Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to treat vestibulodynia: a randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in the treatment of vestibulodynia.


METHODS
Double-arm randomised placebo-controlled trial.


METHODS
An outpatient department for vulval disease.


METHODS
Forty women with vestibulodynia, a vestibular discomfort mostly reported as a burning pain, occurring in the absence of relevant visible findings or a specific, clinically identifiable, neurological disorder.


METHODS
Twice a week active TENS or sham treatment were delivered through a vaginal probe via a calibrated dual channel YSY-EST device. Women of both groups underwent 20 treatment sessions.


METHODS
Visual analogue scale (VAS), the short form of the McGill-Melzack Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), the Marinoff Scale for dyspareunia and the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire (FSFI) were assessed at baseline, at the end of treatment and at follow up 3 months after the end of treatment.


RESULTS
The VAS and SF-MPQ scores (6.2 +/- 1.9 and 19.5 +/- 11.9 before treatment, respectively) improved significantly in the active TENS group (2.1 +/- 2.7, P= 0.004 and 8.5 +/- 10.7, P= 0.001, respectively), but not in the placebo group. The Marinoff dyspareunia scale and the FSFI also showed a significant improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
TENS is a simple, effective and safe short-term (3 months) treatment for the management of vestibulodynia.
Murina
F
F
Outpatient Department of Vulvar Disease, V. Buzzi Hospital, Milan, Italy. filippomurina@tin.it
Bianco
V
V
Radici
G
G
Felice
R
R
Di Martino
M
M
Nicolini
U
U
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054515:Vulvar Vestibulitis / Q000628:therapy*