Pain Relief From Dysmenorrhea Employing taVNS

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Dysmenorrhea Primary

• Registration Number: NCT06912386
• Lead Sponsor: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if transauricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) is effective in treating moderate dysmenorrhea. The main question it aims to answer is:

• Does taVNS reduce the number of times participants suffering from dysmenorrhea need to use rescue medication during menstruation? Researchers will compare taVNS stimulation with a sham stimulation (a look-alike procedure that does not stimulate the vagus nerve) to assess whether taVNS is effective in treating moderate dysmenorrhea.

Participants will:

* Undergo taVNS for 2 months and sham stimulation for another 2 months, each for 5 days per month, starting 2 days before the expected beginning of their menstrual cycle.

* Visit the clinic twice a month for checkups and tests.

* Keep a diary to record their pain levels and the number of times they use rescue medication.

* Undergo functional magnetic resonance imagine two times (one after the end of the first use of taVNS and another after the end of the first use of SHAM stimulation).

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-03
• Study First Submitted: 2025-03-24
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-03-30
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-03-30
• Study Start: 2025-04-01
• Study First Posted: 2025-04-04
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-04
• Primary Completion: 2025-06-30
• Study Completion: 2025-06-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• Regular menstrual cycle (28 days ± 7 days);
• Average moderate menstrual pain (with 4 - 7 NRS scores);
• History of over-the-counter (OTC) analgesic use for the treatment of menstrual pain (at least 1 IBUPROFEN for the first two days);
• 4 consecutive monthly menstrual cycles;
• Non-pregnant status;
• Agrees to use adequate birth control during the trial;
• Otherwise, healthy;
• Agree not to participate in any other clinical trial while enrolled in this trial ;
• No facial or ear pain, no recent ear trauma, no metal implants including pacemakers;
• Normal ECG, Heart Rate and Blood Pressure (systolic BP 105-130, diastolic BP 60-90, heart rate per min at rest 60-85);

Exclusion Criteria

• Currently under medications (except for analgesic medication for menstrual cycle);
• Use of oral contraceptive;
• Secondary cause for dysmenorrhea (i.e., endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, or infection);
• Unstable or serious illness (e.g., kidney, liver, GIT, heart conditions, diabetes, thyroid gland function, lung conditions, chronic asthma, diagnosed psychological or mood disorder, hypertension, any bleeding disorders, recent surgery, or concurrent blood thinning treatment);
• Current malignancy or treatment for malignancy within the previous 2 years;
• Pregnant or lactating women;
• Active smokers, nicotine use, or drug (prescription or illegal substances) abuse;
• Chronic past and/or current alcohol use (>14 alcoholic drinks per week);
• Any condition that in the opinion of the investigator, makes the participant unsuitable for inclusion;
• Unwilling or unable to comply with protocol;
• Active genitourinary infection in the last four weeks;
• Unable to read or comprehend the informed consent;
• Unwilling to complete study procedures;
• Participated in any other clinical trial during the past 1 month;
• Personal or family history of seizure, mood, or cardiovascular disorders;
• Allergic reaction to surface electrodes.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reduction the use of rescue medications	During the first 3 days of menstrual	Significative reduction in the number of cases of rescue medication after the treatment employing the taVNS in respect to the sham condition.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in affective symptoms	First day of stimulation, last day of stimulation.	Decrease of the score in at least one if the following scale: in Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck's Depression Inventory II, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS).
Changes in fMRI signal in the mesocorticolimbic system	After the first month application of the taVNS and of the SHAM stimulation	Changes in fMRI signal in the areas of the mesocorticolimibic system during the execution of a reward fMRI task (Monetary incentive delay task, Kuntson et al., 2001).
Reduction in acute and mean menstrual pain severity	During the first 3 days of menstrual	Significative reduction in acute and mean (across the 3 days) menstrual pain severity assessed via Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) after the treatment employing the taVNS in respect to the sham condition.
Reduction in menstrual pain severity at the Short form McGill Pain Questionnarie	During the first 3 days of menstrual	Reduction in menstrual pain severity employing using the Short form McGill pain questionnaire during the experimental condition in comparison to the sham condition

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

UESTC; 🇨🇳 Chengdu, Sichuan, China