Abstract
BackgroundHysterosalpingography (HSG) is an accepted radiologic diagnostic modality for initial infertility workup, and is generally considered uncomfortable and painful. However, the management of pain related to HSG remains inefficient. As an emerging nonpharmacologic and noninvasive pain control strategy, virtual reality (VR) distraction has been successfully used in areas such as burns, blunt force trauma, hospital-based needle procedures, dental/periodontal procedures, and urological endoscopy patients. This study aims to evaluate the analgesic effect of VR during HSG.Methods/designA single-center, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial will be carried out in the Radiology Department of Yinchuan Women and Children Healthcare Hospital, Yinchuan. A total of 200 participants who are scheduled for HSG will be enrolled in this study. The participants will be randomized (1:1) into two groups: a VR group and a blank control group. The VR group will receive routine care plus immersive VR intervention and the blank control group will receive routine care. Outcomes will be monitored at baseline, immediately after HSG and 15 min after HSG for each group. The primary outcome is the worst pain score during HSG by a visual analog scale (VAS). The secondary outcomes include: affective pain, cognitive pain, and anxiety during the HSG procedure; worst pain within 15 min after HSG; patient satisfaction and acceptance with pain management; physiological parameters; adverse effects; HSG results; and immersion perception score of the VR system (for the VR condition only).DiscussionThis study will focus on exploring a simply operated, noninvasive and low-cost analgesia during the HSG procedure. The results of this trial will provide data on the feasibility and safety of VR distraction therapy during HSG.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Register, ChiCTR1900021342. Registered on 16 February 2019.
Highlights
Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is an accepted radiologic diagnostic modality for initial infertility workup, and is generally considered uncomfortable and painful
Infertility is clinically defined as 1 year of attempted conception that has not resulted in pregnancy; it is one of the most prevalent chronic health defects impacting young couples [1]
Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is an accepted radiologic diagnostic modality for initial infertility workup which can assess the patency of the fallopian tube and the womb cavity situation [4]
Summary
Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is an accepted radiologic diagnostic modality for initial infertility workup, and is generally considered uncomfortable and painful. Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is an accepted radiologic diagnostic modality for initial infertility workup which can assess the patency of the fallopian tube and the womb cavity situation [4]. HSG is a minimally invasive gynecological procedure performed in the outpatient department which is generally considered to be uncomfortable and painful. It is generally believed that the pain related to HSG is mainly caused by cervical instrumentation, uterine instillation of contrast material, peritoneal irritation secondary to contrast material spill, or delayed postoperative pain due to prostaglandin release [7]. The uncomfortable and painful experience of the operation can lead to a high degree of stress, poor compliance with HSG procedures, and an unwillingness to undertake other similar diagnostic investigations [8]. It is very important to find an ideal analgesic method that can provide adequate pain control in the absence of significant adverse reactions
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