PMS usually begins 14 days before someone’s period, and its symptoms subside a few days into menstruation (when bleeding begins). Menstrual cycles are usually regular, so this cycle should occur around the same time every month. If your girlfriend is in a bad mood, try not to assume that it’s because she’s on her period. There are a lot of other reasons she may be upset, and making assumptions or referencing her period might make the situation worse.
It’s also possible that your girlfriend may be less interested in sex during her period due to the physical discomfort she is experiencing.
She might also be taking painkillers like Advil, Midol, or Pamprin to reduce the pain.
Say something like, “Hey, I noticed you’ve been dealing with cramps this week. Are you on your period? No worries if you don’t want to talk about it” or “Is everything alright? I hope you know you can tell me anything. " The same risks apply when having sex while your girlfriend is on her period and when your girlfriend is not. Just talk about it first so that you both know what you’re comfortable with. If you decide to go for it, consider laying out a towel. You can also opt for non-penetrative sex and other ways to be intimate during this time if you’re not super comfortable with period sex.
Offer your support in a general sense if she doesn’t want to share if she’s on her period. Try, “I’m here for you if you need anything!” or “You’ve always got me. "
Surprise her with chocolate or her favorite snacks when you see her. Keep a stash of tampons or other menstrual products at your house. Offer to grab pain medications like Advil, Midol, or Pamprin at the store.
Be patient with your girlfriend if she’s a little more moody than usual. Avoid triggering subjects that might make her mood worse. Consider waiting to bring up difficult subjects, like relationship issues, until her period has passed. Even if you know she’s on her period, avoid mentioning it when she’s in a bad mood. Something like, “You’re so mean when you’re on your period” might really hurt her feelings or upset her.
“Hey, I know you’ve been dealing with a lot this week. Is there anything I can do to help?” “I’m here for you if you need anything. " “I hope you know I’m always here for you! Let me know if I can help. "
You might say, “I’ve noticed that you’ve been feeling really low the past couple of days. Do you think a doctor might be able to help figure out what’s going on?”
5 days is the average, but it’s normal for menstruation to last between 2 to 7 days.
