TENS Therapy Failed to Reduce IUD Insertion Pain
A randomized trial found no significant difference in pain scores between patients using active TENS and those receiving sham treatment.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Women’s Health
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A clinical study published on October 8, 2026, concluded that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) did not effectively lower pain for patients during IUD insertion. Researchers evaluated 98 participants across two major health systems and found nearly identical pain outcomes regardless of whether they used active or sham TENS devices.
Why it matters
The findings challenge the use of TENS as a pain management strategy for intrauterine device procedures, highlighting a need for further research into effective clinical interventions. Understanding these results helps patients and clinicians set realistic expectations for procedural discomfort.
The study tracked 98 adult participants with a median age of 29 years, comparing an 80 Hz active TENS treatment against a placebo. Despite the lack of pain reduction, 91.7% of the active TENS group said they would recommend the treatment to a friend, compared to 76.0% in the sham group.
The players
Mount Sinai Medical System
This is a large hospital network based in New York City that participated as a clinical research site.
Yale New Haven Health System
This is a major academic healthcare system in Connecticut that served as a research partner for this study.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
This is a peer-reviewed medical publication that released the findings of the randomized trial.
The details
Conducted at the Mount Sinai Medical System and Yale New Haven Health System, the trial required all participants to receive 600-800 mg of oral ibuprofen beforehand, while 98% utilized transabdominal ultrasound guidance. Results showed that nulliparous participants reported significantly higher mean pain scores of 59.1 mm compared to 43.3 mm for those who had previously given birth.
Timeline
March 2024 to April 2025 saw IUD insertions at the Mount Sinai Medical System.
January 2025 to April 2025 saw IUD insertions at Yale New Haven Health.
October 8, 2026, marked the publication date in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Health Landscape
The study updates the understanding of pain management options within the standard of care for intrauterine device insertion. It suggests that while TENS is a popular intervention, it does not currently offer a statistically significant departure from placebo-based outcomes for this specific procedure.
Patients preparing for an IUD insertion may find that TENS therapy provides no measurable reduction in physical pain during the procedure. It is recommended that individuals discuss alternative pain management strategies with their healthcare providers prior to the appointment.
The takeaway
Clinicians and patients should note that this specific method of pain mitigation did not perform better than a placebo in a controlled setting. Future procedures should rely on established protocols until further medical research identifies more effective interventions for pain management.
Further reading
For more information on clinical research and patient care, visit the Women’s Health section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Medscape.
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