If you, the boyfriend or non-menstruating girlfriend, think you hate when your girl's time of the month comes around, imagine how she must be feeling when Mother Nature strikes! Periods are unpleasant for both parties in a relationship, but there are ways you can ease her suffering and help her smile through the pain. Here's how you can come to her rescue and be her hero (or heroine) when the red devil pays his monthly visit:

1. Make sure she's stocked up on all the essentials

Check her medicine cabinet for pads or tampons, pain-relievers, calming teas, and, yes, even an emergency stash of chocolate. If she's out of something, offer to run to the store and pick it up for her— she'll appreciate that endlessly. And you can even snag a few extras such as heating pads, fuzzy socks, and pillows to enhance her comfort.

2. Offer to give her a massage

If your girl happens to suffer from intense cramps, massaging her lower back might help alleviate some of the tension in her muscles. Even just a standard shoulder massage could work wonders for taking her mind off of her aching abdomen.

3. Brew her a hot drink

Take a trip to the local café and order her a piping-hot chocolate mocha. Present her with her favorite sweet treat and she'll be so pleasantly surprised that she will momentarily forget how awful she feels. Or if she doesn't care for coffee, a warm mug of tea— chamomile for a calming effect or peppermint to relieve stomachaches— will be sure to do the trick.

4. Encourage her to exercise a bit

Most girls on their period are not too thrilled by the proposition of moving around on purpose but introduce the idea of light exercise to her as a way to take the edge off of her pain. Say you'd be willing to go with her as an incentive to get her up and about.

5. Remind her to wear light, breathable clothes

If she's just bumming around her room, suggest that she doesn't wear tight clothes that might worsen existing issues of bloating, cramping, and swollen, achy breasts. For a personal touch, you can offer her one of your sweatshirts or a pair of sweatpants to wear. Girls always love wearing their sweetheart's clothes, so it's a win-win!

6. Fix her a warm bath

Draw her a nice, warm bath (and even offer to join her…) so she can get clean as well as relieve some of the tightness in her muscles. She might need a little coaxing if she's reluctant to leave her bed, but if you encourage her enough, she'll be able to make herself feel better in no time.

7. Try not to get upset if she's moody

If your girl happens to get irritable on her period, try not to take her words to heart if she's being particularly curt with you that day. She most likely doesn't mean to be so sharp with you - she's just having a hard time keeping her emotions in check. Or if she's weepy and sad, let her know that your arms and ears are always open for her if she needs some comfort.

8. Cuddle with her

Cuddles on a good day are lovely, but cuddles on a bad day are arguably even more satisfying. Gently snuggle up beside your girlfriend in bed or on the couch, sharing blankets and pillows together as you watch some mindless TV or her favorite movie. Kiss her on the forehead and on the cheek and play with her hair— bonus points if she's so comfortable with you that she ends up falling asleep.

9. Don't show her you're grossed out

That means you, boys! A woman's menstrual cycle shows that she's alive and healthy and brimming with youth. And while you might be tempted to cringe when she mentions the size of the blood clot she found in her underwear that morning, try your hardest not to! Make a harmless joke out of it if you have to, but don't tell her it's disgusting when she can hardly help what's happening to her.

Periods are a force to be reckoned with, but when your girl's time of the month rolls around, there's no better time for you to show how much you care about her.