London-based neurotech start-up develops medical device for menstrual symptoms

A London-based neurotech start-up is developing a medical device to tackle symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle.

The Samphire Headband, developed by Samphire Neuroscience, uses a technology called transcranial direct current stimulation to improve key physical and mental symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and menstrual pain. 

The product works by using a low electrical current to stimulate certain parts of the brain, restoring balanced brain connectivity, which can be disrupted during the premenstrual period.

“In the period leading up to their periods, women’s brains look similar to those of depressed patients,” says Emile Radyte, Samphire co-founder and CEO.

“They present an asymmetry in the frontal cortex which means that one of the hemispheres is more active than the other.

“With our technology, we put in electricity in order to modulate and bring that back to normal. What we really do is we strengthen the top-down control of that frontal cortex over the limbic system, which controls emotions, and we help women take control of their brain.

“When it comes to pain, we use the same technology to inhibit the pain sensitivity from building up in those few days leading up to your period.”

A neuroscientist by trade, Radyte says she saw an opportunity to create a product for menstrual symptoms while working on brain stimulation. 

“As I was working on depression, I started realising that there were very forgotten areas of mental health that tended to fall within women’s mental health around cyclical health.

“When we looked at menstruation we understood that menstrual mental health is especially unique, because it’s the only condition within the mental health and the physical health space that is very common and predictable.”

But unlike other mental health conditions, PMS is less of an underlying, problematic schema, but more of a side effect of menstruating, the co-founder explains.

“In the pre-menstrual period, your hormones just make your brain act differently for a short period of time. Our device stabilises that.”

With at least 61 per cent of women of reproductive age experiencing premenstrual symptoms every menstrual cycle, the device could be life-changing.

“There’s no currently approved medical solution for PMS care. So, we are building our own space,” says Radyte. 

“We are regulated medical device, which means that we will have all of the sign-offs from the EU and US bodies. We are completing a couple of additional clinical trials and we have just launched our waitlist for our first batch.

“It’s been a big effort to bring the design to life and make it something women can relate to so we can’t wait to have some of our early testers.”

The Samphire Headband is set to be launched early next year.

To sign up for early access, visit samphireneuro.com.