The Future of Period Care Is Here - and It’s Designed to Actually Work
The wearable heat pad changing period care, one cycle at a time
Forget leaky wheat bags and pink plastic. rae is the wireless, design-led heat pad rethinking how we manage period and pelvic pain. In this smart, no-fluff piece, Jo Barry, owner of Scarlet, shares how lived experience sparked a product (and a movement) that’s challenging the way we care for periods.
For decades, period care has barely evolved. Despite all the technology in our pockets and the conversations we’re finally having about women's health, most people with periods are still relying on outdated tools, wheat bags that go cold, hot water bottles that leak, and products that are either embarrassingly clinical or offensively pink.
But change is coming. And it’s not coming from multinational pharmaceutical giants or splashy corporate wellness campaigns. It’s being led by small, purpose-driven brands rooted in lived experience. Brands like mine.
I’m Jo, owner of Scarlet, a period wellness company built out of sheer frustration, stubbornness, and a deep belief that we deserve better. At the centre of what we do is rae, a wearable, wireless heat pad designed to support period and pelvic pain. It’s sleek, safe, and actually works… I know because I designed it from scratch in Melbourne with people like me in mind.
Let’s talk about rae
If you’ve ever tried to soothe a cramping uterus with a microwaved wheat bag, you’ll understand why rae exists. It’s a curved, splash-resistant heat pad made from soft, PFAS-free silicone. It charges via USB, heats up quickly, and lasts for up to five hours on a single charge - all without cords, gel, or adhesives. You simply tuck it under your waistband and get on with your day.
Stylish enough to sit on a beauty shelf, discreet enough to wear under your clothes, and durable enough to become your daily go-to, rae was designed in Melbourne in collaboration with local engineers and industrial designers. This wasn’t a rebrand or a tweak on an existing idea, we built it from the ground up.
And I say we, but the truth is, for the first few years, it was just me - testing prototypes, chasing down certifications, remortgaging my house to fund tooling and manufacturing, and learning more about batteries than I ever thought I’d need to.
Why heat, and why now?
Heat has long been used to soothe menstrual cramps - it’s one of the oldest forms of period relief we know. But modern heat solutions haven’t kept up with modern life. Most options are either tethered to a wall or packed with chemical gels that barely hold temperature. Some even burn skin. Trust me, I’ve tried them all.
rae offers something better: consistent, wearable warmth that moves with you, not something that sidelines you or screams “I’m on my period.” It helps ease discomfort and creates a sense of calm in a way that feels empowering, not pitiful.
While rae isn’t a medical device, it was designed with serious intention, inspired by my own years battling stage 4 endometriosis and adenomyosis. After countless surgeries, failed fertility treatments, early menopause from hormone suppression, and eventually a hysterectomy, I knew we didn’t just need more options - we needed better ones.
Enter femtech - the industry rewriting the rules
We’re in the middle of a femtech boom. But for me, this isn’t just about flashy apps or cycle trackers. It’s about real solutions for real periods, the kind most people still don’t talk about in public.
Femtech matters because it’s finally recognising that menstruation, fertility, menopause, and pelvic health aren’t “niche.” They’re essential. And for too long, the products available to us were either made by people who don’t understand the experience - or worse, didn’t care to.
Products like rae represent a shift. A move away from shame. A move toward everyday tools that are actually useful, beautifully designed, and made with the complexity of real bodies in mind.
A small brand with big ambition
Scarlet isn’t backed by venture capital or corporate interests. It’s self-funded, indie, and proudly Australian. And that matters because when you build something from scratch while living the problem you’re trying to solve, it changes how you approach every decision.
I didn’t create rae because I saw a market gap. I created it because I was in pain, and nothing out there helped. I’ve sat in waiting rooms being told to “just take the pill.” I’ve cancelled plans. Missed work. Lost relationships. I’ve cried on the bathroom floor, holding a wheat bag to my belly, knowing there had to be a better way.
Scarlet is my answer to all of that. A brand that refuses to reduce period care to pink packaging and euphemisms. We talk about flare-ups, leaks, sex, shame, fertility grief, all the stuff glossy wellness brands like to avoid.
And while rae is our hero product, it’s just one part of a bigger ecosystem. From our super-soft period undies to our magnesium spray and calming bubble baths, everything we create is about making people feel more supported, less dismissed, and a little more in control of their own cycle.
Designed for life, not just “that time of the month”
What makes rae special isn’t just the design or the materials - though both were obsessively considered. It’s the intention behind it. rae was never about “fixing” periods. It was about giving people something that respected their body and their experience.
It’s the product you wear while walking to the café. Or curled up on the couch. Or sitting in a boardroom pretending everything’s fine while your uterus has other plans. It’s practical. It’s portable. And it doesn’t look like something from a hospital supply store - or a too-good-to-be-true online deal destined for landfill.
Where we’re headed next
Since launching, rae has found a home in thousands of bathrooms, handbags, and carry-ons. We’ve recently expanded into the UK and Europe, which still feels surreal. But even as we grow, our roots remain firmly in Australia where the idea was born, built, and brought to life.
The future of period care isn’t mass-produced and one-size-fits-all. It’s thoughtful. Grounded in experience. Responsive to what people actually need. And if I have anything to do with it, it will be beautiful too because practical doesn’t have to mean ugly. We’re not here to make noise. We’re here to make a difference because the bar’s been too low for too long. And we’re done settling.
Jo Barry is the founder of rae, a wearable period heat device. With three heat settings and 5+ hours of power, it’s USB-rechargeable, super slimline, and fits into our custom period undies pouch. Through rae and her brand, Scarlet Period, she aims to provide practical relief, spark change in the medical community and foster a greater understanding of women’s health issues.
