Acupuncture-style TENS to reduce pain and stress before and during egg retrieval
Acupuncture-type Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain and Stress Reduction Before and During Transvaginal Ultrasound-guided Oocyte Retrieval: a Randomized Controlled Trial
This trial will test whether acupuncture-style transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (acu-TENS) can cut pain by half for women having transvaginal ultrasound-guided egg retrieval.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 144 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | Chinese University of Hong Kong Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hong Kong) |
| Trial ID | NCT06910540 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a prospective randomized controlled trial at the Prince of Wales Hospital enrolling 144 women undergoing transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval who will be randomized to receive acu-TENS or a sham procedure during retrieval. Acu-TENS is delivered with a Myolito multifunctional stimulator while standard ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration is performed. The primary aim is to see if acu-TENS reduces procedural pain intensity by 50%, with pain measured during the procedure (detailed primary outcome specification not provided). The protocol excludes patients with severe cardiac or respiratory disease, current smoking or drinking, or inability/refusal to consent, and will record adverse events and postoperative pain or stress measures as secondary data.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Women scheduled for transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval (IVF/ET cycles) who can consent and do not have major cardiac or respiratory disease and who are not current smokers or drinkers.
Not a fit: Patients with severe cardiac or respiratory disease, current smokers or drinkers, those ineligible for acu-TENS, or people unable to attend the Hong Kong site are unlikely to benefit from or be eligible for this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, acu-TENS could substantially reduce pain and stress during egg retrieval and reduce reliance on other analgesics.
How similar studies have performed: Prior small studies of TENS and acupuncture-type approaches have shown benefits for some types of procedural and postoperative pain, but application specifically to transvaginal oocyte retrieval is limited and not widely confirmed.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Women undergoing IVF-ET cycles are to be recruited from the Assisted Reproduction Technology unit in the Prince of Wales Hospital Exclusion Criteria: * Patient not eligible for acu-TENS * Patient with severe cardiac and respiratory disease history * Smoker or drinker * Refuse or incompetence for informed consent
Where this trial is running
Hong Kong
- Chung Pui Wah, Jacqueline — Hong Kong, China (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Pui Wah Jacqueline Chung
- Email: jacquelinechung@cuhk.edu.hk
- Phone: +852 3505 1537
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.