Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to treat vestibulodynia: a randomised controlled trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in the treatment of vestibulodynia.

DESIGN:

Double-arm randomised placebo-controlled trial.

SETTING:

An outpatient department for vulval disease.

POPULATION:

Forty women with vestibulodynia, a vestibular discomfort mostly reported as a burning pain, occurring in the absence of relevant visible findings or a specific, clinically identifiable, neurological disorder.

METHODS:

Twice a week active TENS or sham treatment were delivered through a vaginal probe via a calibrated dual channel YSY-EST device. Women of both groups underwent 20 treatment sessions.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Visual analogue scale (VAS), the short form of the McGill-Melzack Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), the Marinoff Scale for dyspareunia and the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire (FSFI) were assessed at baseline, at the end of treatment and at follow up 3 months after the end of treatment.

RESULTS:

The VAS and SF-MPQ scores (6.2 +/- 1.9 and 19.5 +/- 11.9 before treatment, respectively) improved significantly in the active TENS group (2.1 +/- 2.7, P= 0.004 and 8.5 +/- 10.7, P= 0.001, respectively), but not in the placebo group. The Marinoff dyspareunia scale and the FSFI also showed a significant improvement.

CONCLUSIONS:

TENS is a simple, effective and safe short-term (3 months) treatment for the management of vestibulodynia.

• Authors: F Murina, V Bianco, G Radici, R Felice, M Di Martino, U Nicolini
• Journal: BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology (BJOG) Vol. 115 Issue 9 Pg. 1165-70 (Aug 2008) ISSN: 1471-0528 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18715435 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• Humans
• Pain Management
• Pain Measurement
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
• Treatment Outcome
• Vulvar Vestibulitis (therapy)