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Optimal Frequency Used in Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Treating Pelvic Pain in Adults

Unknown statusNot applicableNCT06019091
View the official record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Recruiting status changes often. Contact the study team listed on ClinicalTrials.gov, and talk to your doctor before joining a study.

This study has no listed site in Canada in this snapshot. It is included as part of the worldwide chronic pain corpus.

Brief summary (from the registry)

TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) is accepted as a standard treatment for chronic pelvic pain, but the best settings to recommend, including frequency of stimulation, have not been defined to date. This study aims to find the optimal frequency, also known as cycles per second or Hertz (Hz) for treating chronic pelvic pain using non-invasive skin-level electrical nerve stimulation. The investigators will see how people respond to (20Hz, 50Hz or 100Hz). The study will have a two week control period (one week that looks back retrospectively at the week prior and another week looking prospectively at the patient symptoms) with no TENS unit and the participants normal standard of care treatments. This will be followed by 2 weeks of active TENS treatment for 30 minutes a day at the most painful time of day for the participant. The participant will also be allowed to extend their trial to study for durability for up to 3 additional months after the initial study. Participants will be asked to fill out a VAS (visual analog scale), GUPI (genitourinary pain index) and TENS usage log weekly.

Study details

Official title
Optimal Frequency Used in Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Treating Pelvic Pain in Adults
Interventions
  • Device: Compass Health TENS 3000, 3 mode Analog Unit
Sponsor
Albany Medical College
Start date
2022-07-20
Primary completion
2024-04-18
Sex
All
Age range
from 18 Years to 90 Years
Results posted
No results posted in this snapshot
Countries
United States
Total sites listed
1

Eligibility criteria

Show eligibility criteria (verbatim from the registry)
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Presenting with chronic pelvic pain (chronic/persistent pain that has been continuous or recurrent for at least three months (in accordance with EAU Guidelines). 2. Unsuccessful initial interventions based on initial assessments 3. Ability to provide informed consent and complete study requirements 4. Ability to complete a comprehensive history (including with an interpreter) Exclusion Criteria: 1. Participants who have previously tried a new pharmacologic treatment for pelvic pain, neuromodulation or other alternative therapy for urologic disorders within the past 30 days 2. Inability to work a TENS unit 3. Any contraindications to usage of a TENS unit (pacemaker or other implantable device, lymphedema, pregnancy, malignancy, bleeding or clotting disorders, unhealthy tissue, seizure disorders, impaired cognition) 4. Any history of electrophysiologic heart disease or complications 5. Source of pain being an obvious anatomic issue requiring alternative treatment - for example urethral diverticulum, distal ureteric stone. 6. Participant who is pregnant 7. Participant with adhesive allergy either reported by the participant or upon chart review

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov (US National Library of Medicine), snapshot October 2026. Check the registry for current recruiting status. Record: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06019091