by British doctor Adam Hamdi has developed a discreet wearable pad that can be secured to the skin to help ease the wearer’s menstrual cramps.
The wireless device, called Myoovi, uses electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) technology to relieve pain.
Myoovi founder Hamdi said he came up with the product idea while working in general practice for the UK’s national health service (NHS), where he noticed that over-the-counter pain relievers weren’t working for everyone. he has period pain.
He believes the portable device could offer an attractive alternative to the “bulky and wire-filled” TENS machines already on the market.
“I saw many patients with period pain and endometriosis who were not helped by painkillers,” Hamdi told Dezeen.
“​​​​I found that TENS technology was a well-researched and proven method to help; however, most patients either didn’t know what it was or were reluctant to use it because its bulky and wire-filled nature,” he continued.
“This gave me the idea to introduce a new product that is wireless, portable and discreet and to create a brand that aims to raise awareness.”
The Myoovi device incorporates a disk-shaped TENS machine, a USB-chargeable battery and three control buttons, which will adjust the strength and pattern of the pulses.
TENS machines work by sending small electrical pulses from pads attached to the skin above the source of pain.
These pulses work by blocking or reducing the pain signals that travel to the spinal cord and brain, which can reduce pain for the wearer.
The Myoovi device lasts for up to ten hours on a single charge and comes in a kit that includes two butterfly pads made of polyurethane (PU) synthetic leather.
The 7.5 centimeter long pads, available in three different skin tone colours, are attached like a plaster to the pain center via a bio-compatible self-adhesive conductive hydrogel on the underside of the pad.
The gel pads under the clothes usually last between 20-30 uses or until they are no longer sticky, which Hamdi says usually translates to two months of wear.
According to Hamdi, when switched on, Myoovi feels like a pulsing massage, with the electrical sensation causing a tingling sensation.
“The device is super light so you don’t even notice it’s there until you turn it on,” Hamdi said. “When you do that, you’ll feel these little pulses in the area where the device is,” he said.
“These pulses work by distracting and blocking your pain receptors in the area and this prevents them from being able to pick up any pain.”
Myoovi was designed to reduce pain from conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome or pelvic inflammatory disease, although NHS guidance says there is not enough research to determine whether TENS is a “reliable method of pain relief”.
He points out that more high-quality scientific research is needed and medical trials are underway, adding that “healthcare professionals have reported that it seems to help some people”.
Other items designed to reduce pain associated with menstruation include a wristband for menopausal women called Grace, designed to control and relieve hot flashes by Loughborough University graduate Peter Astbury.
Meanwhile, industrial designer Lauren Lee designed a heated wall called Warm Wall to offer people a communal place to ease their menstrual cramps.
Images courtesy of Myoovi.
