Ovulay is a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) device for period pain that claims to do just that. I’ve tested if it actually works.
I’m Sara Janasz, a reviewer for TechTruster who also runs SJ Copywriter. I write business-building case studies that make investors and customers ‘get it’, trust, and invest.
What is Ovulay?
Ovulay is a TENS device for people who want to reduce their period and back pain. It consists of a butterfly-shaped gel pad with a small electrical disc attached in the middle.
The small battery-driven disc emits mild electrical currents. The electrical impulses run from the device through the sticky pad and into your body.
This produces a tingly, slightly prickly, or stinging feeling on your skin. These sensations can help reduce the pain signals that go via the spine to the brain. It’s not a cure, but a distraction for your brain. It aims to relieve pain and can help relax the muscles.
These electrical signals may also stimulate the natural production of endorphins. Endorphins are hormones that your body produces to help relieve pain and stress.
TENS technology isn’t new and is used for pain caused by sports injuries and arthritis. And sometimes during childbirth.
What you get with your Ovulay delivery
Ovulay comes beautifully packaged in a rectangular box. You’ll get
- the TENS disc
- 2 x butterfly-shaped sticky pads
- a charging cable
- instruction manual
The TENS disc is about 6 cm in diameter and just over 1 cm high. It has 3 buttons at the front and a little light which tells you it’s on or charging. The buttons are the on/off button and a plus and a minus button.
The butterfly pad is about 18 cm at its wingspan and just over 8 cm high. Because of its small size, you can hide it under your clothes and get on with your day. It’s portable and lightweight.
How does Ovulay work?
Start by attaching the device to the gel pad. It clicks on easily. Remove the clear protective film from the sticky pads and attach it to your painful pelvic or lower back area.
Make sure you don’t press the ON button before you’ve attached the pad to your body. Otherwise, you’ll feel the electrical currents through your fingers.
To turn the TENS disc on, short-press the middle ON/OFF button. The little light comes on to show that the disc is on. To turn the device off, long-press the middle button.
Sticky gel pads
The two gel pads are individually packed and attached to a clear protective plastic sheet. Once you’ve finished using it, re-attach the pad to the plastic sheet for next time – so don’t throw it away!
Reattaching the pad on the plastic sheet requires precision. Because the plastic sheet is clear and see-through, it’s hard to see sometimes. It would benefit from being slightly larger and include a shade of colour.
One gel pad should last between 10-20 uses. They suck onto your body and if it’s hot, it can feel a bit sticky.
Different modes for different bodies
The Ovulay device has six different pulse modes. Some have constant reverberating impulses with a break. Others are more like a tapping feeling, or a combination of both. I worked through them all and eventually found one that was most in tune with my body.
To change between the modes, first, turn your device on. Then press the ON/OFF button to switch through them and find one that works for you.
It was quite fiddly to change between the modes. Sometimes the disc didn’t seem to switch between the different pulses. The only way to know if it had changed was to increase the intensity levels. That often became too much and I had to reduce the strength again, but it helped me feel what mode I was in.
Different intensity levels to test
Depending on your pain and tolerance levels, there are 20 different intensity levels. You can test them by pressing the + and – buttons on either side of the middle ON/OFF button.
For me, the lower settings were enough. I found there was a steep difference between the intensity levels. Sometimes I wished for something in between.
How do the electrical impulses feel?
How the electrical currents feel depends on the intensity level and your sensitivity. For me, at the lowest level, I didn’t feel anything. The gel pad was just sticky. If I put the level on too high, it felt like a bouquet of individual needles poking my pelvic area. It was unpleasant and my skin became quickly irritated.
Once I found a tolerable level, it felt more like a prickly zappy sensation, like being mildly electrocuted. It’s not a pleasant feeling on top of pain, but manageable.
Battery life & charging
On receiving the disc the instructions say to charge it for two hours. When I plugged my disc in for charging a blue light came on. The light doesn’t switch off when it’s finished charging, so it’s hard to know when it’s ready to use. The instructions state it’s ready to use after an hour (after the original two hour-charge).
How long can you use it?
According to the manufacturer, the battery can last between 5-10 hours. I used the device for about eight hours before the battery ran out. It’s safe to use for longer stretches.
Once turned on, the Ovulay disc runs for about 30 minutes before it switches itself off. To continue using it, turn it back on. The only annoying thing is that you might have to find your preferred settings again.
Safety
According to the manufacturer, Ovulay has been tested and approved according to the FDA and CE standards.
The sticky pads can in some rare cases cause a mild allergic reaction. If the electrical signals are too high, you can get electrical burns or irritation from the pad. In this case, remove the pad and give your skin a break.
A TENS device is safe for most people with a couple of exceptions. People with epilepsy or heart problems should avoid them. Especially those with a pacemaker or another implanted electrical device. Pregnant people should consult their doctor before use.
Does Ovulay TENS device really remove period pain?
Yes and no. Let me explain.
The testimonials on the TENS period device websites claim they work. People say their period pains are completely gone. These people say they can get on with their lives, work and even exercise while using the devices.
For others, including me, the result wasn’t so clear-cut. Cramps can ebb and flow. Sometimes, they last hours, and sometimes, they pass quickly, so it can be hard to know what worked.
The positives with a TENS devices for period pain
When I had milder pains, the electrical signals were distracting enough that I could get on with my tasks. This was more towards the end of my period, when the cramps had already reduced.
At one point, I moved the Ovulay pad from the centre to the side of the pelvis. It completely removed my pain, but only temporarily. The instructions also recommend this. The device needs to be placed directly over the painful area to work.
I also didn’t need to take as many painkillers as I normally would. This was one of my hopes and goals for trying Ovulay.
The negatives with a TENS devices for period pain
I really wanted all my period pain gone instantly, and so I wanted it to work better than it did.
The pain relief wasn’t instant, and all the discomfort wasn’t gone. In fact, the electrical pokes added to the soreness.
For stronger pains, the device didn’t work for me. After a while, I found the electrical signals irritating. In an already tender area, the electric stinging added to the discomfort. In the end, I removed it and went back to the Slimpal Heating Pad.
One Ovulay reviewer suggested that the device should be used before the pain starts. I didn’t try this, so can’t tell you if this trick works for heavy cramps.
I still needed a couple of days on the sofa and couldn’t function as I wanted to. I was tired and didn’t want to exercise or meet with friends. Ovulay didn’t change any of that.
What does science say about TENS devices’ effectiveness in treating period pain?
My experience is in line with the limited research on TENS devices to treat period pain. Period pain is a common occurrence for more than half the people who menstruate.
The TENS research is divided into two categories:
Primary dysmenorrhea
Primary dysmenorrhea is period pain without an underlying gynaecological condition. It’s the most common cause of period pain. It happens when the uterus contracts and sheds the uterine lining causing period flow. For some, this pain can be very intense.
Most of the research on TENS period pain relief is on primary dysmenorrhea.
And the conclusion…
More research is needed. But one study showed a notable decrease in pain for 53% of the study participants. The pain relief happened within 20 minutes of use in 74% of those cases. The use of pain medication was also greatly reduced.
Secondary dysmenorrhea
Secondary dysmenorrhea is period pain caused by an underlying gynaecological condition. This could be endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, PCOS or cysts. In this category, there isn’t enough research to give a clear picture of whether a TENS device is effective.
One endometriosis TENS study shows there could be some statistical reduction in pain. I couldn’t find any other research on the effectiveness of TENS for other gynaecological conditions.
These conditions are already under-researched. So it’s unsurprising that there isn’t more research on whether TENS technology helps reduce period-related pain.
How much does Ovulay cost?
The full price when buying from Ovulay is €99.95. But they do have a special offer for €49.95. You also get free shipping within Europe at the time of writing.
Most TENS period devices on the market cost between €50 and €150, including discounts. It’s worth comparing the prices because these discounts are pretty much constant.
Replacement sticky pads
You can also buy replacement sticky pads from Ovulay and they cost €19,95 for two pads. You can choose between a pink and a beige one with a different butterfly shape.
Is Ovulay worth it?
I tested Ovulay over two periods, trying to make up my mind about whether Ovulay was worth it. And it wasn’t a clear-cut answer. It seemed to help me sometimes. What I want is for it to consistently remove my pain quickly and without the prickly discomfort. It didn’t.
I was still in pain and also had discomfort from the electrical currents. So I seem to fall into the category of people for whom it doesn’t work so well. That doesn’t mean it won’t work for you. Both people with primary and secondary dysmenorrhea have written testimonials that it works. And research suggests it works around 50% of the time for period pain without an underlying condition.
Ovulay has discounts on the device and offers a 40-day money-back guarantee. They ship quickly. So if you time it correctly and don’t have very long cycles, you can try the device over 2 periods and see if it works for you.
Learn more and purchase Ovulay here. We have no association to Ovulay and this review is written independently.