variety of symptoms, and has all the functions you really need. For those of us with Endo, I recommend Phendo.

Phendo is more than a period tracking app. Phendo tracks a variety of Endo symptoms, including many Extrapelvic symptoms. You can keep track of medications and supplements, and it shows you how your symptoms ebb and flow. You can track trigger foods and exercises that benefit and hurt you. All of the data collected from Phendo is used by the University of Colombia for research about Endometriosis.

There are endless tools to cope with menstrual cramps. A lot of them are made to make us feel bad about ourselves, like telling us our vaginas should smell like roses. I tried to curate this list with only items I use, items that truly help me through what I so lovingly refer to as “Hell Week.” These links are affiliate links, and so I do get compensated for any products bought through these links; I am not pushing you to purchase anything I don’t own, I just want to help you get through what I consider the worst part of my life.

I plan on continuing this series because this isn’t even close to all of the supplies I keep on hand. I have drawers full of gadgets and gizmos that get me through living with Endometriosis. Over the years, I have gotten a handle on what works for me and what doesn’t. I hope some of the items on this list call to you and help you through your Hell Week. Are there any products that you would kill to have during your period?