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Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to treat vestibulodynia: a randomised controlled trial
Author(s) -
Murina F,
Bianco V,
Radici G,
Felice R,
Di Martino M,
Nicolini U
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2008.01803.x
Subject(s) - medicine , transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation , mcgill pain questionnaire , visual analogue scale , placebo , physical therapy , randomized controlled trial , outpatient clinic , randomization , anesthesia , surgery , alternative medicine , pathology
Objective To assess the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in the treatment of vestibulodynia. Design Double‐arm randomised placebo‐controlled trial. Setting An outpatient department for vulval disease. Population Forty women with vestibulodynia, a vestibular discomfort mostly reported as a burning pain, occurring in the absence of relevant visible findings or a specific, clinically identifiable, neurological disorder. Methods Twice a week active TENS or sham treatment were delivered through a vaginal probe via a calibrated dual channel YSY‐EST device. Women of both groups underwent 20 treatment sessions. Main outcome measures Visual analogue scale (VAS), the short form of the McGill–Melzack Pain Questionnaire (SF‐MPQ), the Marinoff Scale for dyspareunia and the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire (FSFI) were assessed at baseline, at the end of treatment and at follow up 3 months after the end of treatment. Results The VAS and SF‐MPQ scores (6.2 ± 1.9 and 19.5 ± 11.9 before treatment, respectively) improved significantly in the active TENS group (2.1 ± 2.7, P = 0.004 and 8.5 ± 10.7, P = 0.001, respectively), but not in the placebo group. The Marinoff dyspareunia scale and the FSFI also showed a significant improvement. Conclusions TENS is a simple, effective and safe short‐term (3 months) treatment for the management of vestibulodynia.