Abstract
BackgroundTransvaginal oocytes retrieval is an essential step in in-vitro fertilization treatment. There are different pain relief methods, but none has been shown to be superior than the others. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological and non-invasive pain relief method. This study aims to compare the pain levels experienced by the women using the conscious sedation and those who had TENS in addition to conscious sedation.Methods and analysisThis is a double-blinded randomized trial that will be carried out in a university-assisted conception unit. Women who will undergo oocyte retrieval under conscious sedation will be recruited. After randomization, women will be allocated to either the active TENS group or placebo TENS group (the TENS machine will not emit active impulse), in addition to the paracervical block and conscious sedation. The primary outcome is pain levels of women during the retrieval assessed by the visual analog scale. Secondary outcomes include satisfaction of women and postoperative side effects.DiscussionTENS is an effective non-pharmacological and non-invasive method for pain relief in a number of clinical conditions. Both women and assisted conception unit can benefit if the addition of non-invasive, simple, and low-cost TENS application is proven to be superior than using conscious sedation and paracervical block alone.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03472430. Registered on 3 May 2018.
Highlights
Transvaginal oocytes retrieval is an essential step in in-vitro fertilization treatment
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is an effective non-pharmacological and non-invasive method for pain relief in a number of clinical conditions. Both women and assisted conception unit can benefit if the addition of non-invasive, simple, and low-cost TENS application is proven to be superior than using conscious sedation and paracervical block alone
A Cochrane review in 2013 [5] on pain relief for women undergoing oocyte retrieval for assisted reproduction concluded that the current evidence from 21 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) did not support one
Summary
Transvaginal oocytes retrieval is an essential step in in-vitro fertilization treatment. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological and non-invasive pain relief method. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is a non-pharmacological and non-invasive pain relief for nociceptive, neuropathic, and musculoskeletal pain involving delivering pulsed electric current across skin [6]. It reduces labor pain and postpones the use of pharmacological analgesics in laboring women [7]. It has been reported as reducing pain and increasing patients’ satisfaction when used in office hysteroscopy without sedation [8] It has not been studied as a pain relief method for oocyte retrieval in assisted reproduction
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