AAhhh, here we go again. Another month of bloating, cramping, heavy flows and painful migraines. Aunt Flo sure knows how to make her presence known! But here’s a little secret—those pesky PMS symptoms aren’t meant to be the norm; they’re actually here to warn you that something’s up. And despite what the doctor may tell you, band-aid remedies like Ibuprofen and heating pads aren’t enough.

Our menstrual cycles are considered a fifth vital sign, and our periods serve as a monthly report card letting us know what’s up with our hormones (and no, it’s not because Mercury is in retrograde!). So, before you pull out the pint of Ben & Jerry’s, take our one-minute period quiz to get the real tea behind your period woes and learn how you can trade mood swings for mimosas with your girls over brunch with our pain-free period hacks.