Best Heat Pads for Period Pain and Cramps
With more than half of women experiencing some degree of discomfort during their period, there is an ongoing need for natural, non-pharmacological solutions. Uterus owners can experience a wide range of types of discomfort during our periods, ranging from mild aches, to dull cramping, to pain so severe that it results in days off work. Period pain and cramps can be truly life-disrupting, but popping a painkiller isn't the only solution. We've rounded up our tried-and-tested Best Heat Pads for Period Pain and Cramps to offer you a (heated) helping hand.
What's Covered In This Guide?
- How Does Heat Help With Period Pain?
- Best Heat Pads for Period Pain and Cramps
- Other Ways to Get Rid of Period Pain and Cramps
- Why Are My Periods So Painful?
- How To Relieve Period Cramps Fast
How Does Heat Help With Period Pain?
It is the contraction of the uterine muscles that causes period pain and cramps, and heat can help those achy muscles to relax. By promoting better blood flow, applying heat can allow more oxygen and nutrients can be delivered to the painful areas, effectively reducing period pain and soothing cramps.
Best Heat Pads for Period Pain and Cramps
Providing exceptional pain relief, these are our favourite heating devices and accessories to deliver soothing heat to help reduce pains and cramps.
Best Overall Heating Pad
Winner: Beurer HK Comfort Luxury Heat Pad (UK Edition)
Why We Love It:
✔ Three temperature settings for adjustable warmth
✔ Much more consistent than a hot water bottle
✔ Large enough to warm both your back and thighs
Perfect For:
✔ Popping under your bedsheets to soothe you to sleep
✔ Easing night time cramps that can keep you awake
✔ Heating a larger area
Not the Best For:
✘ Heating your back and abdomen at the same time
Our Verdict: Pop this lovely heat pad into your bed for overnight pain relief. The illuminated temperature settings mean you won't have to turn your lights on in the middle of the night, and you can rest assured that the patented Beurer Safety System will stop you from overheating.
Best Electric Heated Cushion
Winner: Beurer Grey Electric Heated Cushion HK48
✔ Small and portable; ideal for office and home use
✔ Removable switch for easy cleaning
✔ Automatic switch-off after 90 minutes for safety
Perfect For:
✔ Use at home, in the office, in bed or on the sofa
✔ Quick pain relief; it has a turbo heating option
✔ Those who want a small, discreet source of heat
Not the Best For:
✘ Those with a pacemaker; please consult your doctor before using
Our Verdict: A truly versatile heating device, this heated pillow is perfect for use in the office, when working from home, or relaxing on the sofa with a movie.
Best Microwaveable Heat Pad
Winner: Hotties Tartan Fleece Microwaveable Micro Hottie
✔ Stays warm for up to four hours
✔ Portable and slim so you can take it outside
✔ Contains no gel or seeds, so it won't explode
Perfect For:
✔ On-the-go use
✔ Those who want a cosy fleece warmer
✔ Targeted pain relief
Not the Best For:
✘ Larger areas - this hottie measures an adorable 22 x 20 x 2cm
Our Verdict: The unique patented design of the Hotties Micro Hottie ensures long-lasting warmth, and is extremely safe as it uses no water or electricity.
Best Heated TENS Machine
Winner: Beurer EM59 Heated Digital TENS/EMS Device
.jpg)
✔ Combines heat and TENS/EMS electrical pulses
✔ Stimulates the body's natural pain killers (endorphins)
✔ 'Doctor's Function' allows you to customise the settings
Perfect For:
✔ Those who want heat combined with a massage-like effect
✔ Targeted pain relief; position the electrodes to soothe pain
✔ On-the-go; it uses rechargeable batteries
Not the Best For:
✘ Those on a budget; it's a little pricier than a simple heat pad, but worth every penny
Our Verdict: This is a truly exceptional product, allowing you to use electrical muscle stimulation and heat both together and separately. With 64 pre-programmed applications, you're sure to find one that suits you, and you can easily customise the frequency and pulse width for a perfectly relaxing biphasic massage.
Best Heated Back Wrap
Winner: Hotties Heather Tartan Back Wrap
✔ Easily adjustable for a comfy fit
✔ Two minutes in the microwave equals up to four hours warmth
✔ Sustained low-level heat to ease back pain
Perfect For:
✔ Lower back aches and pain
✔ Anyone with a waist size up to 46"
✔ Wearing under your clothes for discreet heat
Not the Best For:
✘ Belly aches; this wrap is designed to warm your lower back
Our Verdict: Providing gentle heat therapy ideal for back aches, this Tartan Back Wrap is so cute it'd be a shame to hide it underneath a winter jumper, though you certainly can do that if you wish.
Best Heated Underblanket
Winner: Beurer EcoLogic TS15 Cosy Heated Underblanket
✔ Covers the whole bed so you don't have to stay put
✔ Made from super-soft microfleece for comfort
✔ Machine-washable for easy cleaning
Perfect For:
✔ Night time use
✔ Consistent heat
✔ Single and double beds; comes in two sizes
Not the Best For:
✘ Targeted pain relief
Our Verdict: Larger than a heated pad, this Beurer Heated Underblanket is ideal for those who wriggle in their sleep, and it fits to your mattress with handy tapes so it won't wrinkle, slip or bunch up in the night.
Best Heated Lumbar Support
Winner: Beurer HK70 Heated Lumbar Support
✔ Provides heat and back support for those with lumbar pain
✔ Ergonomic shape makes it ideal for lower-back problems
✔ Can be fixed to a chair to ensure proper placement
Perfect For:
✔ Working from home; fix it to your work chair
✔ Car trips; comes with a plug for your car's cigarette lighter
✔ All types of back pain
Not the Best For:
✘ Use on the go; doesn't have a battery-power option
Our Verdict: Providing you with support for your lower back as well as pain-reducing heat, this Beurer Back Cushion is perfect for those who spend a lot of time seated, whether in the car, at home or in the office.
Best Relaxing Scented Wheat Bag
Winner: Fortuna Microwaveable Relaxing Lavender Wheat Bag
✔ Lovely lavender scent to relieve stress and promote relaxation
✔ Research shows lavender is effective for painful periods
✔ Gentle, localised pressure helps soothe period pain
Perfect For:
✔ Aiding stress reduction
✔ Adding to your self-care routine
✔ A natural and eco-friendly way to soothe cramps
Not the Best For:
✘ Those who prefer adjustable heat
Our Verdict: The lavender scent of the Fortuna Wheat Bag isn't only calming and soothing, it has also been shown to help with muscle relaxation, making it ideal for soothing period pain and cramps.
Other Ways to Get Rid of Period Pain and Cramps
Whilst there are many great heated options for reducing period pain, we couldn't resist sharing some of our other products that don't rely on heat but are still wonderfully soothing for period pain and cramps. These devices are particularly great for summer, when the last thing you want is extra heat.
- Beurer TENS Menstrual Relax Machine: Ergonomically-shaped to a comfy fit. 15 Levels of intensity and one heat programme, with a rechargeable battery.
- Kinetic Period Pain Reliever: Uses electrical nerve stimulation for fast, effective pain relief. Portable, discreet, and has a massage feature.
- B-Cure Classic Personal Pain Relief Laser: Low-level laser therapy for a wide variety of types of pain. Clinically tested with positive findings.
Why Are My Periods So Painful?
Your uterus is mostly muscle. Period cramps happen when this muscle begins to cramp due to the contractions that happen just before and during your period, as a result of a hormone called prostaglandins. These contractions are normal, and help you to shed your uterine lining. This pain can range from mild discomfort to absolute agony, and an be made worse by underlying medical conditions including endometriosis and fibroids, or the presence of an IUD coil.
How To Relieve Period Cramps Fast
Aside from using a heat pad or TENS device for pain relief, there are a number of home remedies that may help you to get rid of period pain:
- Take a warm bath, and try adding Epsom or magnesium salts for added benefits
- Increase your intake of calcium, magnesium and omega 3-rich foods such as oily fish
- Stay hydrated with some ginger, chamomile or lavender tea
- Engage in light, low-impact exercise like walking, yoga or stretching
Browse our full range of products for Period Cramp Relief.