Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) applied to complementary treatment of the pain in women with deep endometriosis

Abstract

Introduction: Endometriosis is a disorder characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue. It affects 5-15% of women at reproductive age and can generate several effects on the female body, among which, dyspareunia. Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of conventional and self-administered Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in the treatment of deep dyspareunia and to assess the impact of this therapeutics on the quality of life and sexuality of women with deep endometriosis. Subjects and Methods: Random Clinical Trial on women with endometriosis stage III, IV and/or rectovaginal septum, with report of deep dyspareunia, who accept to participate of the study and sign the Term of Consent. The women will be randomized in two distinct groups. Group 1 will be treated with acupuncture-like conventional TENS and group 2 with self-administered TENS Tanyx®. All the women will answer 3 questionnaires, one of sexuality (FSFI) and two of quality of life (WHOQOL-bref and EHP-30), and two scales, pre and post-intervention. Data analysis: The data will be analyzed via paired t test to compare the averages of the variables and the improvement obtained in each method will be compared via t test.