Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Pain Mitigation During Intrauterine Device Placement
Recruiting
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Pain Mitigation During Intrauterine Device Placement
Who can join
Ages 18 and older · Women
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Provision of signed and dated informed consent form for IUD Insertion * Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures * English speaking individuals aged 18 years or older * Presenting for IUD initiation during ambulatory care visit at MUSC Women's Health * Opting for either LNG 52mg or copper T380A IUD Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindication to IUD initiation (i.e. pregnancy, current pelvic infection, distorted uterine anatomy) * Contraindication or allergy to ibuprofen * History of a chronic pain disorder * Recent opioid use in the previous 30 days * History of a cardiac arrhythmia * History of heart disease (i.e. atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure) * Presence of an implantable device with an electrical discharge (i.e. pacemaker) * BMI \> 50 (class IV obesity) * History of TENS use * Planned pain intervention outside standard of care (i.e. paracervical block, misoprotol) OR preprocedure use of non-standard pain medication (i.e. benzodiazepines, marijuana, muscle relaxers, gabapentin, benadryl) * History of epilepsy
About the study
Investigators are conducting a study to determine whether high frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (hfTENS) is effective at reducing pain in women having an IUD inserted.
What is being tested
- High frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (device)
Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina · Participants: 86 · Started: Dec 1, 2025
Contact the study team
- Jesslyn Payne · Phone: (843)-792-7525
- Michelle Meglin, MD · Phone: 843-792-4026
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06991075
Locations in the U.S.
| South Carolina | MUSC Women's Health- Cannon Street, Charleston |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.