Effects of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) in Individuals With Primary Dysmenorrhea

NCT ID: NCT06146569

Last Updated: 2024-10-29

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

50 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-11-15

Study Completion Date

2024-01-30

Brief Summary

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This study aims to investigate the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on pain, functional and emotional symptoms, and physical performance in individuals with primary dysmenorrhea (PD).

Detailed Description

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In this study, which will be conducted over two menstrual cycles, 34 patients with PD will be randomised into two groups: taVNS and sham treatment. From the onset of pain during the menstrual cycle, taVNS or sham treatment will be applied for five days. Pain assessment will be conducted using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), pressure pain threshold with an algometer, menstrual symptoms using the Menstrual Symptom Scale (MSS) and the Functional and Emotional Measure of Dysmenorrhea (FEMD), anxiety using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), and physical performance using the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) during the first and second menstruation.

Conditions

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Dysmenorrhea Primary Pain

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Two treatment groups have been formed to receive taVNS and sham taVNS.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators
Throughout the study, participants and researchers involved in assessments and interventions will remain blinded to group allocation.

Study Groups

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Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Each patient in the Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) group will receive a treatment protocol consisting of taVNS. The treatment will be administered for five days beginning on the first day of pain experienced between the 1st and 2nd menstrual cycles.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Current will be applied bilaterally from the tragus and turbinate parts of the ear with the VagustimTM device. The current frequency to be used in modulation mode is 10 Hz, and the pulse width is 300 μs (In modulation mode, the pulse rate and width are automatically changed in a loop pattern. The pulse width is reduced by 50% from its original setting in 0.5 seconds; then, the pulse rate is changed in 0.5 seconds, reduced by 50% from the original setting. Total cycle time is 1 second.). The current intensity will be applied for 5 minutes, keeping the current constant where the participant feels comfortable.

Sham Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Each patient in the sham Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) group will receive a treatment protocol consisting of sham taVNS. The treatment will be administered for five days beginning on the first day of pain experienced between the 1st and 2nd menstrual cycles.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

For 5 minutes, sham applications will be applied using a current-free headset specifically designed for this purpose. Participants will observe the device's functionality, but it will not supply any current.

Interventions

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Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS)

Current will be applied bilaterally from the tragus and turbinate parts of the ear with the VagustimTM device. The current frequency to be used in modulation mode is 10 Hz, and the pulse width is 300 μs (In modulation mode, the pulse rate and width are automatically changed in a loop pattern. The pulse width is reduced by 50% from its original setting in 0.5 seconds; then, the pulse rate is changed in 0.5 seconds, reduced by 50% from the original setting. Total cycle time is 1 second.). The current intensity will be applied for 5 minutes, keeping the current constant where the participant feels comfortable.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS)

For 5 minutes, sham applications will be applied using a current-free headset specifically designed for this purpose. Participants will observe the device's functionality, but it will not supply any current.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Being diagnosed with PD according to the No. 345 Primary Dysmenorrhea Consensus Guidelines,
* An NRS score of at least three during menstruation before treatment,
* Being a woman between the ages of 18-40,
* A regular menstrual cycle of 28±7 days,
* Being nulliparous,
* No history of brain surgery, tumour or intracranial metal implantation,
* No chronic genitourinary infection or alcohol or drug use.

Exclusion Criteria

* History of dizziness or epileptic disease,
* Pregnancy,
* Women with intrauterine devices,
* Metal implants in the head area,
* Women with skin lesions in the area where the electrodes will be placed,
* Use of analgesic drugs during treatment,
* Women with neurological or heart disease,
* Women are diagnosed with gynaecological conditions (endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, etc., which may be associated with secondary dysmenorrhea).
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

40 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Artvin Coruh University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Zeynep Yıldız Kızkın

Lecturer

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Zeynep Yıldız Kızkın, Lecturer

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Artvin Coruh University

Locations

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Zeynep Yıldız Kızkın

Artvin, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status

Countries

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Turkey (Türkiye)

References

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Burnett M, Lemyre M. No. 345-Primary Dysmenorrhea Consensus Guideline. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2017 Jul;39(7):585-595. doi: 10.1016/j.jogc.2016.12.023.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28625286 (View on PubMed)

Itani R, Soubra L, Karout S, Rahme D, Karout L, Khojah HMJ. Primary Dysmenorrhea: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Updates. Korean J Fam Med. 2022 Mar;43(2):101-108. doi: 10.4082/kjfm.21.0103. Epub 2022 Mar 17.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35320895 (View on PubMed)

Karout S, Soubra L, Rahme D, Karout L, Khojah HMJ, Itani R. Prevalence, risk factors, and management practices of primary dysmenorrhea among young females. BMC Womens Health. 2021 Nov 8;21(1):392. doi: 10.1186/s12905-021-01532-w.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34749716 (View on PubMed)

Ju H, Jones M, Mishra G. The prevalence and risk factors of dysmenorrhea. Epidemiol Rev. 2014;36:104-13. doi: 10.1093/epirev/mxt009. Epub 2013 Nov 26.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24284871 (View on PubMed)

Habibi N, Huang MS, Gan WY, Zulida R, Safavi SM. Prevalence of Primary Dysmenorrhea and Factors Associated with Its Intensity Among Undergraduate Students: A Cross-Sectional Study. Pain Manag Nurs. 2015 Dec;16(6):855-61. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2015.07.001. Epub 2015 Aug 29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26328887 (View on PubMed)

Wang L, Wang Y, Wang Y, Wang F, Zhang J, Li S, Wu M, Li L, Rong P. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulators: a review of past, present, and future devices. Expert Rev Med Devices. 2022 Jan;19(1):43-61. doi: 10.1080/17434440.2022.2020095. Epub 2022 Jan 13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34937487 (View on PubMed)

Wang YJ, Hsu CC, Yeh ML, Lin JG. Auricular acupressure to improve menstrual pain and menstrual distress and heart rate variability for primary dysmenorrhea in youth with stress. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:138537. doi: 10.1155/2013/138537. Epub 2013 Dec 12.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24416063 (View on PubMed)

Pegado R, Silva LK, da Silva Dantas H, Andrade Camara H, Andrade Mescouto K, Silva-Filho EM, Lopes JM, Micussi MTABC, Correia GN. Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea: Preliminary Results of a Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial. Pain Med. 2020 Dec 25;21(12):3615-3623. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnz202.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31498389 (View on PubMed)

Dutra LRDV, Pegado R, Silva LK, da Silva Dantas H, Camara HA, Silva-Filho EM, Correia GN, Micussi MTABC. Modulating Anxiety and Functional Capacity with Anodal tDCS Over the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Primary Dysmenorrhea. Int J Womens Health. 2020 Apr 5;12:243-251. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S226501. eCollection 2020.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32308497 (View on PubMed)

Kane RL, Bershadsky B, Rockwood T, Saleh K, Islam NC. Visual Analog Scale pain reporting was standardized. J Clin Epidemiol. 2005 Jun;58(6):618-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2004.11.017.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15878476 (View on PubMed)

Yildiz Kizkin Z, Yildiz R, Ozden AV. Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Individuals with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Neuromodulation. 2025 Oct 17:S1094-7159(25)01031-1. doi: 10.1016/j.neurom.2025.09.306. Online ahead of print.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 41108303 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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