Use of intravaginal electrical stimulation for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain: a randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the efficacy of intravaginal electrical stimulation (IVES) or placebo in women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) with no apparent cause.

STUDY DESIGN:

A double-blind, crossover, randomized clinical trial in which 26 women were randomly allocated to active (group I, n = 15) or placebo (group II, n = 11) IVES. All women underwent 10 30-minute, twice-weekly sessions. The groups were then crossed over for a further 10 sessions. Pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) before and after each series.

RESULTS:

At the end of the first series, 5 of 11 women who initiated with the placebo had a VAS pain score > 3 (p = 0.0253); however, when they crossed over to active IVES, only 1 had a VAS pain score > 3 at the end of the series (p = 0.0143). In the 15 women who initiated with active IVES, 2 had a score > 3 at the end of the series (p = 0.0005); however, when they crossed over to the placebo, 3 had a VAS pain score > 3 at the end of treatment (p = 0.0833). After the 2 sessions, 54.6% who initiated with placebo and 80% who initiated with active IVES had a VAS pain score < 3.

CONCLUSION:

Intravaginal electrical stimulation was more effective than a placebo in alleviating pain in women with CPP.

• Authors: Nicole Oliveira de Bernardes, Andrea Marques, Camila Ganunny, Luis Bahamondes
• Journal: The Journal of reproductive medicine (J Reprod Med) 2010 Jan-Feb Vol. 55 Issue 1-2 Pg. 19-24 ISSN: 0024-7758 [Print] United States
• PMID: 20337203 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Chronic Disease (therapy)
• Cross-Over Studies
• Double-Blind Method
• Electric Stimulation Therapy (methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Pain Measurement
• Pelvic Pain (therapy)
• Treatment Outcome
• Vagina