Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation to Improve Female Sexual Dysfunction Symptoms: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objectives: To perform a pilot study using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on the dorsal genital nerve and the posterior tibial nerve for improving symptoms of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in women without bladder problems. We hypothesize that this therapy will be effective at improving genital arousal deficits.

Materials and methods: Nine women with general FSD completed the study. Subjects received 12 sessions of transcutaneous dorsal genital nerve stimulation (DGNS; n = 6) or posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS; n = 3). Stimulation was delivered for 30 min at 20 Hz. Sexual functioning was evaluated with the female sexual functioning index (FSFI), and surveys were also given on general health, urological functioning, and the Patients' Global Impression of Change (PGIC) after treatment. Surveys were given before treatment (baseline), after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, and 6 weeks after the completion of stimulation sessions.

Results: The average total FSFI score across all subjects significantly increased from 15.3 ± 4.8 at baseline to 20.3 ± 7.8 after six sessions, 21.7 ± 7.5 after 12 sessions, and 21.3 ± 7.1 at study completion (p < 0.05 for all time points). Increases were observed in both DGNS and PTNS subjects. Significant FSFI increases were seen in the subdomains of lubrication, arousal, and orgasm, each of which is related to genital arousal. Bladder and general health surveys did not change across the study. PGIC had a significant increase.

Conclusions: This study provides evidence that transcutaneous stimulation of peripheral nerves has the potential to be a valuable therapeutic tool for women with FSD.

Keywords: Dorsal genital nerve; electrical stimulation; female sexual dysfunction; genital arousal; posterior tibial nerve.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None

© 2018 International Neuromodulation Society.

Figures

Figure 1.

Study CONSORT flow diagram.

Figure 2.

Average total FSFI score for all subjects (PTNS and DGNS) at each survey time point. Error bars give standard error of the mean. Significant improvement from baseline occurred at each time point. Individual icons are unique for each participant, with PTNS participants indicated with stars and DGNS participants indicated with circles and squares. White, grey, and black shading inside of each icon further distinguishes between different subjects. Within each study week, icon order from left to right indicates study participation order. (*, p

Figure 3.

Individual FSFI sub-domain scores for all subjects. The pooled mean is given by the horizontal bar. Individual icons are unique for each participant, following the convention in Fig. 2. Within each study week, icon order from left to right indicates study participation order. (*, p