Could a simple electrical device ease labor pain without drugs?
NCT ID NCT07401147
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether a mild electrical device called TENS can reduce pain during labor in first-time mothers. 132 women will receive both real TENS and a sham (inactive) device at different times to compare pain levels. The goal is to see if TENS offers a safe, non-drug option for labor pain relief.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a drug-free option for managing labor pain, potentially reducing the need for epidurals or other medications.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial (132 participants) and the effect may be modest or no better than placebo. TENS may not provide enough pain relief for all women.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
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
-
About 132 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
-
Feb 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
-
Sep 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
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
-
18 to 45 years
- Sex
-
Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Signed informed consent. * Women aged 18-45 years. * Nulliparous. * Term singleton pregnancy (37-42 weeks). * Cephalic presentation. * Spontaneous onset of labor or induced/conducted labor under adequate control. * Cervical dilation of at least 5 cm at enrollment. * Normal amniotic fluid volume and reassuring fetal monitoring. * Uncomplicated pregnancy. Exclusion Criteria: * Multiple pregnancy. * Non-cephalic presentation. * Severe obstetric complications (e.g., preeclampsia, placental abruption). * Maternal chronic or acute diseases interfering with safety. * History of neurological/psychiatric disorders contraindicating TENS. * Abnormal fetal monitoring or amniotic fluid. * Pre-pregnancy BMI \>30 kg/m². * Fetal demise. * Illiteracy.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Labor pain are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The places running it
2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Hospital Escuela
RECRUITINGTegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán Department, 11101, Honduras
-
Instituto Hondureño de Seguridad Social
RECRUITINGTegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán Department, 11101, Honduras
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a warm wet towel take the edge off labor pain?
- A gentle forehead touch during labor: could it reduce pain and anxiety?
- Can a smarter epidural pump reduce leg weakness during labor?
- Can a traditional cloth ease labor pain and speed up birth?
- Could a playlist be the new Post-Surgery comfort?
- What's the right dose? a trial seeks the sweet spot for labor epidurals