Heat patches for period pain: how to use them and what the alternatives are

For many women, period pain is part of every cycle. Lower-abdominal cramps often start during the first few days of a period, often in the first few days, and perhaps you then reach for heat first. But a hot water bottle is hard to take to the office, to university, to a workout or on the train, and not every appointment on those days can simply be moved. A heat patch can come with you: it sticks under your clothing and provides warmth for hours. In this guide we explain how a heat patch works, what studies say about heat for period pain and what to look out for when using one. We also introduce our Beurer EM 55 Menstrual Relax +, which combines soothing heat and TENS in one rechargeable pad.

How a heat patch works for period pain

The principle is simple: a heat patch releases warmth to the lower abdomen over hours, with no cables and no power socket.

What is inside the patch

Heat patches warm up through oxidation. As soon as you open the airtight packaging, the ingredients - usually iron powder, salt, activated carbon and water - react with the oxygen in the air and release heat in the process. The patch warms up to just under 40 °C and is designed to provide warmth for around 8 hours.^[1] After that, it is used up.

What happens during your period

Why does your period hurt at all? During menstruation, the muscles of the uterus contract at irregular intervals so that the lining can shed. Hormone-like messenger substances play an important role in this - the prostaglandins.^[2] Some women barely notice them, while others experience severe cramps.

Period pain can be confined to the lower abdomen, but it can also radiate into the back and legs. In some women, the cramps also cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. For 1 in 10 women, the pain is so severe that they cannot manage their normal daily life for 1 to 3 days each month.^[3] So your pain is real, and you do not simply have to put up with it.

Heat in everyday life

For period pain, apply the patch to the lower abdomen, and you wear a heat patch for your period under your clothing. That way you have warmth even where a hot water bottle is impractical: at your desk, in a lecture, on the way to an appointment.

What studies show about heat for period pain

There is evidence from studies that heat patches and heat belts can relieve pain during menstruation.^[2] Heat is therefore something you can easily use yourself.

Gentle exercise and a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel on your tummy can help ease period pain.^[4] Warm baths, hot water bottles and saunas are considered soothing.^[3]

Combining heat with movement

Heat combines well with other measures. Some studies suggest that physical activity such as jogging and exercises can also help.^[2] Relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, yoga or tai chi are often found helpful for finding calm and reducing stress.^[3]

What findings from studies mean

Findings from studies are not a guarantee that heat will work equally well for everyone. How well heat helps on your most painful day varies from woman to woman and can also feel different from cycle to cycle. If heat alone is not enough for you, you can combine it with other drug-free options. Our guide Help with period pain without medication gives you an overview.

Using heat patches safely

You use a heat patch safely when your skin is healthy and you follow the package leaflet. Heat patches should not be used if you have an allergy, a skin condition, wounds or broken skin.^[1]

Also pay attention to these points:

• At night: Some manufacturers do not permit use at night or during sleep for certain age groups (e.g. from age 55), and some heat patches must not be used while sleeping at all because of the risk of overheating.^[1] What applies to your patch at night is stated in its package leaflet.
• Skin: Skin redness has been recorded as an unwanted effect; it disappeared within a few days.^[1]
• Instructions: Exactly where you place the patch and how long you wear it is stated in the product's package leaflet.

It is intended for single use, so you need a new one for every painful day. If you reach for heat every month, a rechargeable solution may be worth it.

Reusable heat with TENS: the Beurer EM 55 Menstrual Relax +

Our Beurer EM 55 Menstrual Relax + is a rechargeable pad that combines an optional heat function with TENS. It is intended exclusively for relieving period pain, including period pain caused by endometriosis. Thanks to its slim, wireless design, you can wear it discreetly under your clothing. This makes it a drug-free option for anyone who regularly reaches for heat on the first days of their cycle and would also like to use TENS.

Pleasant warmth

The heat function of the EM 55 works at 43 °C. You can switch it on and also use it entirely without TENS. The EM 55 provides a larger heated area than the EM 50. This means the heat spreads over a larger area of the lower abdomen. The soothing heat can help you relax and is perceived as pleasant.

TENS: how it works

TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation: weak electrical impulses are delivered via skin electrodes and can influence the transmission of pain. You control the strength of the impulses yourself.

How good is the evidence? A Cochrane review of 20 studies with 585 women concludes that TENS may reduce period pain compared with placebo or no treatment^[5].

How to use the EM 55 in everyday life

You operate the EM 55 easily via the buttons directly on the pad: the ON/OFF button turns on the heat.

• Programmes: Select your mode via the ON/OFF button (heat, heat and TENS, or TENS only) and start the TENS stimulation using the plus button. To switch off, press and hold the ON/OFF button.
• Intensity: You set it in 15 levels. Start with a low level until you get used to the device.
• Duration: After 20 minutes, the EM 55 Menstrual Relax + switches off automatically.
• Battery: One charge lasts for 6 applications of 20 minutes each, so up to 2 hours. An LED shows you when the battery level is low.
• Charging: Charge the EM 55 only with the supplied cable. Standard USB-C cables are not compatible.

Caring for the gel pads

The gel pads of the EM 55 measure 61 x 89 mm. An extra set is already included, and you can buy further gel pads separately. A little care helps them stay sticky for longer:

• Apply the gel pads only to clean, dry and grease-free skin. Avoid creams or oils beforehand.
• Clean the pads gently with a damp, lint-free cloth under lukewarm running water, without chemical cleaning agents.
• Stick the gel pads back onto the carrier film after use.
• If they no longer adhere reliably despite cleaning, replace them. That is quite normal with regular use.

EM 55 or EM 50?

Our Beurer EM 50 Menstrual Relax is the version with smaller gel pads: 50 x 56 mm instead of 61 x 89 mm on the EM 55. Programmes, heat level, temperature, intensity range and battery life are the same on both devices. The EM 55 also comes with an extra set of gel pads. You will find both pads in our TENS devices category.

When you should have period pain medically assessed

You should have period pain medically assessed if it is very severe or keeps getting worse over time. In that case, it is a good idea to talk to your gynaecologist, because a treatable condition such as endometriosis is sometimes behind the abdominal pain.^[2] A heat patch or a pad can relieve symptoms, but it does not replace this assessment.

Primary and secondary period pain

Experts distinguish between two forms: primary period pain is triggered solely by the contraction of the uterus. Secondary period pain has a different underlying cause. Common causes are fibroids or polyps, and severe pain can also point to endometriosis. Sometimes a copper IUD triggers the discomfort.^[6]

Warning signs

These signs are a reason to see your gynaecologist:

• very severe pain, or pain that keeps getting stronger over time
• new pain after your periods were previously unremarkable
• recurring severe abdominal pain, even independently of your period
• pain during sex, when urinating or during bowel movements
• blood in your urine or stool
• unfulfilled desire to have children

Who should not use the EM 55 Menstrual Relax +

The Beurer EM 55 Menstrual Relax + is not a substitute for medical consultation and treatment. With any kind of pain or illness, always ask your doctor first.

The EM 55 must not be used during pregnancy. It must also not be used if you have a cardiac pacemaker or another implanted electrical device. Further contraindications for the EM 55 are:

• metal implants such as a copper IUD
• an insulin pump
• high fever
• known or acute cardiac arrhythmias
• seizure disorders such as epilepsy
• cancer
• surgery after which increased muscle contractions could interfere with healing
• acute or chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Do not use TENS while sleeping, bathing or showering, or while driving or operating machinery. Read the instructions for use of the EM 55 Menstrual Relax + before using it for the first time, as they contain all the safety information in full.

Is the EM 55 right for you and your everyday life? You will find all the details on the product page: take a look at the Beurer EM 55 Menstrual Relax +.