May 20, 2026

At Valkyrie Industries, we have been exploring how wearable stimulation technology, eir bands, can support not only rehabilitation and wellness, but also everyday pain management.

Between August and October 2025, we conducted an exploratory user study investigating menstrual pain relief using the eir bands — our multimodal TENS/FES wearable system eir bands — combined with mindfulness audio and calming “healing” music delivered through the mobile app.

The goal was: can wearable neurostimulation technology help women feel better during menstruation without relying solely on medication?

The Study

The study involved 14 women aged 20–45 who experienced varying levels of menstrual discomfort. Participants used the system for 15–30 minute sessions during menstruation.

The experience combined:

Electrical stimulation (TENS/FES modes)
Guided mindfulness meditation
Calming healing audio/music

We evaluated:

Pain reduction
Relaxation and emotional impact
Usability and comfort
Overall willingness to use or purchase the system

What We Found

79% Reported Pain Reduction

The most encouraging result was that 79% of participants reported some level of pain reduction during stimulation.

Even more notably:

43% experienced significant relief (a reduction of 2 or more points on a 10-point pain scale)
Average pain scores dropped from 6/10 to 3.9/10 during use

The strongest effects were typically observed while the system was actively being used, suggesting that continuous or repeated use may be important for sustained relief.

The Most Effective Modes

Participants consistently preferred combinations of calming audio with stimulation.

Most positively rated modes:

Healing Music + TENS (9 mentions): Most calming and emotionally soothing
Constant TENS Mode (8 mentions): Preferred during severe pain
Wave / Opposite Waves (5 mentions): Gentle and rhythmic
Guided Meditation (4 mentions): Helpful for beginners and relaxation

One trend became particularly clear: emotional regulation mattered almost as much as physical pain reduction.

Many participants described the experience as helping them feel calmer, more grounded, and more capable of functioning normally during menstruation.

Beyond Pain Relief

While pain reduction was the primary goal, users frequently described secondary benefits that may be equally important.

Participants reported:

Feeling more emotionally balanced
Reduced stress and tension
Better focus during discomfort
A greater sense of control over their symptoms

One participant, a therapist experiencing severe menstrual pain, reported that the system helped her continue working during menstruation.

Several users also expressed appreciation for having a non-pharmaceutical option available.

What Needs Improvement

The study also highlighted several important areas for improvement.

The most common issues were:

Difficulty with back placement
Requests for larger pads and improved comfort
Bluetooth disconnections with TENS devices, eir bands, placed on the back

Interestingly, guided meditation produced mixed responses:

Users with moderate discomfort often appreciated it
Participants experiencing severe pain sometimes found meditation difficult to engage with during peak symptoms

This suggests that different intervention modes may be appropriate for different pain intensities and emotional states.

Would Users Buy It?

Participants reported a willingness-to-pay range of approximately £50–£120, with an average around £85.

Purchase intent showed promising early interest:

4 participants said they would definitely buy the system
6 said they might buy depending on comfort and features
4 said they would not buy, primarily due to low perceived need or discomfort

Key purchase motivators included:

Drug-free pain relief
Ease of use
Comfort
Positive testimonials
Trial and return options

What Participants Said

“Next time I have a period I’ll do this — this is really nice.”

“The music mode is my favourite; very calming.”

Conclusions

This was a small exploratory study rather than a formal clinical trial, but the findings suggest meaningful potential for wearable neurostimulation combined with audio-guided relaxation in menstrual wellness applications.

Three themes stood out clearly:

Multimodal experiences matter
Emotional calm is a major part of pain management
Users are actively looking for non-drug alternatives

The strongest interest came from women experiencing moderate-to-severe menstrual symptoms, particularly those seeking portable, discreet, technology-enabled relief.

Looking ahead

Since the study, we have already done quite a few changes to the system:

Improving comfort and reliability
Personalising stimulation modes

Next steps might include:

Investigating longer-term use patterns
Exploring adaptive audio and biofeedback experiences

Menstrual pain affects millions of women globally, yet non-pharmaceutical technology solutions remain surprisingly limited.

This study is an early step toward changing that.

Reach out on info@valkyrie-vr.com if you want to talk more!

Menstrual Pain Relief Without Medication? Insights from Our User Study