Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS] on primary dysmenorrhea in adolescent girls

ABSTRACT

Dysmenorrhea is a common problem among female adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of high-frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation [TENS] on primary dysmenorrhea and to compare it with placebo in a randomized controlled study. Sixty four female aged between 14-18 years at the first day of their menstruation cyclerandomly divided in two groups [TENS or placebo TENS]. Participants' physical characteristics and menstrual history were recorded. Menstrual pain was measured by self-reported pain intensity using visual analog scale [VAS] before and just after treatment. Paired t-test and independent t-test was conducted to compare pain intensity between pre and post treatment between the two groups [TENS vs. placebo]. The decrease in pain intensity after TENS and placebo TENS were both significant, [Active group6.31 to 2.40, t= 9.70, p<0.01; placebo group 6.65 to 5.00, t= 5.97, p<0.01]. However, pain intensity inactive TENS was significantly decreased than the placebo group [t=-4.690, p=0.000]. Concurrent use of analgesic was reduced significantly in the active TENS [t= 5.475, p<0.01]; but not after placebo TENS. This result supports that using TENS could be effective in pain reduction among adolescents who suffered from primary dysmenorrhea