Device claims to 'turn off' cramps: Hoax or hope?

If you get menstrual cramps, you know how absolutely debilitating they can be. And most of us want to minimize our intake of pain medication.

Livia seeks to change the way we treat cramps. The new device, which launched in early April, is currently seeking funding on Indiegogo. It promises to "shut off" menstrual cramps through electrical impulses. 

"Shock" your cramps away? Interesting.

If you have ever received electric therapy from a physical therapist or a chiropractor, you'll be familiar with this method. Livia was designed to stop the pain receptors from your brain to your — as this video describes it — "lady parts."

But, Livia has yet to be approved by the FDA and, while a clinical trial of 163 women is an attempt, there is no clear research available about whether the device works, and most importantly, whether this particular device is 100% safe.

Users attach two small gel pads to the skin nearest the pain; Livia recommends the lower abdomen. The attached device clips on, discretely, to your pants or other clothing. When turned on, the device can be adjusted from low to high intensity with the "plus" or "minus" buttons.

The sensation feels like a combination of a very light vibration and tiny pinpricks. Not painful, but you certainly feel some sort of stimulation.  

And, it worked for me.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Livia arrived on time for me to, ahem, "authentically" test the product. Thanks to my birth control pill I don't get cramps nearly as badly as I used to, but they are not gone by any means. 

I didn't feel that much of a difference when I placed the Livia pads on my lower abdomen, because that's not where I get cramps. Where I do have cramps would turn this device into more of a Brazilian wax machine than a cramp-stopper, due to the gel pads.

I do have some pretty gnarly lower back pain nearly all of the time, but during my period it gets more intense — as in, bring-a-heating-pad-to-work-intense. 

While wearing the device, I will say my back felt much better. I found myself wearing it all day, and even after my week was up because of how much better it made my back feel.

CEO of Livia, Chen Nachum, says there is no time limit for the unit, that wearing it all day is fine.

Livia is a TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) machine, like the ones used by physical therapists. Livia's frequency is specifically designed for menstrual cramps, meaning, its power is lower than what you would use at a physical therapy session.

But it's still, basically, a TENS machine. 

A representative from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists says, "As far as we can tell, there is no actual evidence that supports this device, so there’s really no way to evaluate whether there is any validity to the claims."

Another member of The American Physical Therapy Association declined to comment on the validity or safety of Livia. 

The only safety precaution Livia states is that those with pacemakers or within the first three months of pregnancy should not use the device. 

Otherwise, the compact design of Livia is a great idea, but something about neon colors and flower petal pads are not as discreet as they could be. In a way, it "pinkifies" a device that doesn't need to be. Making it stereotypically "feminine" with "girly" colors isn't necessary, especially given many women and transgender men who menstruate might not relate to those designs. 

While I was grateful to find something that helped reduce the pain I get during my period, until more research is done on Livia, even at a "lower frequency," we can't advocate this as "safer" than pain medication, as the company is messaging. 

And just stop making period products "cute." They don't have to be.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.