Beyond Hormones: How Your Nervous System Really Runs Your Period
Blog post by Amy Gaston, VP of Strategic Growth and peer-reviewed by Dr. Navid Khodaparast, Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder of Spark Biomedical
We, as women, are often told that our periods are governed solely by the ebb and flow of hormones. While hormones are undeniably important, there's a powerful, often overlooked director orchestrating the monthly symphony of our cycles: our nervous system.
From the intensity of our cramps and the fluctuating tempo of our moods to the very amount we bleed, our brain and intricate network of nerves are silently pulling the strings. Understanding this vital connection can be a game-changer, offering us new perspectives on our bodies and empowering us with tools to navigate our cycles with greater ease and well-being.
Meet the Unsung Hero: Your Autonomic Nervous System
Your autonomic nervous system is the behind-the-scenes operator of your body, managing essential functions without your conscious effort. It has two key branches that influence your period in profound ways:
• The Sympathetic Branch ("Fight or Flight"): Designed to rev you up, it can unfortunately amplify pain and stress when dominant around your period.
• The Parasympathetic Branch ("Rest and Digest"): Your body's natural calmer, promoting relaxation and supporting overall well-being.
Leading up to and during menstruation, a natural shift towards sympathetic dominance can exacerbate period cramps, disrupt digestion, interfere with sleep, and impact mood.
But there's exciting news: we now have innovative ways to gently nudge our nervous system back into balance. Auricular neurostimulation targeting branches of the vagus and trigeminal through gentle outer ear stimulation offers a natural pathway to recalibrate this delicate system.
The Surprising Link: Your Nervous System and Bleeding
Beyond cramps and mood, your nervous system also significantly influences menstrual bleeding. Heavy menstrual bleeding affects many women, leading to fatigue and disruption. Our nervous system has inherent mechanisms to regulate this, and science is uncovering new ways to tap into them.
Specific nerves in the ear, including branches of the vagus nerve, communicate with the spleen, where platelets (blood-clotting cells) are stored. This stimulation prepares platelets to act effectively when bleeding occurs, ensuring rapid and efficient blood reduction.12 Through auricular neurostimulation, we can prime your platelets, allowing them to form a stronger and faster blood clot when your body needs it most.
Real Impact, Real Relief: The Evidence
Clinical studies have shown remarkable results with auricular neurostimulation:
• Women with von Willebrand Disease (vWD) experienced an average 57.1% reduction in menstrual blood loss.
• Women with idiopathic (or unknown cause) heavy bleeding saw an average 53.8% reduction.
• Both groups reported approximately 20% shorter periods.3
Furthermore, by rebalancing the autonomic nervous system, this gentle therapy offers holistic relief from cramp pain, gastrointestinal discomfort, and mood swings, leading to improved energy and a more manageable period.
It's Time for a Smarter Approach – And OhmBody is Leading the Way
When we understand our periods as a brain-body experience, we unlock new ways to support our health. OhmBody harnesses the power of auricular neurostimulation, offering a non-hormonal, non-invasive solution that works with your body's innate systems. By gently targeting the vagus and trigeminal nerves in the outer ear, OhmBody helps to rebalance your autonomic nervous system, addressing the root causes of many period-related challenges.
So, if you've ever felt dismissed or at a loss for a safe, drug-free menstrual support solution, know that OhmBody offers a tangible, science-backed path to finding relief. It's time to demand more from period care, and OhmBody is here to help you tap into your body's innate potential for a more balanced and comfortable cycle.
Resources
1. Bravo-Iñiguez, Carlos E., et al. "Vagus nerve stimulation primes platelets and reduces bleeding in hemophilia A male mice." Nature Communications 14.1 (2023): 3122.
2. Huston JM, Bravo-Iñiguez CE, Papoin J, Ahmad M, Mirro I, McWade MA, Le B, Benner CG, Covalin A, Czura CJ, Khodaparast N, Blanc L. Transcutaneous Auricular Neural Stimulation Primes Platelets and Improves Hemostasis in Healthy Adult Human Subjects. Nat Comm.
3. Czura CJ, Weyand AC, Baldwin MK, Recht M, Harada K, Le B, Benner CG, Luellen M, McWade MS, Covalin C, Khodaparast N. Reducing Heavy Menstrual Bleeding with Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation. Am J Obstet Gynecol.