Many women suffer from menstrual disorders of some type. These disorders can vary widely in different women. However, there are some general lifestyle changes that can help relieve a number of symptoms common in those with menstrual problems. Many of these changes, following, are tips to improve your overall health and well-being.

1. Maintain a healthy weight
   Make appropriate changes in your diet and exercise activity to achieve a healthy weight. Problems with weight, both too much and too little, can cause menstrual disorders. You may wish to consult a registered dietitian for assistance with dietary changes.
   
   
2. Eat healthily
   Incorporate a healthy diet into your life and reduce your intake of saturated and trans fats, refined sugars, salt and caffeine. A healthy diet keeps your body well stocked with the nutrients, vitamins and minerals it needs for daily life, without the excess baggage or too much salt, sugar and fat. Some women benefit from eating six small meals during the day instead of three large ones.
   
   
3. Take vitamins
   Taking vitamin B₆, calcium and magnesium supplements may help alleviate cramping and PMS symptoms.
   
   
4. Don't drink or smoke
   Avoid excessive alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking. These habits can be very bad for your health and may cause problems in your menstrual cycle.
   
   
5. Exercise
   Engaging in brisk walking, cycling, swimming or other aerobic activity at least 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week is recommended. Regular daily exercise can help improve overall health and alleviate many symptoms. Yoga may be helpful for some women. Exercising for at least 20 to 30 minutes three times a week can reduce the pain associated with menstrual cramps.
   
   
6. Rest
   Get plenty of rest. This can be done by sleeping consistent hours and establishing a bedtime routine to help cue the body and mind for sleeping. In addition, the body is less vulnerable to pain when you are well rested. Remember that your body may have different sleep requirements at different times during your menstrual cycle.
   
   
7. Relax
   Strive for a healthy balance in work, recreation and rest. Take the time to just relax and enjoy yourself, even if you have to schedule rest time throughout your day.
   
   
8. Don't stress
   Too much stress can lead to a number of health problems, including menstrual disorders. Assess areas of stress or conflict in your life. Performing muscle relaxation or deep-breathing exercises may help reduce symptoms such as headaches, anxiety and insomnia. You may also benefit from scheduling potentially stressful events for the week after your period. If necessary, contact a psychologist or psychiatrist for help with dealing with stress.
   
   
9. Discuss medication options with your doctor
   When lifestyle changes are not enough to take care of your menstrual disorder, you may have to take medication. Common medications for menstrual problems include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy, or HRT. There are several things to keep in mind when taking any of these medications.
   
   
   • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. When used properly over brief periods of time, NSAIDs rarely produce serious side effects. When used for menstrual disorders, they usually need only be used for a short time. However, longer usage or larger doses of NSAIDs increase the potential risk. This may be particularly pronounced if you regularly take NSAIDs for some condition that is not related to menstruation as well as for a menstrual problem. Among the most serious side effects of NSAIDs are gastrointestinal complaints, including peptic ulcers.
     
     The U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimates that 10,000 to 20,000 deaths occur each year as a result of NSAID-induced gastrointestinal disorders, usually bleeding. NSAIDs are the number one cause of drug-related hospitalizations.
     
     Some side effects may occur when you first begin taking NSAIDs and then diminish after you have been taking the medication for several days. In addition, the severity of some side effects can be reduced by taking the medication with food or by choosing specially coated medications that do not release the NSAID into the bloodstream until it has passed through the stomach. Lowering the dosage can also be effective. In addition, you may lower the risk of gastrointestinal side effects by taking over-the-counter antacids.
     
     
   • Birth control pills. Women on birth control pills will need to see their gynecologist once a year for a physical examination. The exam should include a blood pressure measurement, breast and pelvic exams, and a Pap test. Some women may require more frequent follow-up visits.
     
     Women should immediately stop taking birth control pills if they become pregnant, or suspect they might be pregnant, to prevent serious consequences for the unborn child. Women who recently delivered a baby and who are not breastfeeding may resume taking birth control pills two weeks after the birth. However, pills that contain estrogen are not recommended while breastfeeding, because they can decrease the amount or quality of breast milk, or even pass through the milk into the feeding infant. Some doctors prescribe progestin-only pills for breastfeeding mothers, but recent research has suggested that this practice may increase women's risk of diabetes if they had gestational diabetes during their pregnancy. However, more studies are necessary to confirm this link.
     
     
   • Hormone replacement therapy. Women who still have their uterus while undergoing HRT have a greater risk of developing endometrial cancer, or cancer of the uterine lining. Adding progestin lowers this risk. In addition, not only does use of HRT drugs raise the risk of breast cancer, but it also makes tumors harder to detect, which can lead to dangerous delays in diagnosis.
     
     A follow-up study to the Women's Health Initiative found that the combination of estrogen and progestin increases the risk of dementia in women 65 and older while failing to prevent memory loss.
     
     Side effects of HRT can be reduced by taking the lowest possible effective dose of the hormone for the shortest period of time possible. In some cases, you may find relief from side effects by switching to an alternative form of HRT.
     
     Despite the potential risks, it should be emphasized that the likelihood of adverse effects due to HRT remains low in most women. The risks also gradually decrease in the years after a woman stops HRT.