EFFECT OF TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION (TENS) ON PRIMARY DYSMENORRHEA IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Objectives: 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. Methodology: Sixty four female aged between 14-18 years at the first day of their menstruation cycle randomly divided in two groups (TENS or placebo TENS). Participants' physical characteristics and men- strual 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). Results: The decrease in pain intensity after TENS and placebo TENS were both significant, (Active group: 6.31 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 in active 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. Conclusions: This result supports that using TENS could be effective in pain reduction among adolescents who suffered from primary dysmenorrhea.