No more period pain or painkillers?! We put this device to the test
18.5.2018
Today’s battle sees four women and their electronic devices go up against period pain. We wanted to know if «Livia» lives up to the hype. Will cramps soon be a thing of the past? And will we all be ditching our painkillers at that time of the month?
Imagine not needing to take any tablets at the most difficult time of the month. According to the manufacturer of «Livia», it’s certainly possible. To verify their claim, we put four product testers to work. Each of them had different experiences, both with Livia and with their period. What follows is a summary of what we all thought.
But before we jump in to the mini reviews, let’s clear up the burning questions:
What is Livia and how does it work?
Livia is an electrotherapy gadget that has been designed to ease period pain without you having to resort to pills. It works by delivering gentle electrical pulses to the body through electrodes on the skin. In turn, these signals continuously block pain signals that are sent to the brain. Since Livia’s publicity video is so clear and concise when it comes to explaining how the device works, it’s worth checking it out before reading the reviews:
Cinzia puts Livia to the test
On a scale of 1-10, how bad is your period pain WITHOUT Livia? I’d say between 3 and 6. It depends on the weather and how I feel that day. I only really get severe pain on the first day.
What do you normally take for period pain? I take painkillers but not very often.
What are you hoping Livia will do for you? Stop me getting cramps so I don’t have to take any pain relief.
Colour:
What are your first impressions of Livia? Pretty, small, handy!
How easy was it to use? It’s all pretty self-explanatory, as the gadget only has three buttons: one to turn it on and off as well as one minus and plus button for controlling the strength of the pulses. The sensors are also easy to attach. The intensity display uses LED and isn’t altogether clear. But it didn’t bother me too much, as I could tell the difference straight away and I go by how my body feels.
I only got a bit of a shock when I first turned on the device and the intensity was set high. My tip: once you’ve turned it on, don’t play around with the intensity settings before you’ve put the pads on otherwise you can end up starting with high strength. However, the device is designed to automatically start at the lowest level each time you turn it on.
What was it like to wear? The casing can be well-hidden on your trouser waistband or better still, at the top of your underwear (if you’re wearing a loose dress, for example). The electrical impulses and subsequent muscle simulation take a bit of getting used to at the beginning. It wasn’t long before it was much more pleasant than period cramps.
Which intensity setting(s) did you use? I was always able to finely adjust the intensity levels in an instant so I could manage the pain. As pain severity constantly changes anyway, having to alter the intensity settings while I was using it (over the course of several hours) was unavoidable. The levels I used were light to medium-strong, and that was usually enough to help with the pain.
What was period pain like WITH Livia? 1, if at all. I wouldn’t really call it pain any more; it was more like a faint tingling sensation. In fact, I could go without painkillers entirely.
Will you continue to use Livia? Yes, I always have Livia in my backpack so it’s at hand whenever I need it. Thanks to the wieldy design, it could even fit into a clutch.
Natalie puts Livia to the test
On a scale of 1-10, how bad is your period pain WITHOUT Livia?
It’s somewhere between 5 and 8.
What do you normally take for period pain?
I usually opt for painkillers, a hot water bottle and adopting the foetal position.
What are you hoping Livia will do for you?
Relieve my cramps to such an extent that I can go back to concentrating on things other than pain.
Colour:
What are your first impressions of Livia?
It looks a bit like a sweet. I’m also really taken with the range of colours.
How easy was it to use?
I spent ages studying the instructions (there are tonnes of warnings) before I had the courage to apply the gel pads and give it a whirl. Somehow I just found the manual a bit sketchy as far as the operating part was concerned.
Here was my first problem: according to the handbook, the packet contains the device, a connection cable, pre-gelled electrodes, operating instructions, storage box and a USB cable. However, as there was a packet of spare gel pads (which in itself is great), I assumed I had to open these straight away and apply them. Basically, I didn’t realise this was just a spare product and I opened them unnecessarily.
The device, on the other hand, is built intuitively. It even starts on the lowest intensity level when you switch it on. But another negative is that you can’t tell which intensity setting you’re on. I’d have preferred a more specific display that used numbers rather than the small, meaningless LEDs that light up slightly when you adjust the settings.
What was it like to wear?
Comfortable. But I have to point out here that up until now I’ve only worn Livia at home under my pyjamas. In other words, while I’ve been curled up in bed or on the sofa. I think my verdict might have been different if I was sitting up all the time and wearing jeans. One thing I did notice was that my period got heavier after using the device.
Which intensity setting(s) did you use?
It’s impossible to say given the lack of proper display. I always altered it so that I felt a slight tingling sensation. But I don’t think I went through more than half of the levels.
What was period pain like WITH Livia depending on the intensity level you used?
It’s practically under 2.
Will you continue to use Livia?
I’ll keep using Livia but only when the pain is at its worst and when I’m at home. To be honest, while I’m out and about I find tablets more convenient. But incorporating Livia into my routine does indeed lower the amount of medication I’m taking.
Livia puts Livia to the test
How apt. Yes, one of our product testers really is called Livia.
On a scale of 1-10, how bad is your period pain WITHOUT Livia?
6 to 7, depending on the month and how I feel that day.
What do you normally take for period pain?
I usually rely on painkillers, a hot-water bottle and peace and quiet.
What are you hoping Livia will do for you?
I’m hoping for noticeable pain relief, but I’m not expecting miracles.
Colour:
What are your first impressions of Livia?
The product is pretty and comes in a practical case. It also looks more like an audio gadget than a pain relief product.
How easy was it to use?
The limited number of buttons meant I jumped straight in to using the device without having read the instructions. I wouldn’t recommend that at all, as the handbook lists some important points you’ll want to be aware of.
What was it like to wear?
Comfortable. After a while, you forget you’ve got something clipped on. The only disadvantage is that dresses become somewhat impractical given the device has to be attached to your waistband.
Which intensity setting(s) did you use?
Unfortunately, I’m not entirely sure now. The highest setting was extremely uncomfortable so the maximum I will have gone up to is the second highest level.
What was period pain like WITH Livia?
4 to 5. The pain was less but it didn’t go away completely. Since I suffer from extreme back pain when I’m on my period, I had to decide whether to use the pads on my back or on my stomach. (The instructions say both are possible.) And that’s why I’ve got this request for Livia: please bring out a product that comes with four pads!
Will you continue to use Livia?
Yes, probably. I’ll likely use it more at the weekends or in the evenings when I’m at home, as Livia can’t completely eliminate pain unlike a tablet. To make sure I’m 100 per cent fit for work, I’d rather not use Livia when I’m in the office.
Anna puts Livia to the test
On a scale of 1-10, how bad is your period pain WITHOUT Livia?
So bad that I can’t move for the pain and it sometimes makes me throw up. I usually can’t do anything but lie down for one to two whole days. In other words: 10++++++
What do you normally take for period pain?
I take the highest permitted dose of painkillers per day. I use a hot-water bottle and lie down in bed and hope it’s soon over. Apart from that, I sip camomile tea, pop magnesium and dabble in all kinds of (weird and wonderful) herbal remedies.
What are you hoping Livia will do for you?
It’s hard to say. I can’t imagine this device could make my pain disappear. But at the same time, all the adverts and test reviews that I’ve read so far make me think I should expect the pain to be lessened so I can venture out of bed again.
Colour:
What are your first impressions of Livia?
Small and beautifully designed
How easy was it to use?
Livia was perfectly easy to use with the help of the instructions. I didn’t have any problem attaching the electrodes and even less of an issue operating the device itself.
What was it like to wear?
It definitely helps to wear jeans or something like that so you can clip Livia to your waistband. Apart from that, it’s convenient and is hardly noticeable in day-to-day life. However, I did notice that using Livia made my period slightly heavier.
Which intensity setting(s) did you use?
That’s a difficult question, as the device doesn’t say or give a scale. At first it was a bit strange having to gauge which strength would be appropriate. But in this case, you can only learn by doing. I started out by setting the the device on the lowest level and then increasing it until I felt small vibration-like sensations on my stomach. Then I turned it down one setting so the pulses weren’t as noticeable.
What was period pain like WITH Livia?
To my great surprise, I hardly experienced any pain while I was using Livia. I wore the device to work on the first day of my period. The pain was a lot less – it was hardly perceptible. Although I did have to use the gadget for a few minutes before feeling the benefits. Fun fact: while I was testing out the product, I got intense pain all of a sudden and was a bit peeved. It turns out the battery on my Livia had run out. That proves the device does work and it isn’t just the placebo effect.
Will you continue to use Livia?
Definitely. I’ve finally found a drug-free method that’s not bed rest, a hot-water bottle and camomile tea.
All for one and one for all
In all four mini reviews, the basic message is the same: Livia works, even if the effects aren’t exactly the same for each person. Livia has proven to be invaluable for women who suffer from extreme pain. But is it worth buying one of your own? It’s not just a question of how intense your cramps are. It also comes down to how much you’re spending on other solutions to relieve the pain and how much you want to switch to a drug-free method.
Heads-up: using this device can also cause side effects. It’s important to remember that Livia was only designed to relieve period pain. As tempting as it is to skip over the instructions, please read them (here in German) carefully before you start fiddling around with your new gadget.
Natalie Hemengül
Senior Editor
Natalie.Hemenguel@digitecgalaxus.chAs a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions.
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