Effect of Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Pain and Symptoms in Primary Dysmenorrhea
27 de junho de 2026 atualizado por: 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.
Visão geral do estudo
Status
Concluído
Descrição detalhada
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.
Tipo de estudo
Intervencional
Inscrição (Real)
40
Estágio
- Não aplicável
Contactos e Locais
Esta seção fornece os detalhes de contato para aqueles que conduzem o estudo e informações sobre onde este estudo está sendo realizado.
Locais de estudo
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Avcılar
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Istanbul, Avcılar, Turquia (Türkiye)
- Istanbul Gelisim University
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Critérios de participação
Os pesquisadores procuram pessoas que se encaixem em uma determinada descrição, chamada de critérios de elegibilidade. Alguns exemplos desses critérios são a condição geral de saúde de uma pessoa ou tratamentos anteriores.
Critérios de elegibilidade
Idades elegíveis para estudo
- Adulto
Aceita Voluntários Saudáveis
Não
Descrição
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
Plano de estudo
Esta seção fornece detalhes do plano de estudo, incluindo como o estudo é projetado e o que o estudo está medindo.
Como o estudo é projetado?
Detalhes do projeto
- Finalidade Principal: Tratamento
- Alocação: Randomizado
- Modelo Intervencional: Atribuição Paralela
- Mascaramento: Solteiro
Armas e Intervenções
Grupo de Participantes / Braço |
Intervenção / Tratamento |
|---|---|
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Experimental: 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.
Outros nomes:
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Comparador Falso: 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.
Outros nomes:
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O que o estudo está medindo?
Medidas de resultados primários
Medida de resultado |
Descrição da medida |
Prazo |
|---|---|---|
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Menstrual pain intensity
Prazo: 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
Prazo: 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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Medidas de resultados secundários
Medida de resultado |
Descrição da medida |
Prazo |
|---|---|---|
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Depression level
Prazo: 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
Prazo: 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
Prazo: 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
Prazo: 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
Prazo: 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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Colaboradores e Investigadores
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Publicações e links úteis
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Publicações Gerais
- 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
Datas de registro do estudo
Essas datas acompanham o progresso do registro do estudo e os envios de resumo dos resultados para ClinicalTrials.gov. Os registros do estudo e os resultados relatados são revisados pela National Library of Medicine (NLM) para garantir que atendam aos padrões específicos de controle de qualidade antes de serem publicados no site público.
Datas Principais do Estudo
Início do estudo (Real)
1 de junho de 2023
Conclusão Primária (Real)
30 de janeiro de 2024
Conclusão do estudo (Real)
5 de março de 2024
Datas de inscrição no estudo
Enviado pela primeira vez
4 de maio de 2026
Enviado pela primeira vez que atendeu aos critérios de CQ
27 de junho de 2026
Primeira postagem (Real)
6 de julho de 2026
Atualizações de registro de estudo
Última Atualização Postada (Real)
6 de julho de 2026
Última atualização enviada que atendeu aos critérios de controle de qualidade
27 de junho de 2026
Última verificação
1 de junho de 2026
Mais Informações
Termos relacionados a este estudo
Palavras-chave
Termos MeSH relevantes adicionais
Outros números de identificação do estudo
- 2023-23/113
Plano para dados de participantes individuais (IPD)
Planeja compartilhar dados de participantes individuais (IPD)?
NÃO
Descrição do plano 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.
Informações sobre medicamentos e dispositivos, documentos de estudo
Estuda um medicamento regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA
Não
Estuda um produto de dispositivo regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA
Não
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