Frequently asked questions

The Samphire Headband is a wearable neurostimulation device that gently stimulates the brain regions involved in mood and pain regulation. It pairs with the Samphire App, where our patented CycleSync™ algorithm personalizes your sessions to your symptoms, cycle, and life stage.

The Samphire Headband comes in two models:

• Nettle™ is a CE-certified medical device available in the UK and EU, clinically validated for managing mood and pain symptoms associated with menstruation.
• Lutea™ is a consumer wellness device designed to support balance, calm, and focus throughout the cycle and beyond. It is available without prescription in the US, Canada, and select other markets.

Both models share the same core hardware and pair with the Samphire App for personalized protocols. To understand the science, visit our support centre.

Each session is 20 minutes. How often you use it is personalized to you — the Samphire App and CycleSync™ algorithm build a schedule based on your symptoms, cycle, and life stage.

Some people only need it on 5–6 days per cycle (often in the days before symptoms appear). Others — those managing chronic conditions like endometriosis, perimenopausal symptoms, or postpartum recovery — use it 5 times per week or close to daily. Your schedule will be visible in the app, and we adjust it as you log how you're feeling.

For best results, follow the schedule consistently. You may start to feel benefits sooner, but we recommend completing three full cycles (or three months of use, if you don't cycle) before evaluating how well it's working — everyone's body and brain respond differently.

To ensure correct fit and placement, follow the user manual or watch the instructional videos in the Samphire App.

Some users start to feel benefits within the first few sessions. For the most reliable read, we recommend using your Samphire Headband consistently for at least three full menstrual cycles (or three months if you don't currently cycle). Everyone's body and brain respond differently, so the trajectory varies — the Samphire App will help you track changes in mood, sleep, and pain over time so you can see what's shifting.

If you stay consistent, you are likely to see benefits much sooner. Your dedicated Care Advisor is here to support you across this journey.

Some users describe a mild tingling sensation where the device rests — that's a normal effect of the gentle electrical current and usually fades within a few minutes. The sensation also declines with continued use.

Whether you feel it or not does not affect how well it works.

Yes. Sessions are hands-free once the Samphire Headband is in place, so many people use them while reading, working, or relaxing. Some users notice a mild tingling sensation at first, which usually fades within a few minutes — whether you feel it or not does not affect how well it works.

Yes — you can share your Samphire Headband as long as each person has their own Samphire App account so that CycleSync™ can personalize for them and tracking stays accurate. Each account has free basics; a paid subscription unlocks full CycleSync™ personalization (see the App & Personalization FAQ for details). For full guidance on sharing and best practices, visit our Support Centre.

Yes — neurostimulation is a safe, non-invasive, and non-hormonal technology that has been used for over 30 years in clinical and research settings to modulate brain activity involved in pain and mood regulation.

The technology has been studied and used clinically for over 30 years, and there has never been a serious adverse event reported in relation to its use.

If you'd like to read the scientific consensus report on safety, it's available here.

Yes — daily 20-minute sessions are safe for most users. The Samphire App and CycleSync™ algorithm will tell you how often to use your Samphire Headband based on your symptoms and life stage. Some people use it daily; others use it on 5–6 days per cycle.

You should not use neurostimulation if you are under 18, pregnant, have epilepsy or a history of seizures, have neurological implants, have active suicidal thoughts or severe psychiatric illness, or have cranial lesions, tumours, or other defects in the skull. See our contraindications guide for full details.

You should not use the Samphire Headband if you are:

• Under 18 years old
• Pregnant or may be pregnant
• Have epilepsy or a history of seizures
• Have neurological implants (cochlear implants, deep-brain stimulators, etc.)
• Have active suicidal thoughts or severe psychiatric illness
• Have cranial lesions, tumours, or other defects in the skull

If you have any medical concerns, please review our contraindications guide and consult your healthcare provider before using neurostimulation.

Yes. Many users find the Samphire Headband particularly helpful for managing menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) and mood symptoms during this time, and CycleSync™ often schedules sessions through the early days of the period for that reason.

The Samphire Headband should not be used during pregnancy.

There's no cause for concern if you used the device before realizing you were pregnant — neurostimulation hasn't been studied for use during pregnancy, which is why we list it as a contraindication, but no known safety issue has been reported. If you're pregnant, pause use and consult your healthcare provider before resuming.

For breastfeeding: there is no known interaction between the Samphire Headband and breastfeeding, and many of our postpartum users continue to use it while nursing. We recommend starting only after your healthcare provider has cleared you postpartum.

Yes. Neurostimulation can be safely used alongside most medications, including antidepressants, hormonal contraception, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Many people use the Samphire Headband alongside HRT to support mood, focus, and pain symptoms that HRT alone may not fully address.

It should not be used at the same time as another active neurostimulation device. Before using the Samphire Headband, review the user manual carefully and, if you have any doubt, consult your healthcare professional.

The Samphire Headband is designed to support people across the full hormonal lifespan — not only those who currently menstruate. CycleSync™ adapts the protocol to where you are.

We currently support people managing:

• Menstrual conditions: PMDD, PMS, endometriosis, adenomyosis, dysmenorrhea (period pain)
• Hormonal–metabolic: PCOS (also known as Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome / PMOS)
• Pelvic pain: chronic pelvic pain, vulvodynia, pelvic floor dysfunction
• Life-stage transitions: perimenopause, postmenopause, postpartum
• Cycle-suppressed states: on hormonal contraception, post-hysterectomy
• Trying to conceive (TTC): the Samphire Headband is non-pharmacological and has no known fertility interaction

If your situation isn't on this list, write to us at support@samphireneuro.com — we'll help you figure out whether the Samphire Headband fits.

Because neurostimulation targets the brain pathways involved in pain and emotional regulation, many users find the Samphire Headband helpful for PMS, PMDD, dysmenorrhea, and perimenopausal symptoms, even when symptoms overlap between conditions.

The Samphire Headband (Nettle™) is currently approved (CE-certified) for primary dysmenorrhea (period pain) and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in the UK and EU. We are expecting clearance for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain by the end of 2026 — our evidence is currently under regulatory review.

The Samphire Headband (Lutea™) is a wellness device in the US and other markets — not approved as a treatment for any specific condition, but designed to support balance, calm, and focus throughout the cycle and beyond.

The Samphire Headband is designed to help with both the pain and mood symptoms associated with hormonal change, which substantially overlap with PMDD.

In our PMDD-specific study (a collaboration with Queen Mary University of London, concluded May 2026), 82.4% of women experienced a statistically significant reduction in luteal-phase anxiety — outperforming placebo and most antidepressants, without drugs or hormones. The findings are currently being written up for peer review and are under review by the appropriate regulatory authorities for the formal approval of the Samphire Headband as a therapeutic treatment option for PMDD.

Recruitment announcements for upcoming PMDD studies are shared through our newsletter and Instagram, or you can see current trials here.

The Samphire Headband is not yet approved as a medical treatment for endometriosis — CE clearance for endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain is currently expected by the end of 2026. The Nettle™ model is being piloted with the NHS in London right now, with the goal of NHS trust reimbursement for users in need from 2028 onwards. Many current users report benefits today.

Many users with endometriosis report that neurostimulation helps them manage cramps, fatigue, and mood symptoms more comfortably throughout their cycle. For endometriosis, CycleSync™ typically schedules sessions 5 times per week distributed across the whole cycle, rather than concentrated in one phase — sustained baseline support rather than flares.

Yes. The Samphire Headband and CycleSync™ are designed to support people whose cycles are unpredictable or absent, not only those with regular cycles.

For perimenopausal users, where cycles vary in length, intensity, and predictability, CycleSync™ switches from cycle-anchored scheduling to a daily or near-daily protocol that supports mood, sleep, hot flushes, and brain fog through the transition.

For postmenopausal users, the algorithm typically recommends a symptom-anchored schedule — sessions clustered around the days when vasomotor symptoms, sleep disruption, or mood shifts hit hardest.

The Samphire Headband works alongside HRT and other approaches to perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms — not only instead of them (though it is also a great option for those not wanting a hormonal option). If you're already on HRT or considering it, the Samphire Headband can support the symptoms that HRT alone may not fully address.

The Samphire Headband and CycleSync™ are designed to handle this. The algorithm doesn't depend on a regular 28-day cycle to know when to schedule sessions.

If your cycle is irregular — whether because of perimenopause, PCOS / PMOS, postpartum recovery, hormonal contraception, post-hysterectomy, or any other reason — CycleSync™ adjusts. Instead of anchoring sessions to specific cycle phases, it builds a schedule around the symptoms you log in the Samphire App.

The same applies if you don't currently have periods at all. The algorithm uses symptom patterns, life stage, and the goals you set as the inputs — not cycle data alone.

The Samphire Membership is designed specifically to support our users' unique needs and journeys with the check-ins and personalized advice from their dedicated Samphire Care Advisor. Many of our users have a special set of circumstances and/or overlapping conditions manifesting in symptoms impacting their mood, cognition and pain, and we are used to supporting these needs.

If you're not sure whether neurostimulation is the right fit for you, you can always reach out to check in with support@samphireneuro.com

The Samphire App is the companion app that pairs with your Samphire Headband. It's where personalization and the setup of your neurostimulation schedule happens.

When you set up the app, we'll ask you a few questions about your symptoms, cycle, life stage, and what you're hoping to support. From there, our patented CycleSync™ algorithm picks the right stimulation pattern for you — adjusting the timing, frequency, and protocol of sessions across your cycle (or across your week, if you don't have a regular cycle).

CycleSync™ was trained on neurotechnology data from thousands of people spanning every hormonal life stage — menstruating, perimenopausal, postmenopausal, postpartum, on hormonal contraception, trying to conceive, and post-hysterectomy. As you log how you're feeling in the app, the algorithm continues to refine your recommendations over time. This algorithm is owned by Samphire and is the only available personalization option on the market designed for women's needs and lives.

You log how you're feeling in the app — short prompts that take seconds, covering mood, pain, sleep, energy, and any symptom flares. You can also log your period, ovulation, and other cycle events.

The Samphire App turns this into a dashboard so you can see what's shifting over time — across cycles, across months, alongside your session history. CycleSync™ uses the same data to refine your protocol — when symptoms cluster differently from what we predicted, the algorithm adjusts the schedule.

Tracking is private to you. We use aggregated, de-identified data to improve CycleSync™ for everyone, but your individual entries are never shared. See our privacy FAQ for the full picture.

No — the Samphire App offers a free tier with the basics, so you can use your Samphire Headband from day one. The free tier covers core session timing, basic tracking, and the patented algorithm that builds your schedule based on your symptoms and life stage.

With the Samphire Membership, you also get access to a Care Advisor that helps you adjust your protocols as your needs change, and gives you access to the full protocol library and tracking dashboard. For most users, the subscription is what makes the difference between using a neurostimulation device and having a personalized plan that adapts with you and makes sure you hit your goals.

Memberships can be started and cancelled at any time. If you share your Samphire Headband with another person, each person needs their own Samphire App account.

The Samphire Headband (available as Nettle™ in the UK and EU, and Lutea™ in the US, Canada, and select other markets) is backed by extensive research, including:

• Published peer-reviewed studies demonstrating the efficacy of non-invasive neurostimulation for symptoms of hormonal change — including mood, pain, sleep, and cognition
• Clinical trials conducted in partnership with leading universities (see below)
• Real-world data from thousands of users, which trains our patented CycleSync™ algorithm and continues to refine personalized protocols over time

You can learn more about the science behind our approach on our science page.

We collaborate with world-leading research institutions including:

• Stanford University
• University College London (UCL)
• Imperial College London
• Harvard Medical School
• Queen Mary University London
• Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)
• Vilnius University
• Lithuanian National Cancer Institute

These partnerships shape both the Samphire Headband itself — across the Nettle™ and Lutea™ models — and the CycleSync™ algorithm that powers personalized protocols inside the Samphire App.

Non-invasive neurostimulation has been studied for over 30 years, with thousands of published papers examining its effects on the brain and body.

The literature shows that targeted transcranial stimulation can modulate brain activity and neuroplasticity, with documented benefits for:

• Mood and emotional regulation
• Pain management
• Sleep quality
• Cognitive function and focus

The Samphire Headband applies these principles in a wearable, at-home form factor. Our patented CycleSync™ algorithm — trained on neurotechnology data from thousands of people across every hormonal life stage — picks the stimulation pattern that fits your symptoms, cycle, and stage of life. To dig into the science, visit our science page.

Yes. Recent and active studies include:

• PMDD (concluded May 2026) — our collaboration with Queen Mary University of London found that 82.4% of women experienced a statistically significant reduction in luteal-phase anxiety with the Samphire Headband, outperforming placebo and most antidepressants, without drugs or hormones. Findings are being written up for peer review and are under review by regulatory authorities for the formal approval of the Samphire Headband as a therapeutic treatment option for PMDD.
• Endometriosis & chronic pelvic pain — currently being piloted with the NHS in London, with the goal of NHS trust reimbursement for users in need from 2028 onwards.
• Active studies on PMDD follow-up, endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, and perimenopausal symptoms are ongoing with partners including the NHS, UCLH, and international institutions.

Sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Instagram for recruitment announcements. You can also see the full list of current trials on our website here.

Your data is treated as private health information from the moment it leaves your phone.

• Cycle, symptom, mood, and sleep data you enter into the Samphire App is encrypted in transit and at rest.
• We are GDPR compliant.
• We never sell your personal data to third parties.
• Data used to improve the CycleSync™ algorithm is aggregated and de-identified before any analysis or model training. We do not train on or share data that could be linked back to you as an individual.

Our full privacy policy is available on our website, and if you have a specific question, write to us at support@samphireneuro.com.

Yes — you can export your data directly from the app, which many users do to share it with their clinicians, or request that we delete it, at any time. Contact us at support@samphireneuro.com and we'll process your request in line with GDPR timelines.

Deleting your account also stops your data being used in any future aggregated analysis. Data we have already aggregated and de-identified before your request is technically no longer linked to you and cannot be retroactively removed from past aggregate datasets — this is consistent with how GDPR treats de-identified data.

Yes — US customers can pay for the Samphire Headband (Lutea™) or the Samphire Membership with HSA/FSA funds. At checkout, choose Pay with HSA/FSA and you'll be guided through our HSA/FSA provider to confirm eligibility and pay with your HSA/FSA card.

If there's any issue with your HSA/FSA card, you can pay with any card and claim a reimbursement instead — you'll be emailed full details at checkout.

Eligibility is confirmed in line with HSA/FSA guidelines. For more information, see our blog post on HSA/FSA savings.

Yes — at checkout choose to split your purchase into interest-free instalments.

Availability varies by region, and eligibility criteria applies.

If you don't see a pay-later option that works for you, please contact our support team and we'll do our best to help.

Standard times vary by destination:

• USA, UK, and European Union: 2–7 business days
• Rest of world: 10–14 business days for most locations; can vary for particularly remote destinations

For more details about delivery to your location, see our shipping information page.

Yes — the Samphire Headband is available internationally.

If you don't see your country listed at checkout, please make sure you're checking out on the correct region of our store. If you need help, contact us at support@samphireneuro.com.

We offer free standard shipping on orders to the UK, EU, and USA. Other international shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on your delivery address. Wherever possible, express shipping is offered as a paid option at checkout.

Once your order has been dispatched, you'll receive an email with your tracking number and a link to track your delivery. If you haven't received a tracking email within 48 hours of placing your order, please check your spam folder or contact our support team.

With a Samphire Membership (monthly or annual), you receive the Samphire Headband as part of your active membership — it's yours to use for as long as your membership is active.

If you cancel and no longer have an active membership, we'll ask you to return your Headband to us. If you'd prefer to own your device outright, you can buy the Samphire Headband as a one-off purchase instead of joining the membership.

If you have any questions, just contact our support team.

We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all purchases worldwide. You are responsible for the cost of returning the item to us, and all items must be in their original condition and packaging.

For purchasers in the European Union and United Kingdom, we offer an additional 90-day money-back guarantee on the Samphire Headband (Nettle™), provided you can provide proof of usage during the 90-day window, or explain why you were unable to use Nettle™ as recommended.

Please read the full Returns Policy for details on eligibility, exclusions, and how to start a return.

To initiate a return, contact our support team.