Radiofrequency and Pelvic Floor Exercise for Primary Dysmenorrhea
Effectiveness of Radiofrequency and Physical Exercise on Symptoms Associated With Primary Dysmenorrhea: a Randomised Clinical Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether radiofrequency (a heat-producing electrotherapy applied through an intravaginal electrode and over the abdomen), a supervised pelvic floor and core exercise programme, or both together reduce menstrual pain in women aged 18 to 35 years with primary dysmenorrhea. The main question it aims to answer is: do the three treatments differ in menstrual pain intensity (0-10 visual analogue scale)? Researchers will also compare pain quality, use of painkillers, quality of life, sexual function, premenstrual symptoms, pelvic floor muscle function and satisfaction with treatment, up to 1 year after treatment.
One hundred and twenty women will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:
- Radiofrequency: eight weekly sessions of about 30 minutes.
- Exercise: 16 supervised group sessions of 45 minutes (twice a week for 8 weeks).
- Combined: both treatments. Participants will complete questionnaires, a pain-medication diary and a pelvic floor examination before treatment and 1 week, 6 months and 1 year after treatment.
Descripción general del estudio
Estado
Condiciones
Intervención / Tratamiento
Descripción detallada
Background. Primary dysmenorrhea affects more than 60% of women under 25 years and is a leading cause of school and work absenteeism. First-line treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or oral contraceptives fails in 20-25% of women and causes side effects. Heat therapy reduces menstrual pain, and capacitive-resistive radiofrequency (RF) has reduced pain in chronic pelvic pain. Exercise is the reference conservative treatment for primary dysmenorrhea, but no trial has compared intravaginal RF, exercise and their combination.
Design. Randomised clinical trial with three parallel arms and 1:1:1 allocation, conducted at a gynaecology clinic in Elche, Spain (NG Clínicas - Juana Lafaja Mazuecos) in collaboration with Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera. At baseline, a gynaecologist performs a transvaginal ultrasound in the proliferative phase to exclude secondary dysmenorrhea and to record uterine position. An investigator blinded to the baseline assessments generates the allocation sequence with SAS 9.4; allocation is kept in sealed, opaque, numbered envelopes. The statistician is blinded to allocation. Participants and therapists cannot be blinded.
Interventions. RF (Capenergy C500 Urogyne, capacitive transfer): eight weekly sessions. Each session starts with an athermic application for 10 minutes, with the active plate on the abdomen and the passive plate on the lumbar region. This is followed by an intravaginal application with a covered, lubricated MJS electrode for 20 minutes at a high thermal sensation (up to 43-44 °C), sweeping from 3 to 9 o'clock towards the vaginal fornix according to uterine position. Exercise: 16 group sessions (up to 8 participants) of 45 minutes, twice a week for 8 weeks, led by a physiotherapist. The programme combines pelvic floor and core activation, strength, aerobic and relaxation exercises, with progression after week 4. The combined group receives both.
Outcomes. The primary outcome is menstrual pain intensity on a visual analogue scale. Secondary outcomes are the McGill Pain Questionnaire, analgesic consumption (diary), EQ-5D, Female Sexual Function Index, Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool, pelvic floor muscle function (PERFECT scheme, modified Oxford scale and Phenix manometry) and treatment satisfaction. Assessments take place at baseline, 1 week, 6 months and 1 year after the end of treatment.
Sample size and analysis. A total of 120 women (40 per arm), assuming 25% attrition, α = 0.05 and 80% power. Intention-to-treat analysis using repeated-measures ANOVA (group × time) in SPSS 29.
Ethics. Approved by the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera (CEEI25/670, 7 April 2025).
Tipo de estudio
Inscripción (Estimado)
Fase
- No aplica
Contactos y Ubicaciones
Estudio Contacto
- Nombre: SERGIO MONTERO NAVARRO, PhD
- Número de teléfono: 67604 +34 965 42 64 86
- Correo electrónico: sergio.montero@uchceu.es
Copia de seguridad de contactos de estudio
- Nombre: Cristina Orts-Ruiz, PhD
- Correo electrónico: cristina.orts@uchceu.es
Criterios de participación
Criterio de elegibilidad
Edades elegibles para estudiar
Acepta Voluntarios Saludables
Géneros elegibles para el estudio
Descripción
Inclusion Criteria:
- Women aged 18 to 35 years with a regular menstrual cycle (24 to 35 days).
- Normal genital ultrasound without clinical signs of organic disease.
- Primary dysmenorrhea present in all menstrual cycles since menarche.
- Menstrual pain of 5 or more on a 0-10 visual analogue scale.
- Body mass index between 20 and 30 kg/m².
Exclusion Criteria:
- Gynaecological findings consistent with secondary dysmenorrhea (pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine fibroids, polyps, endometriosis, adenomyosis, cervicitis).
- Pregnancy, or breastfeeding at the time of the study.
- Use of an intrauterine contraceptive device.
- Physiotherapist-supervised pelvic floor muscle training, or radiofrequency to the pelvic region, in the previous 12 months.
- Inability to understand study information (cognitive impairment).
- Peripheral or central neurological disorders.
- Previous pelvic surgery.
- Skin disease or wounds in the treatment area.
- Active urinary tract or vaginal infection.
Plan de estudios
¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?
Detalles de diseño
- Propósito principal: Tratamiento
- Asignación: Aleatorizado
- Modelo Intervencionista: Asignación paralela
- Enmascaramiento: Único
Armas e Intervenciones
Grupo de participantes/brazo |
Intervención / Tratamiento |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: Radiofrequency
Eight weekly sessions of capacitive radiofrequency: athermic abdominal-lumbar application (10 min) followed by intravaginal application (20 min). |
Capenergy C500 Urogyne (capacitive transfer; 0.8, 1 and 1.2 MHz; temperature sensor). (1) Athermic application for 10 min with the active plate on the abdomen and the passive plate on the lumbar region. (2) Intravaginal application with a covered, lubricated MJS electrode for 20 min at a high thermal sensation (up to 43-44 °C), sweeping from 3 to 9 o'clock; the electrode orientation and passive plate position (lumbosacral or abdominal) depend on uterine position on ultrasound. Eight sessions at 7-day intervals. Temperature reached and delivered energy (kJ) are recorded each session. |
|
Comparador activo: Therapeutic exercise
Supervised pelvic floor and core exercise programme in groups of up to 8: 45-minute sessions twice a week for 8 weeks (16 sessions). |
First session individual, with anatomy, breathing and technique checked by digital testing. The following sessions are group-based: pelvic floor and transversus activation, glute bridge variations, resisted expiration and apnoea exercises, balance and motor control, squats and lunges, planks, and kettlebell work from week 4. Each session ends with active stretching and relaxation. Two different sessions per week for 8 weeks, 45 min each. |
|
Experimental: Radiofrequency + therapeutic exercise
Both interventions over the same 8-week period. |
Capenergy C500 Urogyne (capacitive transfer; 0.8, 1 and 1.2 MHz; temperature sensor). (1) Athermic application for 10 min with the active plate on the abdomen and the passive plate on the lumbar region. (2) Intravaginal application with a covered, lubricated MJS electrode for 20 min at a high thermal sensation (up to 43-44 °C), sweeping from 3 to 9 o'clock; the electrode orientation and passive plate position (lumbosacral or abdominal) depend on uterine position on ultrasound. Eight sessions at 7-day intervals. Temperature reached and delivered energy (kJ) are recorded each session. First session individual, with anatomy, breathing and technique checked by digital testing. The following sessions are group-based: pelvic floor and transversus activation, glute bridge variations, resisted expiration and apnoea exercises, balance and motor control, squats and lunges, planks, and kettlebell work from week 4. Each session ends with active stretching and relaxation. Two different sessions per week for 8 weeks, 45 min each. |
¿Qué mide el estudio?
Medidas de resultado primarias
Medida de resultado |
Medida Descripción |
Periodo de tiempo |
|---|---|---|
|
Menstrual pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale)
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline and 1 week after the end of the 8-week intervention
|
Menstrual pain on a 0-10 cm visual analogue scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain). Higher scores indicate worse pain |
Baseline and 1 week after the end of the 8-week intervention
|
Medidas de resultado secundarias
Medida de resultado |
Medida Descripción |
Periodo de tiempo |
|---|---|---|
|
Menstrual pain intensity during follow-up (VAS)
Periodo de tiempo: 6 months and 1 year after the end of the intervention
|
0-10 cm VAS as for the primary outcome. |
6 months and 1 year after the end of the intervention
|
|
Pain quality (McGill Pain Questionnaire)
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline, and 1 week, 6 months and 1 year after the end of the 8-week intervention.
|
Pain descriptors chosen from 20 subclasses, each with a specific score. Higher scores indicate greater pain. |
Baseline, and 1 week, 6 months and 1 year after the end of the 8-week intervention.
|
|
Analgesic consumption
Periodo de tiempo: Each menstrual cycle during the 8-week intervention
|
Number of analgesic doses taken for menstrual pain per cycle, recorded in a diary (date, time, drug and amount). |
Each menstrual cycle during the 8-week intervention
|
|
Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D)
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline, and 1 week, 6 months and 1 year after the end of the 8-week intervention.
|
EuroQol-5D, five dimensions scored at 3 levels, plus a 0-100 visual analogue scale of health status. Higher VAS scores indicate better health. |
Baseline, and 1 week, 6 months and 1 year after the end of the 8-week intervention.
|
|
Sexual function (FSFI)
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline, and 1 week, 6 months and 1 year after the end of the 8-week intervention.
|
Female Sexual Function Index, total score (range 2-36) over the previous 4 weeks. Scores of 26.55 or lower indicate sexual dysfunction; higher scores indicate better function. |
Baseline, and 1 week, 6 months and 1 year after the end of the 8-week intervention.
|
|
Premenstrual symptoms (PSST)
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline, and 1 week, 6 months and 1 year after the end of the 8-week intervention.
|
Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool: 14 symptom items (total 0-42; higher scores indicate more severe symptoms) and 5 items on functional impact. |
Baseline, and 1 week, 6 months and 1 year after the end of the 8-week intervention.
|
|
Pelvic floor muscle function (PERFECT scheme and modified Oxford scale)
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline, and 1 week, 6 months and 1 year after the end of the 8-week intervention.
|
Digital vaginal assessment: power (modified Oxford 0-5), endurance (s), repetitions and fast contractions (number per 10 s). |
Baseline, and 1 week, 6 months and 1 year after the end of the 8-week intervention.
|
|
Intravaginal pressure (manometry)
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline, and 1 week, 6 months and 1 year after the end of the 8-week intervention.
|
Phenix Liberty manometer with an air-filled probe: resting tone and mean of three maximal contractions held for 10 sec. |
Baseline, and 1 week, 6 months and 1 year after the end of the 8-week intervention.
|
|
Treatment satisfaction
Periodo de tiempo: 1 week after the end of the intervention
|
Five-point Likert scale (1 = very dissatisfied, 5 = very satisfied). |
1 week after the end of the intervention
|
Otras medidas de resultado
Medida de resultado |
Medida Descripción |
Periodo de tiempo |
|---|---|---|
|
Adverse events
Periodo de tiempo: From the first session to 1 year after the intervention
|
Number of participants with adverse events (e.g. burns, marked irritation or persistent pain), by group. |
From the first session to 1 year after the intervention
|
Colaboradores e Investigadores
Patrocinador
Colaboradores
Investigadores
- Investigador principal: Cristina Orts-Ruiz, PhD, CEU Cardenal Herrera University
Fechas de registro del estudio
Fechas importantes del estudio
Inicio del estudio (Estimado)
Finalización primaria (Estimado)
Finalización del estudio (Estimado)
Fechas de registro del estudio
Enviado por primera vez
Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad
Publicado por primera vez (Actual)
Actualizaciones de registros de estudio
Última actualización publicada (Actual)
Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad
Última verificación
Más información
Términos relacionados con este estudio
Palabras clave
Términos MeSH relevantes adicionales
Otros números de identificación del estudio
- CEEI25/670
Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)
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Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio
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