I Tried Out 7 Methods Of Period Pain Relief & Here's What Actually Worked

The makers of the BioWaveGo are at pains to emphasise that it is not a Tens machine, but you’d be forgiven for confusing the two. Like a Tens machine it uses electrical impulses to reduce pain. However, the makers of the BioWaveGo state that its “patented neurostimulation” technology means the electrical pulses target deep tissue rather than just the skin. I did feel the electrical pulses more deeply than I have with other Tens or Tens-like options. As a result, I was able to increase the intensity, and therefore the effectiveness of the treatment, without feeling any discomfort. This is great, as one of my major issues with other Tens-like options including the Livia (reviewed below) is that it can become uncomfortable when turned up to a high level. Overall, I found the BioWaveGo to be effective pain relief for period and endometriosis pain, but I did find it most effective when used constantly during a pain episode, rather than in the 30 minute sessions advised.

I do have some quibbles with the BioWaveGo — a shame given its high price point. It’s not as transportable as it could be. The machine itself is bulky and the leads which connect it to the pain pads were too long for me and tangled easily. Ideally, the brand would offer these in different lengths so users can choose what they need. I was also disappointed that all the images in the instructions featured what appeared to be a cis man using the machine on various areas of the body, but not the pelvis. It would be great to have at least one other gender represented in the manual, especially if the company wants to target people with pelvic pain, who tend to be women or people assigned female at birth. Given its high price point and the issues that need ironing out, I’d recommend this for those whose period pain is severe enough to directly impact their quality of life. If your period pain is less extreme, other more affordable options are likely to suit.

This works just like a Tens machine but with a slicker feel and more aesthetically-pleasing packaging. It’s also quite discreet and looks like a piece of wearable tech which means it can be easily hidden away in a pocket or clipped onto a belt loop or your pants. If you told someone this was a fitness tracker they'd believe you.

It comprises of two patches which have a gel overlay that plug into the pastel-coloured machine part via a cord. You can keep the patches on all day and just plug in as needed. You do have to replace the gel overlays after a while, and I found it a little bit tricky to tell which way was up when I went to do this. This was largely because I was trying to do it on a train without instructions which probably wasn't the best idea. However, you don't always know when period pain will strike, so it would be helpful if it was a little bit more self-explanatory. Especially as the product comes in a travel case suggesting it's portable.

It aims to help reduce pain by relaxing muscles and I did find it helped with mild cramps. It feels like a tingly vibration, a little like a non-painful electric shock. For me it worked as more of a distraction because I wouldn’t describe it as a soothing sensation. When my cramps were really bad it didn’t feel relaxing in the way a hot water bottle does and just became another thing for my pain-frazzled body to deal with.

Ohne describes this product as a "soothing elixir" and I have to admit, I had my doubts. With a list of all-natural ingredients, I was almost certain it would be too gentle to be effective on my cramps. However, the brand has meticulously researched the nutrients that impact things like hormonal imbalances, muscle pain, and moods within the body, and have listed 160 or so studies attesting to their importance on their site. These nutrients, including Vitamins B1, B6, B12, Iron, Magnesium, and Zinc, are all contained in the tonic.

Personally, I tried Yin & Tonic on some fairly mild cramps and found it really took the edge off. On one occasion I woke up with cramps and couldn't get back to sleep, instead of reaching for an Ibuprofen as I usually would, I drank a glass of water with the recommended dose of Yin & Tonic added. It softened the cramps enough for me to return to my slumbers, and when I re-awoke, the pain was still greatly reduced. I'd recommend this one for more low-key cramps or, as it's all-natural, used in conjunction with your other preferred period remedies for a boost. In a glass of warm water the taste is like a gingery herbal tea and it's best served alongside the brand's deliciously relaxing dark chocolate, vanilla and CBD bliss bar.

When I was at school I used to use back pain heat patches to help me get through the day without a bulky hot water bottle. Fast forward 10 or so years and there are actual dedicated period heat patches. These are more curvy in shape, which I don't really understand beyond product development people thinking people who menstruate = curves. Cue major eye roll. It could be to indicate where to place it, but I found these weren’t big enough to actually reach across my stomach, so *shrugs*.

The packaging also instructs you to apply the patch to clothing. It even features a woman wearing the most enormous pair of pants and, while I’m firmly on the granny pants train, I don’t think anyone’s IRL knickers are really big enough to host one of these patches. Even my most generous pair aren't. This instruction also just doesn’t really make sense for how people move. It would be fine if you were staying in one position all day (in which case you’d probably use a microwaveable heat pad or hot water bottle anyway) but as these are designed to be worn on the go, I struggle to see how as your clothes move it would be able to target the areas you need it to.

Anyway, I totally ignored this instruction, as I was wearing the patch during the day and could monitor if it was getting too hot for me. But, as it turned out, there was absolutely no danger of that. It was lukewarm at best and I tried all three in the pack to make sure it wasn’t a fault. I really don’t know how you’d feel any effect at all if you wore it over clothing. I actually remember the back pain ones being a lot hotter than this and I wonder if there’s some underestimation of menstrual pain at play here. I’d advise you to just stick to the back pain ones if you find them effective and give these ones the swerve.

I have to admit, I was pretty sceptical that anything herbal could touch the sides when it came to tackling my period pain. But I was really pleasantly surprised by these. The effect was similar to Deep Heat — quite tingly in sensation. I’d recommend this when you’d rather not use a hot water bottle and your period pains aren’t totally wiping you out. So on the go, or maybe when going to bed for safety.

They’re pretty long in length which means they can target more than one area and, as they're fabric strips, it’s also easy to snip them up into smaller pieces to specifically target different areas of pain. They smell pretty good too (of ecualyptus and mint) and it’s not overwhelming. I did find the application a bit tricky and sometimes the strips stuck together if I wasn’t careful. However, the paper on the reverse side is split up a bit like a plaster to make application easier and once I realised that (my bad), it was easier to put on effectively.

Again I don’t think these would be a match for really severe period pain but they definitely soothed the milder pains I had. Handily, BeYou also offers a subscription service so you can have a new pack delivered each month for £4.99 a pop, meaning you'll always have them ready when you need them.

Out of all the products I tested, I was most intrigued to try these. The suppositories contain CBD and, through insertion into the vagina, are supposed to specifically target the pelvic area. On my first night of testing I popped one in before going out for the evening. I think placing it in conjunction with my menstrual cup might have helped it target the required areas, as I felt more relaxed and pain was minimised. However I’m not completely sure if this was down to the suppositories or the cocktails.

Obviously this wasn’t a fair test of the product, so I carried on using it for the next day or so. The instructions tell you to place it in your vagina which I tried the first time but then I saw an article on The Stranger which suggested it might be more effective placed in your bum. I tried that on the second day and then again reverted to the vagina on the third.

Overall, I felt it was more effective used the way the packaging advises, however I have a friend who also tried them and said the opposite. We both felt the area affected by cramps was more relaxed no matter which way it went in, but we didn’t find it had a massive impact on pain. It took the edge off and felt somewhat soothing but I would still need proper painkillers and or a hot water bottle to really banish intense cramps. Plus, these can be really tricky to get out of their individual pods. I had to use my teeth which meant the suppository nearly went flying out and into the loo. My friend just used scissors to cut hers out, but as you should be able to use these on the go, that’s quite a faff, and for £67 a packet (which contains 8 capsules) you don't expect snags like these.

I tried these after complaining to a friend about the lukewarm temperature of the heat patch above. She said these get really warm and would be worth a try. I ordered them without realising that they aren't adhesive in any way (again, my bad). But my friend was right — these do get really hot. So if you can find a way to secure them to the required areas then excellent. However, I struggled and found they were only really practical when I could sit in a way that kept them pressed to my stomach. I could definitely see them working if you were at your desk all day, but they're not going to stay put when out an about. However, Hot Hands do make an adhesive body warmer, which should hopefully get as warm as these do. I'd give that a try if you want your pads to stick to you while you move.