Can virtual reality or a stress ball ease pain during childbirth stitches?
NCT ID NCT07499011
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether using virtual reality goggles or squeezing a stress ball can help reduce pain during episiotomy repair (stitches after childbirth). 112 women were randomly assigned to use VR, a stress ball, both, or standard care. The goal was to see which method works best for pain relief without medication.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- virtual reality goggles and stress ball
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide a simple, drug-free way to ease pain during a common childbirth procedure.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study with 112 participants, so results may not apply to all women. Pain is subjective and distraction techniques may not work for everyone.
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
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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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112 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2025
- Finished
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Feb 2026
- 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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18 to 42 years
- 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 1. Women aged 18 to 42 years 2. Able to communicate and understand the study procedures 3. No vision, hearing, or perception problems 4. No physical problems preventing squeezing a stress ball 5. No diabetes mellitus 6. Undergoing episiotomy repair after vaginal birth 7. Willing to participate and provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria 1. Pre-existing chronic pain conditions 2. Severe perineal tear (3rd or 4th degree) 3. Development of any complication during the procedure 4. Women who did not consent to participate in the study 5. Women undergoing episiotomy repair with local anesthetic infiltration
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Feminine and Children Teaching Hospital and al _Rumaitha Hospital
Samawah, Muthanna Governorate, Iraq
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