Induction of Labor by Cervical Ripening and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) (DETENS)

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Pain Management During Artificial Induction of Labor by Cervical Ripening.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for pain management during labor induction by cervical ripening.

Labor induction is a common obstetric procedure and cervical ripening may be associated with painful uterine contractions. Non-pharmacological analgesic methods such as TENS could help improve pain management during this phase. However, evidence regarding its effectiveness in this context remains limited.

This randomized, controlled, open-label monocentric study will compare the use of TENS in addition to usual analgesic care versus usual analgesic care alone in pregnant women undergoing labor induction with cervical ripening. The primary objective is to assess whether TENS reduces the need for neuraxial analgesia or delays its use during labor.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Labor Pain; Induction of Labor
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS); Other: Standard analgesic care

Detailed Description

Labor induction by cervical ripening is frequently performed in obstetric practice when continuation of pregnancy presents risks for the mother or fetus. Cervical ripening is commonly associated with painful uterine contractions that may lead to early use of pharmacological analgesia, including epidural analgesia.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-invasive and non-pharmacological analgesic technique based on the delivery of low-voltage electrical stimulation through skin electrodes. TENS has been used for pain management in various medical contexts, including labor, but evidence regarding its effectiveness specifically during cervical ripening remains limited.

The DETENS study is a randomized, controlled, open-label, monocentric interventional study conducted at the Intercommunal Hospital Center of Poissy-Saint-Germain-en-Laye. A total of 132 pregnant women requiring labor induction by cervical ripening will be enrolled and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either a TENS group or a control group receiving standard analgesic care.

Participants will be randomized when painful uterine contractions requiring analgesia occur during cervical ripening. In the experimental group, a TENS device will be placed and explained to the participant by the midwife responsible for the induction, while standard analgesic treatments remain available if needed. In the control group, participants will receive usual analgesic care according to routine clinical practice.

The primary outcome is a composite criterion defined by cervical dilation ≥3 cm at the time of neuraxial analgesia initiation or vaginal delivery without epidural analgesia. Secondary outcomes include duration of labor phases, mode of delivery, use of analgesic treatments, maternal childbirth experience, pain perception, maternal satisfaction, and postpartum psychological status assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale during postpartum hospitalization and at 8 weeks postpartum.

The study will be conducted over a 24-month inclusion period with follow-up extending to 8 weeks postpartum

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 132
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Pregnant women requiring labor induction by cervical ripening at the Intercommunal Hospital Center of Poissy-Saint-Germain-en-Laye will be screened for eligibility according to the following criteria.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women aged 18 years or older
• Gestational age ≥ 37 weeks of amenorrhea
• Indication for labor induction requiring cervical ripening
• Planned cervical ripening using oral misoprostol (Angusta)
• Singleton pregnancy
• Able to provide written informed consent
• Affiliated with or beneficiary of a social security system

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindication to labor induction by cervical ripening
• Contraindication to epidural analgesia
• Major fetal anomaly
• Maternal hypertension or hypotension
• Maternal pacemaker and/or cardiac rhythm disorders
• Presence of metallic prosthesis regardless of location
• Ongoing deep vein thrombosis or under treatment for thrombosis
• Epilepsy
• Fever at the time of inclusion
• Participant under legal protection (guardianship or curatorship)
• Inability to understand the French language

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Arm A - Experimental: TENS analgesia; Participants receive transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for pain management during cervical ripening for labor induction. The device is placed and its use explained by the midwife responsible for the induction. Standard analgesic treatments remain available if needed to complement pain management.	Device: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS); A TENS device is applied during cervical ripening for labor induction to provide non-pharmacological analgesia. The electrodes are placed on the participant's lower back by the midwife responsible for the induction, and the participant receives instructions on how to adjust the stimulation intensity according to her comfort. The device can be used throughout the cervical ripening period. Standard analgesic treatments remain available if needed according to usual clinical practice.; Other: Standard analgesic care; Participants receive usual analgesic care during cervical ripening for labor induction according to routine clinical practice. Pharmacological or non-pharmacological analgesic treatments may be offered by the midwife depending on the participant's needs.
Active Comparator: Arm B - Active Comparator: Standard analgesic care; Participants receive standard analgesic care during cervical ripening for labor induction. The midwife responsible for the induction offers usual analgesic treatments according to the participant's needs.	Other: Standard analgesic care; Participants receive usual analgesic care during cervical ripening for labor induction according to routine clinical practice. Pharmacological or non-pharmacological analgesic treatments may be offered by the midwife depending on the participant's needs.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cervical dilation at analgesia initiation or delivery without epidural analgesia	Composite endpoint defined by the occurrence of at least one of the following events: Cervical dilation ≥3 cm at the time of neuraxial analgesia initiation (epidural or spinal anesthesia), or Vaginal delivery without the use of epidural analgesia.	At the time of neuraxial analgesia initiation or at delivery (for participants without epidural analgesia)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Duration of labor phases	Duration of the different phases of labor, including the latent phase, active phase, and second stage of labor.	At delivery
Mode of delivery	Mode of delivery recorded as vaginal delivery (spontaneous or instrumental) or cesarean section.	At delivery.
Epidural analgesia rate	Proportion of participants receiving epidural analgesia during labor.	At delivery
Analgesic treatments administered during cervical ripening	Type and frequency of pharmacological analgesic treatments administered during cervical ripening.	At delivery
Childbirth experience using the Questionnaire for Assessing the Childbirth Experience	Maternal childbirth experience assessed using the Questionnaire for Assessing the Childbirth Experience (QACE), a 25-item self-reported questionnaire using a 4-point Likert scale. Items are scored from 1 to 4 and negatively worded items are reverse-coded. Higher scores indicate a more negative childbirth experience.	Day 2 postpartum
Pain intensity during labor induction	Pain intensity during labor induction (numeric rating scale) Pain intensity during the labor induction phase assessed using a numeric rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity.	Day 2 postpartum
Postpartum psychological status	Maternal psychological status assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a self-reported questionnaire ranging from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms.	Day 2 postpartum
Postpartum psychological status	Postpartum psychological status (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS]) Maternal psychological status assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a self-reported questionnaire ranging from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms.	Week 8 postpartum
Maternal satisfaction at 8 weeks postpartum(numeric rating scale)	Maternal satisfaction regarding the cervical ripening and induction process assessed using a numeric rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction.	Week 8 postpartum
Recall of pain during cervical ripening (numeric rating scale)	Maternal recall of pain perceived during cervical ripening assessed using a numeric rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity, as recalled by the participant.	Week 8 postpartum

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: HOT Noémie

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): April 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 16, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 20, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 20, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: TENS; labor pain; induction of labor
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Labor Pain; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation; Anesthesia and Analgesia; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Analgesia; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2026-A00012-47

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No