title: Suppression of pelvic pain during hysteroscopy with a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as a pain control method during office hysteroscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Centre for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Gynecological Science and Perinatology, "La Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty-two patients undergoing office hysteroscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Application of a TENS device on the patient's abdomen before and during office hysteroscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The level of pain experienced by the patients was assessed using a 10 cm visual analog scale; the side effects and changes in the hemodynamic parameters were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients treated with TENS during hysteroscopy (group A, n = 71) were compared with a control group (group B, n = 71) on whom the TENS device was not used. The women in the TENS group experienced a significantly lower level of pain during hysteroscopy. No differences in side effects were observed between both group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TENS is a simple, efficient, and safe method of relieve pain during office hysteroscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Science and Perinatology, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome La Sapienza., Italy. cdeangelis@tiscalinet.it
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Angelis
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perrone
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: Italo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nofroni
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zichella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*