Superficial heat therapy in women's health

Female-specific pain conditions such as dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis, and pain associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause are highly prevalent and frequently impair quality of life. Superficial heat therapy (SHT) has long been used for pain relief and is well established in the management of musculoskeletal pain through mechanisms including vasodilation, improved microcirculation, muscle relaxation, and modulation of peripheral and central nociceptive pathways. This narrative review aims to synthesize current scientific evidence and clinical experience regarding the role of SHT in managing pain across multiple stages of women's health.

A targeted literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus for studies published between 2010 and 2026, supplemented by earlier relevant publications. Search terms included "superficial heat therapy," "thermotherapy," "heat wrap," "dysmenorrhoea," "endometriosis," "labor pain," "postpartum pain," "breastfeeding-related musculoskeletal pain," and "menopause-related musculoskeletal pain." Evidence was evaluated and integrated with the authors' clinical experience.

Evidence suggests that SHT may provide clinically meaningful pain relief in several female-specific conditions. In dysmenorrhoea and endometriosis-related pelvic pain, SHT has shown analgesic efficacy comparable in some studies to commonly used analgesics. During labor, thermal interventions such as warm compresses are associated with reduced pain perception and improved maternal comfort. In postpartum and breastfeeding contexts, SHT may alleviate lumbopelvic and musculoskeletal pain related to biomechanical stress and prolonged postures. In peri- and postmenopausal women, SHT can reduce musculoskeletal discomfort and improve functional outcomes. Wearable heat patches represent a practical option due to their sustained, controlled heat delivery and compatibility with daily activities.

SHT represents a safe, non-invasive, and accessible adjunctive modality for the management of abdominal and MSK pain across different stages of women's lives. Although it should not replace standard pharmacological or surgical treatments, it may complement conventional therapies and support patient self-management strategies. The integration of SHT into routine clinical care may enhance patient self-management, reduce reliance on pharmacological therapies, and improve quality of life across different stages of women's health. Future well-designed clinical studies are needed to standardize treatment protocols, establish optimal application parameters, and further clarify its role in conditions where current evidence remains limited or largely extrapolated.