ACU-TENS on Pain and Stress Reduction Before and During TUGOR

NCT06910540 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 144

Last updated 2025-12-22

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Objectives: To demonstrate the use of acupuncture-type transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (acu-TENS) during transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval (TUGOR) will reduce 50% of the intensity of pain experienced by women.

Hypothesis to be tested: Does the use of acu-TENS reduce 50% of pain in TUGOR? Design and subjects: A prospective randomized control trial will be carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital. 144 women undergoing TUGOR will be randomized to receive acu-TENS or sham acu-TENS for pain control during TUGOR.

Study instruments: During the TUGOR procedure, ultrasound of the pelvis will be performed by Aloka ProSound SSD-3500SX device (Japan). Each follicle will be pierced using a single lumen ovum aspiration needle or a double lumen ovum aspiration catheter (COOK Medical, UK) under ultrasound guidance. Acu-TENS will be done using MTR+ Myolito Multifunctional Stimulator.

Main outcome measures: Primary outcome is the pain score before and during TUGOR. Secondary outcomes include (1) other pain level parameters including pain control satisfaction, surgeon's assessment of the patient co-operation score and patient intraoperative pain; (2) stress and anxiety levels, Stait Trait Anxiety Inventory, General Health Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, and saliva cortisol; (3) patient's satisfaction measured by Client Satisfaction Questionnaire and satisfaction score on pain control; (4) difficulty in retrieving oocytes; (5) IVF parameters; (6) safety profile; and (7) bias assessment.

Data analysis: Data analysis will be performed using Statistical Packages of Social Sciences for Windows.

Expected results: The investigators expect that acu-TENS will reduce 50% of pain in TUGOR.

Conditions

  • Oocyte Retrieival and Post Operative Pain Control
  • Acupuncture

Interventions

OTHER

Acu-TENS

This protocol makes use of the acu-TENS treatment on the acupoints Hegu (LI4), Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Taichong (LR3). After cleaning the acupoints with alcohol, electrode pads (HC-ROUND-32 2.0) will be placed on the acupoints according to the locations described in the Standard International Acupuncture Nomenclature. The electrode pads will be connected to a TENS machine (MTR+ Myolito Multifunctional Stimulator MTRP-00003), in which ipsilateral LI4 and SP36, SP6 and LR3 serve a pair. A pulse rate of 120 Hz, current of 3-5 mA, and pulse width of 300µS will be delivered continually during TUGOR.

OTHER

Sham acu-TENS

In the sham acu-TENS, within the same time interval, TENS pads will be placed on the same acupoints, connected to the machine, but without electric current.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Chinese University of Hong Kong

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-09-01
Primary Completion
2027-12-31
Completion
2028-12-31

Countries

  • China

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06910540 on ClinicalTrials.gov