Effect of Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Pain and Symptoms in Primary Dysmenorrhea
27 juin 2026 mis à jour par: Hüsniye Merve Demirer, Istanbul Gelisim University
The Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Pain, Menstrual Symptoms, Depression, and Anxiety in Young Adults With Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Single-Blind Controlled Trial
This study aims to investigate the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on menstrual pain, pain threshold, depression, anxiety, menstrual symptoms, premenstrual syndrome, and functional and emotional impact of dysmenorrhea in young adult women with primary dysmenorrhea.
Aperçu de l'étude
Statut
Complété
Les conditions
Description détaillée
Primary dysmenorrhea is a common condition affecting young women and is associated with significant physical and psychological symptoms. Non-invasive neuromodulation techniques such as transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) have gained attention as potential therapeutic approaches.
In this randomized controlled study, women diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea will be randomly assigned to either an active taVNS group or a sham stimulation group. The intervention will be applied during the luteal phase between two consecutive menstrual cycles, totaling 10 sessions.
Outcome measures will include pain intensity, pain threshold, depression, anxiety, menstrual symptoms, premenstrual syndrome severity, and functional and emotional impact of dysmenorrhea.
Type d'étude
Interventionnel
Inscription (Réel)
40
Phase
- N'est pas applicable
Contacts et emplacements
Cette section fournit les coordonnées de ceux qui mènent l'étude et des informations sur le lieu où cette étude est menée.
Lieux d'étude
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Avcılar
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Istanbul, Avcılar, Turquie (Türkiye)
- Istanbul Gelisim University
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Critères de participation
Les chercheurs recherchent des personnes qui correspondent à une certaine description, appelée critères d'éligibilité. Certains exemples de ces critères sont l'état de santé général d'une personne ou des traitements antérieurs.
Critère d'éligibilité
Âges éligibles pour étudier
- Adulte
Accepte les volontaires sains
Non
La description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Female participants aged 18 years and older
- Diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea (PD)
- Having regular menstrual cycles within the last 6 months
- Reporting menstrual pain intensity of at least 40 mm on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
- Willingness to participate in the study and providing informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of secondary dysmenorrhea
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Menstrual cycle length shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days
- History of pregnancy or childbirth, or current pregnancy
- Use of intrauterine device (IUD) or oral contraceptives
- Current use of sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, or psychotropic medication
- History of pelvic surgery or presence of pelvic pathology
- Presence of chronic, systemic, cardiovascular, or neurological diseases (e.g., diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia, bradycardia, hypotension, hypotonic disorders, etc.)
- Presence of ear implants, ear wounds, or ear infections
- Presence of implanted electronic devices such as pacemakers
Plan d'étude
Cette section fournit des détails sur le plan d'étude, y compris la façon dont l'étude est conçue et ce que l'étude mesure.
Comment l'étude est-elle conçue ?
Détails de conception
- Objectif principal: Traitement
- Répartition: Randomisé
- Modèle interventionnel: Affectation parallèle
- Masquage: Seul
Armes et Interventions
Groupe de participants / Bras |
Intervention / Traitement |
|---|---|
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Expérimental: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS)
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) 10 sessions during luteal phase
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Participants in the experimental group received real transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS).
The intervention was applied during the luteal phase between the first and second menstrual cycles.
A total of 10 sessions were administered.
Stimulation was delivered using a non-invasive device targeting the auricular branch of the vagus nerve.
Autres noms:
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Comparateur factice: Sham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
Sham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation 10 sessions during luteal phase
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Participants in the control group received sham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (placebo stimulation).
The procedure mimicked the real stimulation protocol in terms of duration and application schedule but without delivering effective vagal nerve stimulation.
A total of 10 sessions were administered during the luteal phase between the first and second menstrual cycles.
Autres noms:
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Que mesure l'étude ?
Principaux critères de jugement
Mesure des résultats |
Description de la mesure |
Délai |
|---|---|---|
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Menstrual pain intensity
Délai: Baseline (Cycle 1, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation). Cycle 2, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation (approximately one menstrual cycle [21-35 days] after baseline).
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Menstrual pain intensity is assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Scores range from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain.
Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
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Baseline (Cycle 1, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation). Cycle 2, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation (approximately one menstrual cycle [21-35 days] after baseline).
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Pain threshold
Délai: Baseline (Cycle 1, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation). Cycle 2, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation (approximately one menstrual cycle [21-35 days] after baseline).
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Pain threshold is assessed using a pressure algometer.
The pressure pain threshold is recorded in lb/cm².
Higher values indicate a higher pressure pain threshold and lower pain sensitivity.
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Baseline (Cycle 1, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation). Cycle 2, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation (approximately one menstrual cycle [21-35 days] after baseline).
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Mesures de résultats secondaires
Mesure des résultats |
Description de la mesure |
Délai |
|---|---|---|
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Depression level
Délai: Baseline (Cycle 1, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation). Cycle 2, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation (approximately one menstrual cycle [21-35 days] after baseline).
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Depression levels are assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
The BDI is a 21-item self-report questionnaire with total scores ranging from 0 to 63.
Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms.
Scores of 0-9 indicate minimal, 10-16 mild, 17-29 moderate, and 30-63 severe depressive symptoms.
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Baseline (Cycle 1, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation). Cycle 2, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation (approximately one menstrual cycle [21-35 days] after baseline).
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Anxiety level
Délai: Baseline (Cycle 1, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation). Cycle 2, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation (approximately one menstrual cycle [21-35 days] after baseline).
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Anxiety levels are assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).
The BAI is a 21-item self-report questionnaire with total scores ranging from 0 to 63.
Higher scores indicate more severe anxiety symptoms.
Scores of 0-17 indicate low anxiety, 18-24 moderate anxiety, and 25-63 high anxiety.
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Baseline (Cycle 1, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation). Cycle 2, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation (approximately one menstrual cycle [21-35 days] after baseline).
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Menstrual symptoms
Délai: Baseline (Cycle 1, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation). Cycle 2, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation (approximately one menstrual cycle [21-35 days] after baseline).
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Menstrual symptoms are assessed using the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ).
The questionnaire consists of 22 items across three subscales: Negative Effects/Somatic Complaints (13 items), Menstrual Pain Symptoms (6 items), and Coping Methods (3 items).
Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (never) to 5 (always).
Total scores range from 22 to 110, with higher scores indicating more severe menstrual symptoms.
Higher subscale scores indicate greater severity of symptoms within the corresponding domain.
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Baseline (Cycle 1, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation). Cycle 2, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation (approximately one menstrual cycle [21-35 days] after baseline).
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Premenstrual syndrome severity
Délai: Baseline (Cycle 1, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation). Cycle 2, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation (approximately one menstrual cycle [21-35 days] after baseline).
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Premenstrual syndrome symptoms are assessed using the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS).
The PMSS is a 44-item self-report questionnaire with nine subscales: depressive affect, anxiety, fatigue, irritability, depressive thoughts, pain, appetite changes, sleep changes, and bloating.
Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (never) to 5 (always).
Total scores range from 44 to 220, with higher scores indicating greater severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms.
Higher subscale scores indicate greater symptom severity within the corresponding domain.
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Baseline (Cycle 1, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation). Cycle 2, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation (approximately one menstrual cycle [21-35 days] after baseline).
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Functional and emotional impact of dysmenorrhea
Délai: Baseline (Cycle 1, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation). Cycle 2, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation (approximately one menstrual cycle [21-35 days] after baseline).
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Dysmenorrhea-related functional and emotional impact is assessed using the Functional and Emotional Dysmenorrhea Scale (FEDDS).
The FEDDS is a 14-item self-report questionnaire with two subscales.
Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (does not describe me at all) to 5 (describes me very well).
Total scores indicate the overall level of functional and emotional impairment due to dysmenorrhea, with higher scores indicating greater impairment.
Higher subscale scores indicate greater functional or emotional impact.
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Baseline (Cycle 1, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation). Cycle 2, Day 1 or Day 2 of menstruation (approximately one menstrual cycle [21-35 days] after baseline).
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Collaborateurs et enquêteurs
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Publications et liens utiles
La personne responsable de la saisie des informations sur l'étude fournit volontairement ces publications. Il peut s'agir de tout ce qui concerne l'étude.
Publications générales
- Hüsniye Merve Demirer. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in primary dysmenorrhea: effects on pain, menstrual symptoms, depression and anxiety. PhD Thesis, Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, Turkey, 2024. Available at: https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp
Dates d'enregistrement des études
Ces dates suivent la progression des dossiers d'étude et des soumissions de résultats sommaires à ClinicalTrials.gov. Les dossiers d'étude et les résultats rapportés sont examinés par la Bibliothèque nationale de médecine (NLM) pour s'assurer qu'ils répondent à des normes de contrôle de qualité spécifiques avant d'être publiés sur le site Web public.
Dates principales de l'étude
Début de l'étude (Réel)
1 juin 2023
Achèvement primaire (Réel)
30 janvier 2024
Achèvement de l'étude (Réel)
5 mars 2024
Dates d'inscription aux études
Première soumission
4 mai 2026
Première soumission répondant aux critères de contrôle qualité
27 juin 2026
Première publication (Réel)
6 juillet 2026
Mises à jour des dossiers d'étude
Dernière mise à jour publiée (Réel)
6 juillet 2026
Dernière mise à jour soumise répondant aux critères de contrôle qualité
27 juin 2026
Dernière vérification
1 juin 2026
Plus d'information
Termes liés à cette étude
Mots clés
Termes MeSH pertinents supplémentaires
Autres numéros d'identification d'étude
- 2023-23/113
Plan pour les données individuelles des participants (IPD)
Prévoyez-vous de partager les données individuelles des participants (DPI) ?
NON
Description du régime IPD
Individual participant data are not planned to be shared publicly due to privacy and confidentiality concerns.
De-identified aggregated data are reported in the publication.
Informations sur les médicaments et les dispositifs, documents d'étude
Étudie un produit pharmaceutique réglementé par la FDA américaine
Non
Étudie un produit d'appareil réglementé par la FDA américaine
Non
Ces informations ont été extraites directement du site Web clinicaltrials.gov sans aucune modification. Si vous avez des demandes de modification, de suppression ou de mise à jour des détails de votre étude, veuillez contacter register@clinicaltrials.gov. Dès qu'un changement est mis en œuvre sur clinicaltrials.gov, il sera également mis à jour automatiquement sur notre site Web .