Having a uterus isn’t all fun and games

Everybody with a vagina, or who has ever experienced a menstrual cycle can agree, periods suck. Here are some quick and easy tricks to make them suck less.

Use your laptop as a heating pad
Got cramps? Is your heating pad broken, or do you just don’t have one? Got an essay to write? Turn on your laptop and position the heating vent above your uterus; if the heating vent is on the bottom anyway.

Or, try a towel
If you don’t have a laptop, or if you’re heading to bed and don’t want to risk the fire hazard that is a heating pad all night, pop a hand towel in the microwave for 30-45 seconds and tuck it into your waistband before bed.

If you choose to do this during the day, don’t microwave the towel multiple times as it’s a fire hazard. If you want to re-microwave it, spray it with a bit of water to prevent fire and do not microwave for more than 45 seconds.

Eat your vegetables
Painful cramps? Heavy period? Work spinach and butternut squash into your diet. The nutrients in both of these will help you feel better and make your period more manageable.

Spinach has iron, which helps replace the iron you lose when you bleed, and the vitamin A in the squash will help with the painful cramps. The fiber from eating vegetables will help with any constipation you’re experiencing.

Avoid the sodium
When you’re bloated, the last thing you want is to feel more bloated. To avoid the excess bloat, stay away from fast foods or quick meals like ramen or canned soup. The sodium in those products are off the charts and will make you bloat to bigger sizes.

Have an orgasm
The endorphins released post orgasm help relieve pain and can actually help end your period faster, according to healthling.com.

Watch a sappy romantic comedy
Let out all your wild and ever-changing mood swings by indulging in a movie that can make you laugh, cry and piss you the f— off and just feel. Will it stop the mood swing? No, but will it give you an excuse for your feelings that isn’t your period? Absolutely.

Talk about it
Seriously, text a friend, call your mom, vent to your boyfriend (or force him to be your human heating pad) and just talk about it. Don’t ignore how you’re feeling just because of a stigma.

If you are feeling unusual or excessive pain, talk to a doctor. If you’re experiencing excessive bleeding, talk to a doctor. If you just have questions, talk to a doctor. Planned Parenthood is only a phone call away, and they are more than willing to answer your questions or help you schedule an appointment. If you don’t have a car or live on campus, the Student Health Service is also only a phone call away.