Sniffing away labor pain: aromatherapy put to the test
NCT ID NCT03098212
First seen Jun 27, 2026 ยท Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether aromatherapy can help lower pain for women during childbirth. 94 first-time mothers with a single baby and no major complications were randomly assigned to receive either aromatherapy plus standard pain control or standard pain control alone. Researchers measured pain levels at different stages of labor and tracked how much additional pain medication was requested.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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94 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2015
- Finished
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Dec 2016
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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Children (under 18), adults (18 to 64) and older adults (65 and over)
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Singleton pregnancy * Nulliparous * 37 complete weeks of gestation * Cephalic presentation * No emergency obstetric complication * In labor Exclusion Criteria: * Medical or obstetric complication preclude vaginal delivery * Essential oil allergy * Side effect of aromatherapy
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
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