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Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in labour pain: a systematic review

  1. Dawn Carroll Research Sister ,
  2. Martin Tramèr Visiting Research Fellow ,
  3. Henry McQuay Clinical Reader (Pain Relief) ,
  4. Bethany Nye Research Assistant ,
  5. Andrew Moore Consultant (Biochemistry) *

Article first published online: 19 AUG 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb11039.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 104, Issue 2, pages 169–175, February 1997

Additional Information

How to Cite

Carroll, D., Tramèr, M., McQuay, H., Nye, B. and Moore, A. (1997), Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in labour pain: a systematic review. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 104: 169–175. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb11039.x

Author Information

  1. Pain Research Unit and Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics, University of Oxford, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital, Headington

*Correspondence: Dr R. A. Moore, Pain Research Unit, University of Oxford, The Churchill, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LJ, UK.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 AUG 2005
  2. Article first published online: 19 AUG 2005
  3. Received 14 March 1996 Accepted 9 July 1996

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Objective To review the effectiveness and safety of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for labour pain.

Design A systematic review of randomised controlled trials of TENS in pain during labour.

Sample Eight reports involving 712 women were included; 352 women received active TENS and 360 acted as controls.

Methods Reports were sought by searching MEDLINE and the Oxford Pain Relief Database.

Main outcome measures Analgesic and adverse effect outcomes.

Results Evidence for reduced pain using TENS in labour was weak. Additional analgesic interventions may be less likely with TENS (odds ratio 0.57; 95% CI 0.34–0.96), number-needed-to-treat 14 (95% CI 7.3–119).

Conclusions Randomised controlled trials provide no compelling evidence for TENS having any analgesic effect during labour. Weak positive effects in secondary (analgesic sparing) and tertiary (choosing TENS for future labours) outcomes may be due to inadequate blinding causing overestimation of treatment effects.

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