title: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to treat vestibulodynia: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: 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.
authors: Outpatient Department of Vulvar Disease, V. Buzzi Hospital, Milan, Italy. filippomurina@tin.it
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Murina
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Bianco
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Radici
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Felice
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Di Martino
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Nicolini
mesh_terms: 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*