Acupuncture-type Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain and Stress Reduction Before and During Transvaginal Ultrasound-guided Oocyte Retrieval: a Randomized Controlled Trial

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate whether acupuncture-type transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (acu-TENS) can reduce pain by half during transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval (TUGOR) in women undergoing IVF treatment. The study is a prospective randomized controlled trial involving 144 women, designed to assess pain intensity and related stress and anxiety levels during the procedure. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either acu-TENS treatment, where electrical stimulation is applied to specific acupuncture points during TUGOR, or a sham acu-TENS without electrical current as a control. The treatment uses electrode pads connected to a TENS machine delivering specific pulse rates and current intensities during the procedure. Ultrasound guidance and ovum aspiration needles or catheters will be used for oocyte retrieval. Throughout the study, pain scores will be recorded before, during, and after TUGOR at multiple time points using a visual analog scale. Secondary measures include patient satisfaction, cooperation, anxiety, depression, saliva cortisol levels, and safety assessments. Data will be collected via questionnaires and clinical evaluations, with follow-up extending to several hours post-procedure to monitor outcomes and adverse events.

ACU-TENS on Pain and Stress Reduction Before and During TUGOR