Even if you’re experiencing pain on a monthly basis, you can take steps to relieve some of the discomfort.

In the short term, making sure you’re getting enough sleep, taking part in some light exercise – such as yoga or aerobics – and taking over the counter painkillers and anti-inflammatories should take the edge off things.

And in the long run, taking steps to support your bone and joint health can help to dampen the discomfort you experience or get rid of it altogether.

Below are just some of the steps Dr Wild recommends:

1. Keep active

“Exercise can help to care for both your physical and mental health, along with improving your joint flexibility and offering pain relief,” she explains. “Swimming, walking, pilates and yoga can offer good options to help keep you strong.”

Strength training is particularly beneficial for improving the stability of your joints, she adds. “At least twice a week you should make time for strengthening activities. You don’t need to join the gym or start lifting weights if you don’t want to – taking the stairs instead of the lift, carrying shopping and dancing all count as strengthening exercises.”

“Why do my joints ache just before my period?” A women’s health GP explains all