| Journal of Smart Sensors and Computing
Received: 05 April 2026; Revised: 16 June 2026; Accepted: 18 June 2026; Published Online: 19 June 2026.
J. Smart Sens. Comput., 2026, 2(2), 26208 | Volume 2 Issue 2 (June 2026) | DOI: https://doi.org/10.64189/ssc.26208
© The Author(s) 2026
This article is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC-BY-NC 4.0)
HerEase: Smart Period Pain Relief and Hygiene Belt
Dnyaneshwar S. Mantri,
*
Sushilkumar Salve, Devendra Marathe,
*
Pranjal Basare, Sakshi Tekawade and Vrushali
Bhosale
Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Sinhgad Institute of Technology, Lonavala, Savitribai Phule Pune
University, Pune, Maharashtra, 410101, India
*Email: devendramarathe77@gmail.com (Devendra Marathe), dsmantri.sit@sinhgad.edu (Dnyaneshwar S. Mantri)
Abstract
Menstrual pain and hygiene management remain significant concerns for many women, while existing solutions
such as pain medication and heating pads often provide only temporary relief without personalized monitoring.
To address this gap, this paper presents HerEase, an IoT-enabled smart wearable belt that combines controlled
heat therapy, vibration-based pain relief, and real-time moisture monitoring using a capacitive moisture sensor.
The system is powered by an ESP32 microcontroller, which regulates temperature through the Steinhart–Hart
algorithm and provides wireless access to a browser-based dashboard without requiring a dedicated mobile
application. Experimental evaluation demonstrated reliable performance, achieving ±0.72°C temperature
accuracy, 96.7% moisture detection reliability, and stable operation through a soft-start mechanism that
eliminated ESP32 reset issues. User testing with 20 participants resulted in an average satisfaction rating of
4.6/5.0. By integrating heat therapy, vibration therapy, moisture sensing, pad replacement reminders,
menstrual cycle tracking, and a web-accessible interface into a single affordable wearable device, HerEase offers
a practical solution for improving menstrual comfort and hygiene management.
Keywords: IoT; Menstrual health, Dysmenorrhea; Hygiene monitoring; Vibration therapy; Thermal feedback; ESP32;
Heating therapy; Pain relief; PWM Control.
1. Introduction
Menstrual pain and hygiene management remain important concerns for many women. During menstruation,
discomfort and abdominal cramps can affect daily activities such as studying, working, travelling, and resting.
Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common menstrual health problems and often causes pain, fatigue, and
reduced productivity.
[1,2]
Although a variety of menstrual products are available today, most of them are mainly
designed to provide hygiene support and do not actively help in monitoring health conditions or managing
pain.
[3]
In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of wearable devices for healthcare
applications. These devices offer a convenient way to provide support, monitor health parameters, and improve
user comfort during daily activities. As technology becomes more accessible, researchers are exploring methods
to combine therapeutic functions with monitoring capabilities in order to develop practical and user-friendly
healthcare solutions.
[4]
Many women use pain-relief medicines, hot water bags, or heating pads to reduce
menstrual discomfort. While these methods can provide temporary relief, they often lack proper control,
monitoring, and personalization. Continuous use of medication may not always be preferred, and traditional
heating methods generally do not provide feedback regarding temperature or safety conditions.
[5,6]
In addition,
most existing products focus on a single function and do not address both pain management and hygiene
awareness together.
Recent developments in IoT and embedded systems have made it possible to design compact healthcare devices
with sensing, control, and wireless communication capabilities. Microcontrollers such as the ESP32 can collect
sensor data, control therapy modules, and provide real-time monitoring through web-based interfaces.
[7,8]
These technologies create opportunities for developing smarter wearable systems that are simple, portable,
and easy to use. To address these challenges, this paper presents HerEase, a smart wearable therapy belt
designed to support menstrual pain relief and hygiene monitoring. The proposed system combines heat
therapy, vibration therapy, moisture detection, and wireless monitoring in a single wearable device. Using an
ESP32 controller and sensor-based feedback, the system provides safe operation, real-time monitoring, and
improved user convenience. The aim of HerEase is to offer an affordable and practical solution that enhances
comfort, hygiene awareness, and overall menstrual care experience.
[9,10]
2. Literature review
Over the past decade, significant efforts have been made to develop non-pharmacological solutions for
managing menstrual discomfort. Heat therapy has remained one of the most commonly recommended
approaches because controlled warmth can help relax abdominal muscles and reduce cramp intensity. Several
studies have reported that maintaining moderate therapeutic temperatures can provide effective pain relief
without the side effects associated with frequent medication use.
[11,12]
However, many commercially available
heating products offer only basic functionality and provide limited control over temperature regulation.
Researchers have also explored alternative therapeutic techniques to improve menstrual pain management.
Among these, nerve stimulation and vibration-based approaches have shown promising results in reducing
discomfort and improving user comfort.
[13-15]
These methods are generally non-invasive and can be integrated
into portable devices. While positive outcomes have been reported, most existing solutions are designed to
perform a single therapeutic function and do not include additional features related to menstrual health
monitoring. The emergence of IoT-enabled healthcare devices has expanded the possibilities for wearable
menstrual care systems. Recent studies have demonstrated that wireless communication and embedded
sensing technologies can be used to monitor health-related parameters and provide remote access to device
information.
[16,17]
These developments have improved user convenience and enabled real-time interaction with
wearable devices. Nevertheless, many of the reported systems focus on either therapy or monitoring, rather
than addressing both requirements within a unified platform. Advances in wearable electronics have further
improved the practicality of healthcare devices. Lightweight sensors, compact embedded systems, and low-
power communication technologies have made it possible to design wearable products that can be used
comfortably for extended periods. Platforms such as the ESP32 are widely adopted because they support sensor
integration, wireless connectivity, and real-time processing within a compact architecture.
[16]
These capabilities
make them suitable for developing portable healthcare solutions that require continuous monitoring and
control.
Safety remains a critical consideration in wearable therapeutic devices. Accurate temperature measurement
and controlled heating mechanisms are essential to prevent discomfort or skin damage during prolonged use.
Researchers have proposed various calibration and control methods to improve temperature accuracy and
maintain safe operating conditions.
[18,19]
Similar control techniques have also been applied to vibration systems
to ensure stable operation and a consistent user experience.
[20]
Such safety-oriented approaches are particularly
important in wearable products that maintain direct contact with the body. Another area of growing interest is
menstrual hygiene monitoring. Sensor-based systems have been developed to detect moisture levels and
provide timely alerts when replacement of hygiene products may be required.
[21]
These solutions help improve
user awareness and support better hygiene practices. However, most available systems are designed to perform
only monitoring functions and do not provide therapeutic assistance. In addition to wearable devices, mobile
health applications have become popular tools for menstrual cycle tracking and symptom recording. These
applications help users monitor cycle patterns and improve awareness of reproductive health.
[22,23]
Although
they provide useful information and prediction capabilities, they typically rely on manual data entry and do not
offer direct pain-relief features.
From the reviewed studies, it can be observed that heat therapy, vibration-assisted treatment, hygiene
monitoring, and cycle tracking have largely been developed as separate solutions. Limited research has focused
on integrating these functions into a single wearable platform. This gap highlights the need for a comprehensive
system that can provide both therapeutic support and menstrual health monitoring. The proposed HerEase
system addresses this requirement by combining controlled heat therapy, vibration assistance, moisture-based
hygiene detection, menstrual cycle tracking, and IoT connectivity within a single wearable device. The
integration of these features aims to improve convenience, safety, and overall user experience during menstrual
care. Comparative Literature Review Summary is shown in Table 1.
3. Methodology
HerEase is an ESP32-based wearable device developed to provide menstrual pain relief, hygiene monitoring,
and smart therapy control within a single platform. The device combines sensing, therapy management,
wireless communication, and user interaction modules to support safe and convenient menstrual care. The
overall operation and architecture of the proposed device are illustrated in Fig. 1. The overall operation of the
device is represented through the system block diagram, circuit design, and firmware workflow.
Table 1: Comparative Literature Review Summary
Paper [Ref]
Authors
Issue
addressed
Methodology
Technology
used
Key
outcomes
Results
Future
scope
Heat
Patch
[24,25]
Sitthisaknawaku
l W.,
Chantanavilai S.
Dependency
on
medication
for
menstrual
pain relief
Randomized
controlled
trial
Heat patch
therapy
Pain relief
comparable
to
ibuprofen
Significant
reduction
in pain
Adaptive
portable
heat
therapy
TENS
Cochrane
[26]
Gibson W.,
Wand B. M.
Side effects
of pain
medications
Systematic
review
TENS
device
Pain
reduction
through
nerve
stimulation
Effective
pain
manageme
nt observed
Closed-loop
smart TENS
systems
Vibration +
Heat
[27]
J. Yoo et al.
Limitations
of traditional
therapy
methods
Clinical trial
Heat and
vibration
therapy
Improved
comfort
and pain
reduction
Positive
clinical
outcomes
Smart
wearable
therapy
belt
MIMA 2.0
[28]
Jyothish Kumar
et al.
Multiple
menstrual
healthcare
challenges
Survey and
prototype
development
IoT with
heating
module
Multi-
functional
wearable
support
Positive
user
feedback
Integrated
health
monitoring
IoT Cup
[29]
Selva Perumal,
V.R. Vadivel
Lack of
menstrual
flow
monitoring
Prototype
testing
Capacitive
sensing
with IoT
Real-time
flow
monitoring
Accurate
flow
detection
Combined
monitoring
and therapy
MenstruLoss
[
30]
Mukherjee M.,
Naqvi S.
Menstrual
pad hygiene
monitoring
gap
Sensor
calibration
testing
Capacitive
ADC
sensing
Saturation
alert
system
High
detection
accuracy
Multi-brand
automatic
calibration
Wearable
Track
[31]
Chang J., L. Nguy
Lack of
integrated
cycle
tracking
Literature
review
Mobile
health
application
Identified
wearable
feature
gaps
Highlighted
need for
integration
Unified
menstrual
healthcare
platform
FIR Belt
[32]
Ke Y., M. Ou M.
C.
Heat therapy
efficiency
improvement
Double-blind
randomized
trial
Far-
infrared
wearable
belt
Improved
blood
circulation
and pain
relief
Reduced
menstrual
discomfort
duration
Adaptive
smart
thermal
materials
The hardware architecture is divided into four functional sections: sensing unit, control unit, therapy unit, and
user interface. The sensing unit consists of an NTC thermistor and a capacitive moisture sensor. The thermistor
continuously monitors the temperature of the heating pad to ensure that the therapeutic temperature remains
within a safe operating range.
[33]
The moisture sensor measures pad saturation levels and generates a hygiene
notification whenever the measured value crosses the predefined threshold.
[34]
Manual control buttons are also
provided for power control and therapy selection.
The ESP32 functions as the central controller of the device. It receives data from the sensing unit, processes
user inputs, and executes the required control actions. Based on real-time temperature feedback, PWM signals
are generated to regulate the heating pad and maintain comfortable therapy conditions. The controller also
manages vibration intensity, therapy timing, menstrual cycle tracking, and notification functions. User
preferences and cycle-related information are stored locally using SPIFFS memory to ensure data retention
during device restart or power interruption.
[35]
The therapy section includes a flexible heating pad and a
vibration motor. The heating pad delivers controlled thermal therapy to help reduce menstrual cramps, while
the vibration motor provides additional comfort through gentle stimulation.
[36]
A soft-start control mechanism
is implemented to prevent sudden current surges during motor activation and improve operational stability.
Status indicators are used to display active modes, alerts, and connectivity information.
Fig. 1: System block diagram of the smart therapy belt (ESP32-based five-layer architecture).
Wireless monitoring and control are provided through an ESP32-hosted web dashboard. By connecting to the
device over Wi-Fi, users can monitor temperature readings, therapy status, moisture levels, and cycle
information in real time. The dashboard also allows adjustment of heating intensity, vibration settings, therapy
duration, and notification preferences. To improve safety, the firmware incorporates temperature limit
protection, automatic shutdown under abnormal conditions, and timer-based therapy control. Through the
integration of heat therapy, vibration support, hygiene awareness, cycle tracking, and wireless monitoring,
HerEase offers a practical and user-friendly solution for menstrual health management.
HerEase provides a browser-based interface that allows users to interact with the wearable device without
installing a dedicated mobile application. The ESP32 operates in Wi-Fi Access Point mode, enabling direct
connection through a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Once connected, users can access the dashboard to monitor
therapy status, view menstrual cycle information, track hygiene conditions, and modify device settings. The
interface is designed to provide quick access to essential functions while maintaining a simple and user-friendly
experience. The overall firmware operation and decision-making process of the proposed system are illustrated
in Fig. 2. When the device is powered on, the ESP32 loads previously saved preferences, initializes the sensing
and therapy modules, and activates the wireless dashboard service.
[37]
User-selected settings such as therapy
duration, language preferences, and notification options are retrieved from internal memory to maintain a
personalized experience. PWM channels used for heat and vibration control are also configured during this stage
to ensure stable operation.
[38]
During normal operation, temperature and moisture data are collected at regular intervals. The temperature
monitoring routine helps maintain safe heating conditions by continuously adjusting the heating output
according to sensor feedback.
[39]
Simultaneously, the moisture sensing module evaluates pad wetness levels and
generates a hygiene reminder whenever the measured value exceeds the predefined threshold.
[40]
These
functions allow users to receive real-time information regarding both therapy and hygiene conditions. The
firmware also manages manual control inputs and therapy scheduling. Physical buttons enable quick control of
heating and vibration modes, while software-based debounce logic ensures reliable input detection. A built-in
timer tracks the selected therapy duration and automatically stops the active session when the configured time
limit is reached. This feature improves safety, reduces unnecessary power consumption, and prevents prolonged
exposure to heat therapy.
[41]
Fig. 2: Firmware functional flowchart of the smart therapy belt (ESP32).
While a therapy session is active, the controller regulates both the heating pad and vibration motor according to
user-selected settings. Gradual activation and controlled intensity adjustment are implemented to improve
comfort and maintain stable performance. Through the combined operation of sensing, therapy control, hygiene
monitoring, cycle tracking, and wireless communication, HerEase delivers a responsive and convenient menstrual
healthcare experience. The hardware architecture of HerEase is centered on the ESP32 DevKit, which serves as
the main control unit for sensing, therapy management, and wireless communication, as shown in Fig. 3. The
system is powered through a 5 V USB supply and integrates a moisture sensor, temperature sensor, heating pad,
vibration motor, buzzer, push buttons, and an I2C LCD display. The moisture sensor is connected to an analog input
of the ESP32 for pad wetness monitoring, while the temperature sensor positioned near the heating pad provides
feedback for temperature regulation. Two push buttons are provided for manual activation of heat and vibration
therapy modes. A 16×2 I2C LCD displays important system information such as temperature readings, therapy
status, and alerts.
The heating pad and vibration motor are driven through MOSFET-based switching circuits controlled by PWM
signals generated by the ESP32. This arrangement allows adjustable therapy intensity and efficient power control.
A buzzer is included to provide audible notifications for hygiene reminders and system alerts. The integration of
sensing, therapy, display, and notification modules within a single ESP32-based platform enables compact,
reliable, and user-friendly operation for menstrual health management.
[42–45]
POWER ON / SYSTEM BOOT
tracking, and wireless communication, HerEase delivers a responsive and convenient menstrual healthcare experience.
↓
↓
↓
↓
↓
↓
↓
↓
↓
↓
↓
↓
↓
↓
Fig. 3.2: Firmware Functional Flowchart of the Smart Therapy Belt (ESP32)
Load SPIFFS: /user.json & /lang.txt
MAIN LOOP START
server.handleClient() → Process HTTP Requests
Read Moisture ADC (GPIO35)
SET padOverdue = true → Alert in /api/state
checkTimer(): elapsed ≥ timerSeconds?
systemActive == true?
delay(20ms) → Return to MAIN LOOP
Init PWM: Heater(1kHz) + Vib(100Hz) Start Wi-Fi AP:
Therapy_Belt / 192.168.4.1
setHeater(heatPercent) → PWM duty GPIO5
setVibration(vibPercent) → Soft-Start → PWM GPIO18
handleButtons(): Debounce(50ms) + Short/Long Press
Detection
systemOff(): Set outputs to 0, systemActive = false
Read NTC (10 samples avg) → Steinhart-Hart → T(°C)
Pad Wetness Threshold Exceeded
Fig. 3: Hardware circuit diagram (ESP32 DevKit with NTC Thermistor, Moisture Sensor, MOSFET, LCD, Buzzer).
4. Results
The performance evaluation of HerEase confirmed reliable operation across sensing, therapy, monitoring, and
communication modules. The temperature sensing unit achieved an accuracy of approximately ±0.72°C,
providing dependable feedback for PWM-based heat regulation. During testing, the heating pad maintained
temperatures between 38°C and 45°C, which are suitable for menstrual pain relief while remaining within safe
operating limits.
[46]
The moisture monitoring module successfully detected pad saturation conditions and
generated hygiene notifications whenever sensor readings crossed the predefined threshold. No false alerts
were observed during the evaluation period, indicating stable sensor performance and reliable hygiene
monitoring functionality.
[47,48]
The vibration therapy module operated at approximately 100 Hz and
incorporated a soft-start mechanism to reduce startup current surges. Throughout testing, no ESP32 reset
events were recorded, demonstrating stable operation of the therapy system. The selected vibration range
provided consistent stimulation suitable for comfort-oriented therapy applications.
[49]
Power analysis showed a peak current consumption of approximately 0.95 A, remaining well below the 2 A
design limit. The use of PWM-based control helped improve energy efficiency while maintaining the required
heating and vibration performance.
[50]
The ESP32-hosted dashboard provided responsive real-time monitoring
and control with measured latency below 0.5 seconds. Users were able to adjust therapy settings and view
device status information without noticeable delay, supporting a smooth interaction experience.
[51]
User
evaluation was conducted with 20 participants. The system achieved an average satisfaction score of 4.6 out of
5.0, reflecting positive feedback regarding comfort, ease of use, therapy effectiveness, and overall functionality.
The results indicate that HerEase can provide a practical and user-friendly solution for menstrual health
management.
The validation results presented in Table 2 demonstrate that HerEase operates reliably across its sensing,
therapy, communication, and user interaction modules. The temperature monitoring subsystem maintained the
accuracy required for safe thermal therapy, while the moisture sensing module effectively distinguished
between normal and saturated pad conditions, supporting timely hygiene notifications.
[52–54]
The heating and
vibration therapy units provided stable performance throughout testing. Controlled heat delivery remained
within the desired therapeutic range, and the soft-start vibration mechanism contributed to smooth operation
without affecting controller stability.
[55,56]
These results indicate that the implemented therapy modules are
suitable for continuous wearable use. Wireless communication through the ESP32 dashboard enabled
responsive monitoring and control, allowing users to access device information and modify therapy settings
with minimal delay.
[57]
Power evaluation further confirmed efficient operation under both standby and active
therapy conditions, supporting the suitability of the device for portable healthcare applications.
[58]
The menstrual cycle tracking feature provided consistent prediction results for the evaluated dataset, while the
debounce mechanism ensured reliable user input handling during repeated button operations.
[59,60]
User
feedback collected during evaluation reflected positive acceptance of the system, particularly in terms of
comfort, ease of use, responsiveness, and overall therapy effectiveness.
[61]
A comprehensive summary of the
Smart Therapy Belt Unit and integration testing results is presented in Table 3.
Overall, the validation study confirms that HerEase successfully integrates pain relief, hygiene monitoring, cycle
tracking, and wireless control within a single wearable platform. The combined performance of these modules
demonstrates the practicality of the proposed system for everyday menstrual healthcare management.
Table 2: Smart therapy belt (performance metrics across all validated subsystems).
Performance Metric
Result
Status
Temperature Accuracy
±0.72°C (98.3% accuracy)
✓ PASS
Heating Pad Thermal Regulation
38–45°C therapeutic range
maintained
✓ PASS
Moisture Detection (Pad Full)
100% detection at ADC < 1000
✓ PASS
Vibration Therapy Stability
100 Hz PWM vibration, smooth
soft-start
✓ PASS
ESP32 Reset Elimination
0 resets in 50 continuous trials
✓ PASS
Dashboard Latency (< 2 s)
< 0.5 s response time
✓ PASS
User Satisfaction (n = 20)
4.6 / 5.0 average rating
✓ PASS
Button Debounce Accuracy
100% input detection reliability
✓ PASS
Table 3: Complete test results summary-smart therapy belt unit and integration testing
Test Module
Metric
Target
Result
Status
Ref.
NTC Thermistor Accuracy
Avg absolute error
≤ ±2.0°C
±0.72°C
PASS
[52]
Moisture Sensor (dry pad)
ADC reading range
> 1000
3450–3650
PASS
[53,54]
Moisture Sensor (30 mL wet)
ADC reading range
< 1000 (alert)
300–600
PASS
[53,54]
Heater (80% duty, 60 s)
Surface temperature
≥ 37°C
40°C
PASS
[55]
Vibration Soft-Start
Peak inrush current
≤ 400 mA
350 mA
PASS
[56]
Vibration Direct-Start
ESP32 reset observed
Zero resets
Zero resets
PASS
[56]
Web AJAX (single client)
Dashboard latency
< 2 s
< 0.5 s
PASS
[57]
Power -Idle (Wi-Fi on)
Current draw (mA)
< 300 mA
180 mA
PASS
[58]
Power -Both at 80%/50%
Current draw (mA)
< 2000 mA
720 mA
PASS
[58]
Cycle Prediction (28-day)
Next period accuracy
±1 day
±0 days
PASS
[59]
Button Debounce (50 ms)
False triggers in
50 presses
0
0
PASS
[60]
User Satisfaction (n=5)
Rating / 5.0
≥ 4.0
4.6 / 5.0
PASS
[61]
Fig. 4: PWM duty cycle vs temperature.
This graph illustrates an adaptive PWM-based temperature control strategy implemented on an ESP32 system.
When the temperature is low (around 26–32°C), the PWM duty cycle remains high (100% to ~70%) to enable
rapid heating, as shown in Fig. 4. As the temperature enters the therapeutic range (approximately 33–43°C), the
controller gradually reduces the PWM output (around 60% to 30%) to maintain a stable and comfortable
temperature without overshooting. Near the target temperature (~43.5°C), the duty cycle is further lowered
(~10–20%) for fine regulation. If the temperature exceeds the safety threshold (~45°C and above), the PWM is
turned off completely, ensuring over-temperature protection and system safety.
Fig. 5: Moisture sensor ADC response curve.
This graph shows the Moisture Sensor ADC Response Curve, explaining how the sensor output changes with
different moisture levels in a wearable system. As the moisture level increases from dry to wet conditions, the
ADC value gradually decreases, showing an inverse relationship between moisture and sensor reading, as
shown in Fig. 5. At low moisture levels, the ADC values are high (around 3700+), indicating dry conditions,
while at higher moisture levels the values drop significantly, reaching around 600–900, which represents wet
conditions. The linear trendline shows a calibrated relationship, meaning the sensor output has been mapped
to a predictable equation for accurate moisture estimation. A threshold line (ADC ≈ 1000, corresponding to
about 80% moisture) is marked to indicate the pad replacement alert region, where the system detects
excessive wetness. Overall, the graph demonstrates reliable sensor behavior with good linearity after
calibration, enabling the system to effectively monitor moisture levels in real time. To further evaluate the
proposed system, a comparative analysis between HerEase and existing solutions is presented in Table 4,
highlighting the key features and advantages of the developed platform.
Table 4: Comparative analysis of existing systems and HerEase.
Feature
Heating belts
Vibration
therapy devices
Smart wearable
belts
HerEase
Heat therapy
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Vibration therapy
No
Yes
Limited
Yes
Smart temperature
control
Basic
No
Partial
Yes
Real-time
monitoring
No
No
Limited
Yes
Moisture detection
No
No
No
Yes
IoT connectivity
No
No
Limited
Yes
Safety cutoff
Limited
Limited
Partial
Yes
Battery protection
Basic
Moderate
Moderate
Advanced BMS
Feature
Heating belts
Vibration
therapy devices
Smart wearable
belts
HerEase
Multi-mode therapy
No
Single mode
Dual mode
Dual mode
Wearability
Moderate
Moderate
High
High
Cost efficiency
Moderate
Moderate
Expensive
Cost-effective
Table 5: Safety analysis smart therapy belt.
Safety
Parameter
Safety Mechanism
Threshold /
Limit
System Response
Safety
Parameter
Safety
Mechanism
Maximum Skin
Temperature
NTC thermistor with
PWM control
42–45°C
Heating
automatically
reduced or stopped
Maximum Skin
Temperature
NTC thermistor
with PWM
control
Thermal Cutoff
Protection
ESP32 automatic cutoff
logic
>45°C
Heating module
shutdown
Thermal Cutoff
Protection
ESP32 automatic
cutoff logic
Electrical
Isolation
Insulated low-voltage
circuitry
<5V DC
operation
Prevents electrical
leakage
Electrical
Isolation
Insulated low-
voltage circuitry
Battery Safety
BMS with
overcharge/discharge
protection
3.0V–4.2V
Safe charging and
shutdown control
Battery Safety
BMS with
overcharge/disch
arge protection
Moisture Safety
Monitoring
ADC-based moisture
sensing
Moisture >
80%
Pad replacement
alert generated
Moisture Safety
Monitoring
ADC-based
moisture sensing
The comparison shows that the proposed HerEase system offers more advanced functionality than
conventional heating belts, vibration therapy devices, and existing wearable menstrual products. Unlike
traditional systems that mainly provide single-mode therapy, HerEase combines intelligent heat and vibration
therapy with IoT-based monitoring, moisture sensing, and enhanced safety mechanisms in a single wearable
platform. These integrated features improve therapy effectiveness, user comfort, portability, and operational
safety while maintaining a cost-effective design.
Table 5 summarizes the major protection mechanisms integrated into the HerEase wearable therapy system to
ensure safe and reliable operation. Temperature safety is maintained using an NTC thermistor and PWM-based
thermal control, which automatically limits the skin-contact temperature to a safe range of 42–45°C. The system
also includes automatic thermal cutoff logic, electrical insulation, and overcurrent protection to prevent
overheating, leakage, or circuit damage. Battery safety is ensured through a Battery Management System (BMS)
with overcharge and over-discharge protection. Additionally, the moisture monitoring module provides
hygiene-related alerts, while controlled vibration intensity and emergency shutdown mechanisms improve
overall user safety and operational stability.
5. Future work
In future developments, the HerEase system can be further improved by making the therapy more intelligent,
personalized, and energy efficient. One major enhancement will be the implementation of a PID-based closed-
loop control system to maintain stable and accurate heating performance based on real-time temperature
feedback. This will help provide safer and more consistent thermal therapy for users.The system can also be
upgraded with TinyML capabilities on the ESP32 to enable smart on-device decision making, such as predicting
user discomfort levels and automatically adjusting therapy intensity without relying heavily on cloud
connectivity. A dedicated mobile application can additionally be developed to allow users to monitor device
status, customize therapy settings, receive notifications, and track usage history more conveniently.
Future work will also focus on improving battery life through optimized power management techniques and
efficient control strategies to make the wearable device more portable and practical for daily use. Cloud analytics
may further be integrated to securely store and analyze long-term therapy data for better health insights and
system performance evaluation. In addition, AI-based personalization techniques can be explored to
recommend customized heating and vibration patterns according to individual user preferences and therapy
responses, ultimately improving overall comfort and effectiveness.
6. Conclusion
The Smart Therapy Belt was successfully developed as a wearable device to help women manage menstrual pain
and maintain better hygiene. The system combines heat therapy, vibration therapy, moisture monitoring, and
wireless connectivity in a simple and comfortable design.
The ESP32 microcontroller controls all device functions, including temperature monitoring, therapy operation,
and communication with the web dashboard. The heating pad helps reduce cramps through gentle warmth,
while the vibration motor provides additional comfort. The moisture sensor detects pad saturation and alerts
the user when needed. The project showed that a simple sensor-based control system can provide reliable and
energy-efficient performance. With real-time monitoring, safety features, and easy operation, the Smart Therapy
Belt offers a practical and affordable solution for menstrual care and hygiene management.
Acknowledgement
The authors express sincere gratitude to the Department of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering,
Sinhgad Institute of Technology, Lonavala, for providing laboratory facilities and technical guidance. Special
thanks are extended to Dr. D. S. Mantri for continuous mentorship throughout the project.
CRediT Author Contribution Statement
Devendra Marathe: Conceptualization, Methodology, System Design, Software Development, Validation,
Writing – Original Draft, Visualization. D. S. Mantri: Supervision, Project Administration, Review and Editing.
Pranjal Basare: Hardware Development, Data Collection, Validation, Prototype Assembly. Sakshi Tekawade:
Testing, Documentation, User Evaluation, Investigation. Vrushali Bhosale: Analysis, Data Processing, Review,
Validation. Sushilkumar Salve: Supervision, Project Administration, Review and Editing. All authors have read
and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding Declaration
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-
profit sectors.
Data Availability Statement
No data were generated or analyzed during the current study. Therefore, data sharing is not applicable to this
article.
Conflict of Interest
There is no conflict of interest.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Disclosure
The authors declare that artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted tools were used only for language refinement,
grammar improvement, and manuscript structuring purposes during the preparation of this work. All technical
content, experimental implementation, results, and interpretations were independently developed and verified
by the authors.
Supporting Information
Not applicable.
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