Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Pain Control During First Trimester Abortion

Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Abortion in First Trimester

In brief

High-frequency, high-intensity transcutaneous electrical nerve-stimulation (TENS) is an inexpensive and non-invasive pain control approach. TENS, pulsating electrical currents that activate underlying nerves, does not have drug interactions or risk of overdose. Cochrane review of TENS for acute pain found inconclusive evidence. One previous abortion trial comparing TENS to IV sedation only looked at pain control in the recovery room. The investigators propose a randomized controlled trial comparing TENS to IV sedation (in conjunction with local anesthesia) among women presenting for first-trimester surgical abortion. Primary outcome will be perceived pain by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during aspiration.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03187002

Run by

Stanford University

People needed

109

Starts

2018-01-18

Expected to finish

2019-10-31

Last updated by the study team

2020-11-02

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Presenting for surgical abortion
• Gestational age <12 weeks
• < 18 years of age
• Agrees to be randomized

You may not qualify if…

• Allergy to study medications (lidocaine, fentanyl, midazolam)
• > 18 years of age
• Fetal demise
• Pre-procedure use of misoprostol
• No means of transportation following procedure

Where it is running

• Planned Parenthood Mar Monte — San Jose, California, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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