PERIOD PAIN BLOCKER

Livia promises to take away my period pain, and for that, I’ll put up with its bulky, palm-sized unit hooked on to the waistband of my jeans. It’s a mobile TENS (transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation machine) device, which passes a current through electrodes placed on the skin. They cause a vibrating sensation that, according to ‘gate control theory’, stimulates the nerves making it impossible for the pain to pass. Livia also claims to help release beta endorphins, further easing pain. The sticky electrodes last multiple wears and are easy to put on and take off – you can pop them on your belly or lower back, depending on where you feel your pain. You can change the intensity of the stimulation, and although the vibrations feel weird at first, your nerves adapt rapidly and after a few seconds you stop feeling them. HG £119, mylivia.com